We have all heard about adult-onset diabetes. Well, now I have thought of a new term: adult-onset allergies. What is that? First, let’s define what an allergy, or allergic reaction, is. In the glossary of Amsco’s Living Environment: Biology, Revised Edition, the term allergic reaction is defined as an “over-reaction of the body’s immune system.” This means that the body has an excessive response to a substance in its environment, either external (e.g., pollen or mold spores) or internal (e.g., a shot of penicillin or a bee sting). An allergic reaction can be anything from mildly unpleasant (like itchy, watery eyes) to seriously life-threatening (i.e., anaphylactic shock, with swelling of the throat and an inability to breathe).
So, why am I suddenly concerned with possible adult-onset allergies? Because I think I just got one! For the past week, I have been having the following symptoms: I feel like someone stuck a cork in my right ear; I am a bit dizzy and wobbly; and I am more tired than usual, with aches and sniffles. I went to my doctor and found out that I probably do not have a cold, flu, or bacterial infection. So, in my mind, that leaves allergies as the culprit. And this season, pollen-related allergies are said to be among the worst they have been in years. Even the helpful doctor I happened to talk to in my pharmacy’s medicine aisle was suffering from sniffles and red, watery eyes. I guess he can empathize with his patients!
According to MedicineNet.com, the “symptoms of allergies and colds can be similar,” so the site has provided a neat little chart that can help you determine whether you have a typical cold or an allergy to some substance. I have reproduced it below, as follows:
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