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There are over fifty million Americans who suffer from allergies each year. The range of severity varies from allergies that threaten your life to seasonal ones like hay fever that may be combated with drugs purchased at the pharmacy. If allergies are seriously affecting your life, make sure you go to your doctor for a thorough check up and allergy testing.

An allergic reaction occurs when the body responds to a substance such as mold, pollen or dust which are normally deemed harmless. The immune system releases antibodies that may attack different parts of the body. It can go for the nose, the sinuses, the throat, the stomach or lungs. This attack causes symptoms such as stuffiness and itching and sneezing in the nose, and irritations in other areas such as the mouth and ears.

You may end up with tingling, red, watering eyes or conjunctivitis. Your skin can become dry and red and irritated or welts may appear. For example, asthma is an allergic reaction and the result of an attack is coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath.

There are many materials that may cause an allergic reaction but the ones that affect most allergy sufferers readily, are easily found like cockroaches and their feces; bee stings or other insect bites (which can be deadly); household cleaning products and any other industrial cleaners; foodstuffs such as peanut butter (which can also be fatal); and feathers, if you have a bird or if you sleep with a feather pillow.

Allergies affect all types of people no matter what sex, race or age. It can run in families. They tend to affect the youth more but a person who has had an allergy before may suffer an onslaught, years after it disappears. The allergies can gradually form through changes in the environment; through diet and stress; hormonal changes or even perfume.

The tests of a possible allergy are fairly simple. The first is a blood test, where the specific allergy is measured in relation to the level of antibodies. The other test is a patch test where, a small patch of skin is infected with a known allergy. If a rash or welt appears, then it is considered evidence of a reaction.

The treatment depends on your medical history, your age and your health. It also depends on how bad your case is, your tolerance level and your own personal preferences. Sometimes, it may just be a matter of keeping your home dust and mold free.

For food allergies, obviously, the diet must be considered. You must have an awareness of which food items affect you. There are some treatments, for example lactose intolerant people can get over the counter drugs that reduce the symptoms and allow them to eat milk products without worry.

But food allergies such as a reaction to peanuts can be fatal and must be avoided. Every meal eaten must be checked for peanuts or peanut oil. Most foodstuffs put warnings on their wrappers.

Allergies are inconvenient fact in many people's lives but it can be managed if they are tested and have the information to avoid a reaction.