We are social animals and we live in an environment full of different items that affect us. Whether that effect is positive depends on each person individually but there are some allergens such as pollutants, dust mites, mites etc. that can affect your health. An allergen is a compound or holding that has no potential criteria for harming your health, but it is because the person cannot take it. Environmental allergens cause a lot of allergies that can make you sick from time to time. So to raise awareness about such allergens and allergens, we are conducting a “Healthy Living” campaign at OnlyMyHealth that can help you learn more about such health issues.
Environmental allergens
Allergies that are caused by an immune response to something that usually does no harm to your health are called environmental allergens. To find out more about this type of allergen, we spoke to Dr. Sumit Nigam, General Physician, Sahara Hospital, Lucknow. He said the symptoms of environmental allergies vary from person to person. You may feel sneezing, coughing or feeling tired when you come in contact with environmental allergens.
The World Health Organization has taken this issue differently as the theme of World Health Day 2022. They explained that climate and health crises occurred simultaneously. The world is heating up, fossil fuel burning is on the rise, mosquitoes are more numerous than ever before, land degradation, water scarcity and pollution are rapidly filling the environment. As a result, diseases, allergies and health problems are constantly increasing.
Symptoms of environmental allergies
The signs and symptoms of environmental allergies can be similar to the common cold and cough. Although the cause of the allergy may be different, there are some symptoms that you should be aware of-
- Sneezing
- Running nose
- Weakness of breath
- Headache
- Itching
- Smell
In some cases, where people have problems like asthma or diabetes, the symptoms may get worse. Also, the timing of environmental allergies and the proximity of allergens play an important role in this condition.
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Types of environmental allergens
Allergens actually trigger your immune system causing you to have different types of allergies. Identifying your allergen can be an important step in treating it, here are some allergens that should be known-
1. Dust mites
Dust mite allergies are the most common type of indoor allergy that occurs in many people. Dust mites are tiny microscopic bugs that are commonly found on furniture and mattresses. This dust mite can cause worse allergies in the spring or summer season. People with dust mite allergies have trouble sleeping in a humid environment or in someone else’s bed.
2. Pollen allergy
These allergies are relatively less common in India but one of the major existing environmental allergies. For those who do not know, flowers have pollen, usually in the middle. They fly in the environment due to the wind and can get inside your mouth, throat and eyes. If you have these allergies, pollen allergies can cause tears, itchy throat and constant sneezing.
3. Pets
You may have heard that some people cannot tolerate pets or are allergic to them. So, it is not just because of any kind of fear or problem. This is due to pet saliva or pet dandruff which can affect people with these allergies and cause reactions on their skin or health problems. If you have a pet dandruff allergy, you may have the following symptoms:
- Itching
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Hives
This can happen when you live near an animal or in a place where there were some animals. It can even be caused by clothing that has pet dandruff.
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4. Mold allergy
Mold spores can lead to mild to severe symptoms depending on the individual’s reaction. The development of mold in the environment may be worse depending on the humid climate. Molds are sometimes found in basements and bathrooms. Here are some signs of a mold allergy:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Leather
- Sneezing
5. Allergy to cigarette smoke
Some people also have many problems and allergies from cigarette smoke. This may be due to secondhand smoke exposure and may worsen as the allergy worsens with age. If you are allergic to cigarette smoke, it can cause irritation, shortness of breath and cough.
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