Suffering from allergies is never fun. It can make your life miserable and force you to avoid doing things that you’ve enjoyed in the past. Allergies come in many different forms, including having reactions to things in nature, foods that you eat and even medication that you take. One of the best ways to determine if what you’re experiencing are allergy symptoms, you need to see an allergist. (Image Credit: Public Domain Pictures/ Pixabay)
Allergists are physicians who specialize in the diagnoses of allergies and asthma. They are specially trained to identify their patients’ allergy and asthma triggers, as well as give them treatments to overcome or avoid the things that cause an allergic reaction. If the person you are seeing is certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, you can be assured that they have the expertise to help with your issues. Below are some of the signs that you should consider seeing an allergy doctor.
You Have a Cold that Never Goes Away
For people who suffer from environmental allergies, the symptoms often include a runny nose, cough, or itchy or watery eyes. These are many of the same symptoms that you might experience with a cold, but if these problems are caused by a virus, they should clear up in a few days. If you notice that there are certain times of the year or certain times of the day when these issues seem to flare up, then you might be dealing with an allergy and should make an appointment with an allergist.
Another symptom that you might experience that could be allergy-related includes headaches or repeated fatigue. Even dull headaches can be a sign of allergy issues, and if taking headache medication doesn’t seem to do much to alleviate the pain, then get in to see an allergy doctor discover if allergies might be the culprit.
You Constantly Have Sinus Infections
In addition to having cold-like symptoms, if you constantly have sinus infections, this could be another sign of environmental allergies. Dealing with sinus infections can be a nuisance, but if they can be prevented by taking allergy medications, this will make your life so much easier and help you feel better.
Certain Foods Cause Discomfort
When it comes to food allergies, these can show up with a range of symptoms, from a true allergy to an intolerance. If you have a food allergy and you eat something that you are allergic to, this could result in a rash, hives, swelling and/or trouble breathing. These will show up immediately or within 2 hours of eating foods that you are allergic to, and they could turn into a life-threatening issue.
Food intolerances are often harder to determine, and the symptoms can range from mild nausea to diarrhea to bloating. These usually appear 3 hours after eating. By going to an allergist, they’ll be able to tell you what foods you are allergic to and which ones you have an intolerance for. This is a great way to avoid life-threatening situations and ensure that you eat the right foods so that you feel good.
Antibiotics Don’t Seem to Help When You’re Sick
One of the most common drug allergies that people can have is to penicillin. This antibiotic is used to treat a range of bacterial infections, and the goal is for this medication to work with your immune system to help you get over the infection. If you take this medication and it makes you feel worse, this could be because you are allergic to it.
Allergy doctors can do a quick skin test to determine if you are allergic to penicillin or any other antibiotic. This is a great way to ensure you are getting the treatments that will help you get over an infection instead of contributing to making you feel worse.
You Wake Up with Itchy Eyes
If you find yourself waking up with itchy eyes or you are coughing throughout the night, this could be because you are having an allergic reaction to the dust mites that live in your bed. While it may be disturbing to think that these tiny insects have infested your home, they are incredibly common and found everywhere. However, some people have a sensitivity to them. If you think you might be one of them, visit an allergist to find out for sure and get some treatments so that you can sleep comfortably throughout the night.
You Think Something in Your Home Is Making You Sick
In addition to dust mites, there are a variety of things in your home that you can be allergic to, from dust to animal dander to mold and mildew. Even with excellent cleaning techniques, it’s impossible to get rid of all of these triggers inside your home. By making an appointment with an allergist, they’ll be able to figure out exactly what you’re allergic to and suggest some ways to reduce your symptoms.
Living with allergies can be challenging. If you suspect that you might be suffering from environmental, food or medicinal allergies, then make an appointment with an allergist to find out for sure. There’s no reason to go on suffering if you don’t have to, and this specialist will be able to pinpoint your problems and find a treatment that will work for you.
