Allergy Symptoms: Uncovering the Root Cause
Allergy Symptoms: Uncovering the Root Cause
As the weather is warming up, do you find that allergy symptoms are starting to show up? Seasonal allergies can range from mild discomfort to major symptoms that disrupt your lifestyle. Environmental triggers cause an immune reaction within the body.
When you come in contact with a foreign trigger (such as pollen or food you’re allergic to), the immune system produces antibodies as a reaction to the allergen. This immune reaction can cause a variety of symptoms – with a different response from one person to the next.
What are Your Allergy Symptoms?
The specific allergic response you experience depends on the severity of your allergy, the level of exposure to the allergen, and the way your body reacts. Two people with the same allergy can have different symptoms because of the way their immune systems respond to the environmental allergen.
Seasonal allergy symptoms often include one or more of these symptoms:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose and congestion
- Itching eyes and nose
- Red eyes
- Swelling around the eyes
On the other hand, if you have an allergic reaction to a medication, food, or insect, your symptoms might include:
- Mouth tingling
- Hives or a rash
- Itching all over the body
- Local swelling
- Facial swelling
- Skin redness
A minor allergic reaction will often go away when you eliminate exposure to the allergen. In rare cases, people with severe allergies will have an immediate, life-threatening response: shortness of breath, wheezing, or anaphylaxis.
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Western Medicine vs. Functional Medicine
An estimated 50 million people in the United States suffer from allergies. Often, it’s thought that seasonal allergies are “just a way of life” – there’s nothing you can do to get rid of the allergies, so you need to focus on symptom management.
Allopathic Allergy Treatments
Talk to most allopathic doctors, and they will advise you to avoid the allergen trigger (if possible) and take allergy medication to manage the symptoms. For example, over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines are a standard recommendation to control the immune response.
While these solutions might offer immediate relief, they often come at a cost: short-term and long-term side effects. These drugs suppress the immune function and disrupt the delicate gut biome that plays a vital role in your immune system.
Functional Medicine Allergy Philosophy
In functional medicine, we view the symptoms as a message: the body indicates that something needs to be addressed. Instead of covering up the symptoms, our goal is to look deep to uncover why the allergic response is happening. Getting to the root cause allows us to promote true healing, which naturally helps relieve the symptoms associated with the allergic response.
The allergy symptoms will never go away if you don’t address the root cause! Since every person is unique, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for allergy treatments. Instead, we work with each patient to identify the underlying issues and then support the body's natural functions.
More Information About Seasonal Allergy Remedies
Stay tuned – we’re talking about seasonal allergies all month. Next week, our blog post will help you understand how lifestyle choices play an essential part in allergy management.
As always, our team at Back On Track Integrative Wellness, Inc. is here to support your health. If you need help with allergy management, call us any time: (916) 782-3141.
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The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. We do not aim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Information is shared for educational purposes only. You must consult your doctor before acting on any content on this website, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.
Dr. Todd W. Bunning, DC, PC
Dr. Todd W. Bunning’s chiropractic and functional medicine services reach far beyond the local Roseville area, with webcam consultations available for patients in any location. With over 20 years of Private Practice experience, Dr. Todd continues to focus on the individual: science-based methods to address whole-body health factors.
Dr. Todd’s education didn’t stop when he graduated from Life West Chiropractic College in 2003. Today, he’s continuing to receive training and is chipping away on numerous post-graduate degree programs. This unique blend of clinical health investigation and Lifestyle Medicine application helps people of all ages find the underlying factors that result in chronic disease.