Allergies: What to Do and How to Live With Them

Dr. Boris Wydoff

An allergy is the body's reaction to substances that are usually harmless to most people. If you develop itching, a runny nose, a rash, or watery eyes, try to stop contact with the possible allergen. For mild, familiar symptoms, you can use an antihistamine previously approved by your doctor, following the instructions. If you have a runny nose, you can rinse it with a saline solution. If you experience difficulty breathing, sudden swelling of the tongue or throat, severe dizziness, or loss of consciousness, call emergency services immediately. Do not try to treat a severe reaction with home remedies.

What Is an Allergy in Simple Terms, and Why Does It Occur?

Imagine the body encountering an ordinary substance that poses no danger to most people but triggers a protective response in someone else. This is a simple way to explain what an allergy is. Substances that trigger this kind of reaction are called allergens.

An allergen can be a familiar food, household dust, or plant pollen. Doctors also list pets, insect bites, and certain medications among the common causes. For example, one person may react after contact with a cat, while another can spend time around animals without experiencing any symptoms.

Food allergens also vary. Common examples include peanuts, milk, and eggs. However, having these foods in your diet does not mean you will necessarily develop an allergic reaction. It is important to distinguish a confirmed allergy from assumptions based only on unpleasant sensations after eating.

Allergies vary in their symptoms and severity. For some people, they cause nothing more than a runny nose and itchy skin. For others, they affect the respiratory or digestive systems. In some cases, a reaction develops rapidly and becomes life-threatening.

Do not assume that being allergy-free when you were young means you cannot develop an allergy later in life. If you notice new or recurring symptoms, it is better to investigate them with a specialist rather than dismissing everything as age, fatigue, or an ordinary cold.

What Are the Symptoms of an Allergy, and What Should You Look For?

An allergic reaction can begin within minutes of contact with a trigger, although the first signs sometimes appear several hours later. Symptoms depend on the allergen the body encounters and how severe the reaction is.

The most common symptoms include:

• A runny nose, frequent sneezing, and nasal congestion.
• Red eyes, watery eyes, and irritation around the eyes.
• Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
• Itchy skin, redness, and raised rashes resembling hives.
• Swelling around the eyes, lips, mouth, or throat.
• Abdominal pain and cramps, bloating, and diarrhea.
• Nausea and, sometimes, vomiting.

One person may experience several symptoms at once. For example, after contact with an allergen, they may develop a runny nose, watery eyes, and itchy skin at the same time. Another person may experience only digestive symptoms.

Sometimes symptoms do not appear immediately, making it difficult to connect them with a particular food or situation. It is helpful to write down what you ate, where you were, and what you came into contact with before the first signs appeared. Record the time the reaction began and how long it lasted. This information can help your doctor identify a possible pattern.

Pay particular attention to sudden changes in breathing and swelling. Do not wait for your condition to get worse if signs of a severe reaction appear. Even if your previous allergic reactions were mild, that does not mean future episodes will necessarily be the same.

When new symptoms appear, first assess your overall condition. If the symptoms are mild, stop any possible contact with the trigger and record the circumstances. If your condition deteriorates rapidly, or you develop throat swelling, shortness of breath, or severe dizziness, you need emergency medical care.

How Can You Tell an Allergy From a Cold or Other Conditions?

A runny nose, red eyes, coughing, and skin rashes do not occur only with allergies. Similar signs can accompany other illnesses and conditions. That is why it is wrong to determine the cause based on a single symptom alone.

For example, sneezing and nasal congestion can occur with a cold, but they are also common reactions to pollen or household dust. Skin redness can have many different causes, and itching alone does not prove that you have an allergy.

Think about the circumstances in which your symptoms appear. Do they occur after eating certain foods? Do they return when you clean the house? Do they get worse when you spend time outdoors during pollen season? These observations will give your doctor additional information.

Keeping a symptom diary is helpful. Record the date, time, foods you have eaten, possible contact with allergens, and any symptoms that appear. Do not draw conclusions from a single entry. What matters more are recurring circumstances and their connection with your symptoms.

