Have you noticed that you have been waking up with a scratchy throat recently? Maybe you experience watery eyes or even sniffles here and there? Don’t be alarmed, it may not be the feared coronavirus that has taken the past year by storm, but rather a case of seasonal allergies.

What Are Allergies?

Most people have heard of allergies, but many do not know the causes and symptoms of this condition. An allergy is an immune response that occurs when a foreign substance enters your body and causes a negative reaction. This response is a result of an overreaction of the body’s natural defense system; for example, some people may be allergic to food items or drugs that are seemingly harmless to the majority of the population. Some allergens, substances that cause an allergic reaction, include pollen, nuts, prescription drugs, pet hair, and much more. Allergies are most common in children, yet adults are now developing them later in life.

Allergic Reactions: Do I Have Allergies Too?

While the most commonly associated symptoms for allergies include the more mild runny nose or watery eyes, there is also the possibility for a more serious, life-threatening reaction. Some examples are listed below: 

• Hives: itchy, red bumps that are often triggered by certain foods or medications

• Allergic Conjunctivitis: redding, itchy, or swelling of the eyes

• Eczema: itching, reddening, and flaking or peeling of the skin when exposed to an allergen

• Asthma: a chronic lung disease characterized by coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing

• Facial pressure, cough, and thick nasal discharge

• Watery eyes, congestion, sneezing, etc for more than 3 weeks

• Anaphylactic Shock: a life-threatening reaction characterized by the feeling of warmth, flushing, a red, itchy rash, feelings of light-headedness, shortness of breath, throat tightness, anxiety, pain/cramps, and/or vomiting and diarrhea 

• Drop-in blood pressure, resulting in a loss of consciousness and shock

I Don’t Have Allergies, So Why Does This Affect Me?

Now, why should we be concerned with allergies? You may very well know someone who has an allergy, whether that be a family member, a loved one, a coworker, or even a friend. In addition to the millions of year-round allergy cases, around 10-30% of people worldwide have indicated that they have seasonal allergies. Even if you currently don’t have allergies as an adult, you are still able to develop these symptoms and conditions as you age.

Aging and Allergies: Is This Just Another Myth?

If you were lucky, you have lived an allergy-free childhood. You never had to worry about eating the wrong foods or being prevented from petting the cute puppy to avoid a life-threatening reaction. However, you are not in the clear just yet. A 2017 study suggests that as the human life expectancy increases alongside industrialization, we are more susceptible to developing allergies, even into our late 60s. Even though there is significantly more research focusing on allergies in adolescent and youth groups, the growing subpopulation of adults (above the age of 65) has given a clear insight into the immunological changes that we all may one day experience.

What Causes the Development of Allergies in Adults?

There are many contributors to the shifting range of allergy-inflicted populations. The first of which includes age-related changes, specifically immunosenescence. Immunosenescence is the remodeling of the immune system as one ages, which causes an increased rate of inflammation as well as a decreased response to negative foreign invaders. This means that as we get older, our immune system will begin to weaken and allow for more bodily overreactions, such as allergies.

The second contributor includes environmental factors. As industrialization and urbanization change our landscape and ways of life, it also affects the way our bodily defense systems work. With more pollution and irritants, some of which are allergens, we are being bombarded with these foreign invaders that the body may not be able to readily process. The environmental impact may lead to increased severity of reaction to already prevalent reactions.

The last contributor worth mentioning is a genetic component. Our genetics are the blueprint for who we are. Allergies may have a genetic link, which means people may be able to pass down this condition to their children. You may have noticed a child having similar allergies as one of their parents, for example. While some allergies can occur sporadically, it is common to look at one’s medical family tree in order to see if there is a higher chance of obtaining such a condition, even in the later years of life.

Final Thoughts

Allergies are not what they were previously known to be. As researchers conduct studies on different age cohorts, it is becoming clear that the source of this condition is not a thing of the past. Even if you were not afflicted with allergies as a child, you are still at risk of developing them and suffering from a negative reaction. It is important now, more than ever, to learn about allergies, why they happen, and how we can remedy these bodily overreactions. Instead of fearing the impacts of our aging population in regards to allergies, we should become equipped with the knowledge to help keep our loved ones and ourselves protected.