{"id":12905,"date":"2021-05-08T09:00:30","date_gmt":"2021-05-08T14:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=12905"},"modified":"2024-05-15T14:11:04","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T19:11:04","slug":"getting-allergies-as-an-adult-and-what-to-do-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/getting-allergies-as-an-adult-and-what-to-do-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Developing allergies later in life \u2014 and what to do about it"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re an adult who doesn\u2019t suffer from allergies, congratulations!<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t celebrate just yet. Those nasty symptoms \u2013 itchy eyes, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and coughing \u2013 might still be in your future.<\/p>\n

While about 80% of people with allergies acquire them during childhood, allergies can also develop later in life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen allergies develop in people as late as their 60s and 70s,\u201d said Kaylene Freitag, APRN<\/a>, an advanced practice nurse specializing in allergies at OSF HealthCare. \u201cThey can happen any time.\u201d<\/p>\n

What are allergies?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cAn allergy occurs when a person\u2019s body is exposed to something, and their immune system sees it as a foreign invader and has an overactive response,\u201d Kaylene said. \u201cThe body produces antibodies to fight the substance, which triggers the allergy symptoms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese \u2018invaders\u2019 are things that would never actually cause harm, such as pollen, animal dander, dust mites, medications and latex. They\u2019re things that most people\u2019s bodies tolerate just fine and have no problems. But for unknown reasons, some people either have an allergic reaction during childhood or later as an adult.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seasonal and perennial allergies<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You can develop allergies no matter where you live, and about 20% of adults suffer from one or more types. Inhalant allergies are caused by things people breathe in, and there are two types: seasonal and perennial.<\/p>\n

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Think you may have allergies?<\/p>\n

Talk to your primary care provider<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Seasonal allergies<\/strong> only occur during specific times of the year. While people can be allergic to certain trees and grasses year-round, the pollen from these plants is the allergen (the substance causing the allergic reaction) that brings seasonal discomfort. Once the pollination season is complete and the pollen dissipates, allergy symptoms tend to subside.<\/p>\n

How long seasonal allergies last depends on where you live. For example, the three main allergy seasons in the Midwestern United States are:<\/p>\n