URBANA, IL (Chambana Today) — If your eyes started watering and your nose started running sometime after your 40th birthday, you’re not imagining things. Adult-onset allergies are real, and they’re surprisingly common.
Nearly one in three adults in the U.S. have seasonal allergies, eczema, or food allergies, according to the CDC, and nearly 75 percent of those are older than 45. Experts aren’t entirely sure why allergies develop later in life, but theories include moving to a new region, a weakened immune system, or exposure to a new pet.
Breanne Gendron, a nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare, says the pattern she sees most often involves things that bloom.
“People will have them as kids and sometimes grow out of it,” Gendron said. “Then the alternative happens, where something starts bothering you as you age.”
Trees and grass are common spring triggers, while ragweed and weed pollen tend to cause problems in the fall. Mold spores peak in warm months, and dust mite allergens stick around year-round.
While most allergy symptoms are mild — sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose — Gendron says adult patients are more prone to sinus infections than younger ones.
“The dilemma about having untreated allergies is that you can get extra congestion in your sinuses, which could lead to a sinus infection,” she said.
Gendron recommends a combination of oral antihistamines, eye drops, and steroid nasal sprays, and suggests talking to a doctor about skin testing to identify specific triggers. Simple lifestyle changes can help too, including washing sheets regularly, removing bedroom carpet, showering after time outdoors, and keeping windows closed at night.
For high-exposure activities like mowing or raking, she has simple advice: plan ahead.
“Take your allergy pills before you do those things, and wear a mask to prevent yourself from breathing in more allergens,” Gendron said.
For more information, visit OSF HealthCare at osfhealthcare.org.