However, even if symptoms repeatedly appear after a particular exposure, this does not establish a diagnosis on its own. To identify the cause, your doctor will consider your symptoms, examine you, and order tests if necessary.

Skin tests and blood tests may be used for diagnosis. In some cases, a specialist may suggest a supervised challenge test in which a suspected food allergen is introduced gradually, with increasing amounts, under medical supervision. You should never carry out these experiments with food on your own.

Do not try to diagnose yourself based on a photograph of a rash or descriptions of similar symptoms on the internet. Symptoms that look alike can have different causes. A medical professional can help identify the nature of the reaction and choose the right course of action.

What Can You Eat and Drink When You Have an Allergy?

Diet matters primarily when a reaction is linked to particular foods. Doctors list peanuts, milk, and eggs among the common food allergens. But this does not mean that everyone with allergies needs to eliminate these foods from their diet.

If you develop symptoms after eating a particular food, write down exactly what you ate, how much you consumed, and what symptoms followed. It is also useful to note when the reaction appeared and the circumstances in which it began. This information will be helpful when you speak with a specialist.

If you suspect a food allergy, do not test your tolerance by eating the suspected allergen again. Avoid the suspected food until you have consulted an allergist. It is especially important not to give it to a child to test their reaction. Your doctor will determine which tests are necessary and whether the food can be safely reintroduced into your diet later.

There is no need to switch to a strict diet or eliminate several food groups at once without a good reason. Dietary restrictions on your own will not reliably identify the cause of an allergy. Be especially careful about making major dietary changes later in life, when a balanced diet is important for your overall well-being.

As for what to drink when you have an allergy, there is no universal juice, tea, or other beverage that can eliminate an allergic reaction. Choosing a drink as a substitute for medical care is not the right approach. If you suspect a reaction to a particular food or one of its ingredients, discuss it with a specialist.

Bee products deserve special attention. Honey, propolis, and pollen are not automatically safe just because they are natural. Propolis and pollen can cause itching, rashes, and other allergic symptoms in sensitive people. If you suspect you may react to these products, do not test your tolerance on your own.

What Is in Bloom Right Now, and Why Do Allergies Flare Up in Certain Months?

One common allergen is pollen from trees and grasses. Seasonal allergic reactions are often called hay fever. They can cause a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and other symptoms.

Many people ask what is in bloom in August and why nasal and eye problems start at that time. The answer depends on the region and the particular season. That is why it is impossible to create a universal pollen calendar that applies equally to everyone in the country.

If your symptoms return at a certain time of year, it is helpful to record when they appear and the circumstances surrounding them. For example, note when you spend more time outdoors, clean your home, or visit places with lots of plants. Comparing these observations can help your doctor assess whether there is a seasonal pattern.

If you have a confirmed seasonal allergy, you are generally advised to limit contact with the relevant allergen whenever possible. However, there is no need to completely change your usual lifestyle without understanding the cause. Your doctor can help determine whether the reaction is actually related to pollen and recommend appropriate treatment.

My Advice: My Perspective on Allergies and Overall Health

First. I advise being careful with bee products. In my book, I specifically warn that propolis and pollen can cause allergic reactions. Sensitive people may experience itching, rashes, and other unpleasant symptoms. In my experience, the fact that a product is natural does not mean it is suitable for everyone. If you suspect that a product is causing an allergy, I recommend avoiding it completely until you have consulted an allergist. Do not test your tolerance, even with a small amount.

Second. I pay attention to the connection between allergies and the body's overall condition. In my books, I write that allergies, acne, unpleasant body odor, and headaches can be signs of what I call self-poisoning. I do not view these symptoms in isolation, but as possible signals of a broader problem. This is my naturopathic perspective, based on the principles I follow in my practice.

