Increase In Allergies

The interconnection between the body’s immune system and hormones leads to an increase in the incidence of allergies during a woman’s menopause years.

Symptoms of an allergy

Put simply, an allergy is when the body’s immune system reacts abnormally to a substance that is typically harmless to most people. The body reacts by releasing histamine in to the bloodstream which leads to a range of allergy signs. These include the relatively mild signs of sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and watery eyes to itchiness and difficult breathing and to the more severe signs of swelling causing swallowing difficulties, abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea and mental confusion. An extremely severe allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis which can be life threatening.

Types of allergies

While animal fur, pollen and food are the most common allergens, an allergic reaction can be triggered by almost anything. The most common types of allergies are hay fever, asthma, allergic eyes, allergic eczema, hives and allergic shock typically caused by a food allergen or a bee sting.