Surprising Allergy Triggers
If you suffer from allergies, you know that pet dander, dust, and pollen can trigger your symptoms, but they aren’t the only culprits. Here’s a list of some surprising allergy causes, courtesy of Yahoo! Health.
- Chocolate. For some people, eating it can be as irritating as standing in a field of flowers during peak pollen season. Dr. Steven Park is an ear, nose, and throat specialist in New York. He says people who are allergic to chocolate get a kind of migraine in the nose, where the nerve endings overreact and cause swelling and itching.
- Cloudy weather. Experts say changes in temperature, air pressure, and humidity can increase allergy symptoms and cause sinus pain, pressure, and headaches. One woman mentioned in the article says her son breaks out in hives whenever the weather turns cold.
- On the flip side, the sun can also trigger allergies, like painful rashes and hive-like bumps, a condition known as photo-sensitivity, or sun allergy. Experts say it happens when the body’s immune system overreacts to sunlight and produces an inflammatory cell reaction that releases histamine. If you have a sun allergy, your doctor may recommend changing your medications or trying something called ‘phototherapy’ treatment, which can help your skin build up a tolerance to the sun’s rays.
- You can also develop an allergy to wine – and it builds up over time. You may not experience anything the first time you drink a Pinot or Chardonnay, but for some, even just a little sip can bring on red, blotchy skin and flu-like symptoms. People who are allergic to wine can be allergic to yeast, sulfites, or to the grapes themselves.
- Finally, there’s stress. Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo is a psychologist in Pennsylvania. She says stress releases certain allergy-causing chemicals, and although stress doesn’t cause allergies, it can make your allergy symptoms much worse.
