Developing allergies later in life — and what to do about it

people are indoors more often and the windows are closed Kaylene said.
Outdoor molds can also be present any time of the year. This includes wetter periods when theres significant rain and late in the year when leaves are decomposing and farmers are tilling up the ground after harvest.
Are allergies hereditary?
Genetics are certainly a factor in determining whether or not a person has allergies said Kaylene. If a parent has allergies their children are much more likely to have them. However other factors can also play a part. Prior illnesses certain foods pregnancy and environmental factors like pollution can all change a persons immune system over time and make them susceptible to allergies.
Allergies that are inherited genetically can also skip a generation. So even if your parents dont have allergy symptoms that doesnt mean that youll never have them. For example if one of your parents has a spring tree allergy you might develop the same allergy or not. Instead you might develop a ragweed allergy that makes you sneeze in the fall.
How do I know if I have allergies?
If you begin to experience allergy symptoms talk to your primary care provider. They can conduct a simple blood allergy test or refer you to an allergist for an allergy skin test.
Getting tested is important because it lets you know whats causing your symptoms so they can be treated properly. In many cases symptoms are not caused by allergies which means allergy treatments wont work.
Treatments
Unfortunately there isnt a specific diet exercise or supplement that will prevent allergies from developing. So the only remedy is to treat the symptoms.
Treating allergy symptoms is important because not doing so can lead to secondary infections. For example sinus infections and asthma can develop from severe pet dander allergies.
There are three primary treatments
Environmental controls These include things
like keeping windows closed during outdoor mold and pollen seasons keeping pets out of sleeping spaces and limiting pets outdoor time during pollen seasons.
Allergy medications These include oral antihistamines eye drops and steroid nasal sprays Kaylene said. These medications have the advantage of working fairly quickly but they typically have to be taken daily.
Immunotherapy allergy shots These shots help a person build immunity to an allergen over a period of years.