As we mentioned in our last blog, individuals with seasonal allergies should create an allergy action plan to help manage symptoms and avoid specific allergy triggers.
An effective allergy action plan is tailored to the unique healthcare needs of a patient and when they are likely to experience an allergic reaction. However, it helps for family members, friends, and co-workers to understand some of the nation’s most common allergy types to boost prevention efforts.
In the United States, allergies are one of the most prevalent health conditions in the country. Statistics captured by the Asthma and Allergy Association highlight the widespread impact of allergies on millions of Americans:
- Allergies affect 50 million people each year and are the 6th leading cause of chronic disease in the United States.
- 8.5 percent of all adults and 8.2 percent of all children in the U.S reported cases of hay fever.
- The cost of treating allergies exceeds $18 billion each year.
- Food allergies alone cost roughly $25 billion to treat.
Because allergies impact so many people it helps to have a basic understanding of the most common allergies. Allergy knowledge allows family members and friends to be more proactive in the care of their loved ones who may have an allergy.
Here are the top three allergies in the United States and some basic steps to help treatment and manage food allergies:
Food allergies are extremely common and are not limited to specific types of food
Food allergies are medical conditions that trigger harmful symptoms in the body when a patient comes into contact with a food trigger. People with food allergies experience an allergic reaction because their overactive immune system attacks proteins in the body that are normally harmless.
The Food Allergy Research and Education group recorded some of the most common triggers and allergies in the U.S:
- Over 170 foods are reported to cause allergic reactions.
- The top eight foods that contribute to the greatest number of allergies includes milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and crustacean shellfish.
- Nearly 32 million people have a food allergy in the United States and 40 percent of children with food allergies are allergic to more than one food type.
- Between 1997 and 2011, food allergies increased by more than 50 percent.
If you know someone that has a food allergy, make sure you’re always mindful of their dietary restrictions whenever going out for a meal or preparing one at home. Additionally, it helps to keep a heads up whenever there is a potential chance of a loved one coming into contact with a food allergy.
Medicine Allergies are also extremely common in the United States
Drug allergies are similar to other types of allergies in that exposure to the allergen creates a harmful reaction, or potentially analyphaxis, in the patient. In this case, the exposure to a medication or medicine is the cause of the allergy reaction.
Medication-based allergies can be extremely difficult to manage so make sure you see a trusted medical professional or an allergist to properly diagnose your allergy. A few common triggers of drug allergies as listed by the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) include:
- Penicillin and antibiotics
- Sulfonamides and related antibiotics
- Anticonvulsants
- Aspirin and similar anti-inflammatory drugs
- Chemotherapy drugs
Most individuals can get diagnosed for medicine allergies with a skin test or a specialized drug challenge administered by an allergist. As always make a specialized action plan to help avoid triggers and always let medical providers know about your allergy immediately.
Allergic Rhinitis, or “hay fever,” impacts millions of children and adults alike
Between 40 to 60 million adults and children suffer from allergic rhinitis, or “hay fever,” each year. Hay fever develops as the body comes into contact with respiratory triggers, which include a lot of potential allergens.
The ACAAI reports that hay fever comes in many forms such as seasonal and perennial stages. Seasonal hay fever takes place in the spring and summer from triggers including pollen, mold, and similar spores from blooming plants. Individuals with perennial hay fever experience symptoms year-round from triggers such as dust mites, pet dander, or indoor mold.
Patients that suffer from hay fever should try and keep windows closed when possible, use hypo-allergenic bedding, and limit outdoor contact during days with higher-than-normal pollen counts.
Most cases of hay fever are treated with over-the-counter medications like nasal spray and eye drops. However, patients should visit a nearby urgent care center if they need more comprehensive treatment and if over-the-counter treatments don’t work.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Denver Speer, and our other local urgent care centers, for fast allergy treatment
The good news for patients with allergies, or people that have family members with allergies, is that AFC Urgent Care Denver is always happy to provide immediate allergy symptom relief.
When other forms of at home prevention or treatment are not enough patients can visit us at 777 E. Speer Boulevard for treatment in just a few minutes. In addition, AFC Urgent Care Denver has multiple convenient locations across the city.
Use any of the buttons below to schedule an appointment now without having to wait. However, we always accept patients on a walk-in basis at any of our centers to help provide high-quality allergy treatment:
RESERVE MY SPOT at denver Speer
RESERVE MY SPOT at Denver highlands
