Most sufferers will agree allergies can be the bane of our lives
Theoretically, as allergic reactions are a result of our immune response to something we can be allergic to everything and anything. However there are a few things that you'll likely be around daily, touching, eating and drinking, that you could actually be allergic to without knowing.
Some are incredibly common, such as dust, but others not so much and might only be felt if you travel or move country. Here are five things you could be or become allergic to that you're likely around daily.
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Dust (specifically dust mites)
House dust mites are tiny creatures that live off shedded human skin scales or dust. If you're allergic to dust mites, what you're actually allergic to is most often proteins in their droppings, which each dust mite will create about 20 of each day.
It's a very common allergy and has been associated with ashthma, eczema and hay fever.
There are ways to help relieve the symptoms, such as washing all bedding every week, though it is unlikely you will be able to wholly remove the dust mite allergens from the home.
Coffee (caffeine)
Though rare caffeine allergy is real and in severe cases can lead to some very uncomfortable side effects. If you suffer from a caffeine allergy you might get symptoms including hives and itchy red bumps on your skin as well as an itchy mouth and swollern lips.
You're likely to have a caffeine allergy if you experience any of these symptoms within about an hour of drinking coffee or consuming caffeine.
Pollution
Air pollution is another everyday thing you might be allergic to. The chemicals, like nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide pumped into the air by cars and other vehicles, as well as from other sources, can trigger respiratory symptoms according to Allergy UK, and can exacerbate the symptoms of hay fever for those who suffer it.
Steak
Red meat allergy is a thing, likely to the dismay of people who like a good steak. Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS, also known as red meat allergy) can be a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
However, we should be safe here in Merseyside as there is growing evidence to suggest that red met allergy is triggered by a type of tick called the lone star tick which exists in the United States.
Alcohol
It's quite normal to experience symptoms that might feel like an allergy after drinking alcohol, but a proper allergy to alcohol is extremely rare though reactions such as skin rashes to alcohol have been recorded. Some alcoholic drinks can contain histamine which can cause headaches, flushing, symptoms in the gut or nasal passages and asthma.
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