Yep, this can happen.
Heres what you should know about this fun new developmentand how to effectively handle adult-onset allergies.
Food and environmental allergies are different in a few major ways.
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An allergy is your immune system reactingor rather, overreactingto something it considers to be a threat.
In the first year of getting their symptoms, people might think, Do I haveCOVID?
Do I have the flu?
Usually, through a few seasons, people figure it out.
If youre reacting to something in your diet, yoursymptomswill probably clue you in.
One reason for this is that seasonal allergies are more common than food allergies.
An estimated 25.7% of adults have a seasonal allergy, while 6.2% have a food allergy.
For kids, those numbers are 18.9% and 5.8% percent, respectively.
Researchindicates that shellfish is the most common adult-onset food allergy.
Other food allergies that might strike in adulthood include sensitivities to peanuts and tree nuts.
Why do some allergies develop later in life?
In the sense of cold, hard facts, its sort of a mystery.
Even so, research supports several contributing causes behind allergies that show up in adulthood.
People with a family history of allergies are more likely to develop them, says Dr. Gupta.
Our results support the notion that early and late onset allergic disease have partly distinct genetic architectures.
So if youre suddenly sneezing around your dog, you might be able to blame your mom.
The immune system is complex and always changing, which can influence the way we react to allergens.
And, yep, that extends to adult-onset allergies.
Your first order of business is to see a primary care physician.
They might conductallergy testsand prescribe medications, allergy shots, or other therapies to help ease your symptoms.
If you suspect you have environmental allergieswhere your symptoms may be persistent and annoying, but not life-threateningDr.
Gupta says to keep a log it’s possible for you to then share with your medical provider.
This data can help providers land on a diagnosis and care plan for you.
Some treatment options include medications like antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays.
Allergies cause inflammation, so anti-inflammatory medications like steroids can also help.
For food allergies, talk with your doctor about an epinephrine injector prescription.
For relief from environmental allergies, Dr. Craig suggests using oral antihistamines or nasal steroids.
confirm to keep your injector with youlike in your purse or pocketat all times.
