Understanding Your Allergies: A Guide to Common Allergy Triggers and Symptoms

We understand that allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to typically harmless substances—known as allergens. Identifying and managing these allergens is essential for your health and quality of life. Our team specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of allergic conditions triggered by common allergens. Some of the most frequent allergy triggers we help our patients with include:

● Dust Mites: These microscopic organisms thrive in household dust and are a leading cause of indoor allergies, especially for those with chronic nasal symptoms and asthma.

● Pet Dander: Proteins found in the skin, saliva, and urine of cats, dogs, and other animals can provoke allergic responses, often worsening asthma or causing persistent allergy symptoms.

● Mold Spores: Mold grows in damp environments both indoors and outdoors and can trigger respiratory and skin symptoms in sensitive individuals.

● Food Allergens: Foods such as milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish are the most common culprits in food allergies, which can range from mild to life-threatening reactions.

At Allergy & Asthma Center, we provide comprehensive testing to identify your specific triggers and offer tailored treatment plans—including allergy shots (immunotherapy), medication management, and education on allergen avoidance. Our goal is to help you breathe easier, control your symptoms, and improve your overall well-being.

At Allergy & Asthma Center, we know it can be difficult to tell whether your symptoms are due to allergies or a common cold—especially since both can cause sneezing, runny nose, and congestion. However, there are some important differences that can help you, and our specialists, make an accurate diagnosis.

Allergies often cause a clear, watery nasal discharge, persistent sneezing, and itching of the eyes, nose, or throat. These symptoms typically appear suddenly after exposure to allergens such as pollen, dust mites, or pet dander, and will linger as long as you’re in contact with the trigger. Unlike the cold or flu, allergies do not cause fever or body aches.
Colds, on the other hand, usually develop gradually and are more likely to be accompanied by a sore throat, mild fever, body aches, and a thicker or yellowish nasal discharge. Cold symptoms usually clear up within a week to ten days.

If your symptoms—like itchy eyes or sneezing—last longer than two weeks or seem to get worse in certain environments, they may be allergy-related. Seasonal allergies, for example, can persist for weeks or even months. If you have a fever, sore throat, and your symptoms resolve in about a week, a cold is more likely.

Seasonal allergies—also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis—are among the most common conditions we treat. These allergies occur when your immune system reacts to airborne allergens like pollen, especially during certain times of the year.

If you’re experiencing frequent sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, or itchy, watery eyes—particularly during spring, summer, or fall—you may be dealing with seasonal allergies. Redness and swelling around the eyes, as well as an itchy sensation in your nose, throat, or the roof of your mouth, are also common symptoms. Some patients notice a mild cough or postnasal drip, which occurs when mucus irritates the back of the throat. While fever is not typical, you might feel tired or fatigued from these persistent symptoms.

Symptoms often worsen outdoors on dry, windy days when pollen counts are high. If you notice these signs returning at the same time each year, it’s a good indication that seasonal allergies are the cause.

We understand that food allergies can significantly impact your health and quality of life. Food allergies develop when your immune system mistakenly identifies certain proteins in food as harmful, triggering an allergic reaction. Even trace amounts of the allergenic food can cause your body to release chemicals such as histamine, leading to a variety of symptoms.

If you or your child has a food allergy, you may notice symptoms affecting multiple parts of the body shortly after eating the problematic food. These can include:
● Skin reactions: Hives, redness, or swelling often appear quickly.
● Digestive issues: Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
● Respiratory symptoms: Runny nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath.
● Swelling: Lips, tongue, throat, or face swelling, which can interfere with breathing or swallowing.

In rare but serious cases, food allergies can lead to anaphylaxis, a rapid and potentially life-threatening reaction. Symptoms may include a sudden drop in blood pressure, rapid pulse, dizziness, or loss of consciousness. Anaphylaxis requires immediate emergency care.

Early recognition and treatment of food allergies are crucial to preventing serious complications. At Allergy & Asthma Center, our team provides comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and management plans tailored to each patient. We offer:
● Expert allergy testing to identify specific food triggers
● Personalized treatment strategies, including education on avoidance and emergency action plans
● Support and guidance for living safely with food allergies

If you suspect a food allergy, don’t wait—schedule a consultation with Allergy & Asthma Center today. Our priority is your health and safety. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations in Atlanta GA, Conyers GA and Lawrenceville GA. We serve patients from Atlanta GA, Conyers GA, Lawrenceville GA, Suwanee GA, Duluth GA, Grayson GA, Decatur GA, Brookhaven GA, Lithonia GA and Covington GA.