Third. I advise not overlooking the intestines when discussing overall health. In my books, I explain my theory of intestinal deposits in detail. In my view, undigested food residues can accumulate in the folds of the large intestine, and harmful substances associated with them can affect the entire body. I connect this concept with certain allergic symptoms as well. This is my own theory, not a medically established explanation of allergies.

Fourth. I believe it is important to consider allergies in the context of other health issues. In my book, I list allergies, asthma, and skin diseases among the conditions for which, in my opinion, a comprehensive naturopathic approach may be helpful. I do not recommend focusing exclusively on a single symptom while ignoring other complaints and a person's overall well-being. At the same time, modern medicine explains allergies primarily as an immune response to a specific allergen, not as a result of intestinal deposits or self-poisoning.

I firmly believe that we need to pay close attention to our bodies. However, my naturopathic views do not replace medical diagnosis and treatment. When dealing with allergies, it is important to identify possible triggers, discuss your symptoms with a specialist, and not refuse prescribed medical care. Do not experiment on your own with foods that may have caused a reaction or stop taking medication in favor of natural methods.

When to See a Doctor

When should you call an ambulance?

Some allergic reactions develop very quickly and require immediate medical attention. Anaphylaxis, a severe systemic allergic reaction, is particularly dangerous because it can be life-threatening. Call emergency services immediately if you experience:

• Sudden swelling of the tongue, lips, mouth, or throat.
• Severe difficulty breathing, choking, or very rapid breathing.
• A feeling of tightness in the throat or an inability to swallow normally.
• Blue, gray, or unusually pale skin, lips, or tongue.
• Sudden severe dizziness, confusion, or extreme drowsiness.
• Loss of consciousness followed by failure to regain awareness.
• In a child: unusual lethargy or a lack of normal response to their surroundings.

If you suspect anaphylaxis, call emergency services and tell the dispatcher that a severe allergic reaction may be occurring. If the person has been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector, it should be used according to the instructions. Until medical help arrives, the person should lie down and, if necessary, raise their legs. If they have difficulty breathing, you can carefully raise their shoulders or help them slowly move into a sitting position.

Do not stand up or walk around, even if you feel better after the initial measures. Do not try to replace emergency medical care with antihistamines or home remedies. A severe allergic reaction requires hospital treatment.

When should you make a routine doctor's appointment?

See a doctor if you suspect that you or your child has developed an allergy. You do not need to wait for a severe attack before finding out what is causing recurring symptoms.

An examination is particularly useful if you regularly experience a runny nose, sneezing, itching, skin rashes, watery eyes, or digestive problems that may be linked to certain foods or other triggers.

Your doctor will assess your symptoms, perform an examination, and order skin tests or blood tests if necessary. In some cases, you may need to consult an allergy specialist. Before your appointment, prepare notes about your symptoms, possible exposures, and foods that have triggered a reaction.

Treatment methods depend on the type of allergy and the severity of the reaction. Your doctor may recommend limiting contact with the allergen, antihistamines, nasal sprays, tablets, or special creams. The choice depends on which symptoms are most prominent and how severe the reaction is.

Antihistamines are used to reduce allergic symptoms. Nasal medications may be used for symptoms affecting the nose, while topical medications can help with certain skin symptoms. You should agree on the specific medication, dosage, frequency, and duration of use with your doctor and follow the instructions. There is no universal treatment plan that works for everyone with allergies. Do not combine several medications or increase the dosage on your own if symptoms persist.

Immunotherapy is available for certain types of allergies. With this approach, exposure to the allergen is gradually increased under medical supervision so that the body may become less sensitive to it over time. Never attempt these procedures on your own.

If your doctor has already prescribed treatment, continue following their recommendations. Natural methods and lifestyle changes should never become a reason to stop taking medication on your own. If warning signs appear, do not delay seeking emergency medical care.

You can read more about how I approach this subject on the “Immune System” page.

Boris Wydoff — naturopath and author, Ph.D. in nutrition. For over fifty years I have helped people restore health through nutrition, cleansing and the power of the mind — in Europe, America and Asia. About the author →

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