It's a little surprising to many people to find out they can develop an allergy later in life. Many people assume allergies start in childhood, but they can actually start at any time. If you find yourself suddenly sneezing or showing cold symptoms for no reason, it's possible you've developed an allergy.
Where Did Your Allergy Come From?
A few things can lead to allergies later in life.
Hidden allergies – You may already have an allergy and just don't know it. An allergy can hide for years before something triggers it. For example, you can have an allergy to a food that you rarely, or never, eat.
One day, you take a bite out of that food at a restaurant, and suddenly you have a runny nose and watery eyes. The same can occur if you move from an area with a low pollen count to an area with a high pollen count.
Weakening immune system – Various things can weaken your immune system.
- Age
- Stress
- Poor diet
- Lack of exercise
A weakened immune system invites allergies. So even if you never had an allergy before, you can develop one if your body starts to lose its ability to process certain allergens adequately.
In addition to this, your immune system may have never dealt with certain allergens. If you then start eating foods that have a lot of those unfamiliar allergens, you can overwhelm your immune system. That too will lead to an allergy.
What Else Can Develop Later in Life?
Developing allergies later in life can also lead to other complications, such as asthma. Many cases of adult onset asthma are triggered by allergies. Many of those same things that can weaken your immune system can also contribute to the development of asthma.
What You Can Do About Adult Food Allergies?
It's true that some food allergies really can appear out of nowhere. You do have a few avenues to deal with it though. The moment you suspect you're suffering from an allergy, or even asthma symptoms, you should see an allergist like Diane L. Ozog, MD, SC. You can also go to your general practitioner who will likely refer you to an allergist or asthma specialist who can help.
The specialist can help you to identify exactly what's causing your allergic reactions. They can also help you with techniques, treatments, and medications to help you mitigate your allergic reactions. Developing a food allergy can open the door to other allergies, so it's in your best interest to deal with the issue as soon as possible.
