It is possible to have an allergy to both pollen and animal dander simultaneously. What does it mean to your constitution if you have both of these allergies? This article will explain.
What is Pollen Allergy?
Pollen allergy is also known as hay fever. It is caused by proteins in pollen that the body attacks with an allergic reaction because it thinks that the substance is harmful. Pollen allergy can be caused by plants that emit pollen. The allergy is seasonal because pollens are mostly emitted in spring and in the fall. Ragweed is the most common allergic trigger. It is something that can grow anywhere and, therefore, it is hard to escape from.
What is Allergy to Animal Dander?
Animal dander allergy is when you suffer from allergy symptoms when in contact with furry animals such as cats and dogs. Symptoms include hives, rash, runny nose and itchy eyes.
Simultaneous Animal Dander and Pollen Allergy
Studies have shown that if you are a sufferer of both hay fever or pollen allergy and allergy to pets, your allergic symptoms are going to be more severe than if you only have one of these allergies. It is common that people who have both of these allergies simultaneously do not get symptoms often. It is only when the symptoms occur that they are likely to cause more than usual amount of trouble when compared to normal allergy symptoms.
The studies that have illuminated this issue were published in The Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and they indicate that animal dander allergies make it more likely that a person gets other allergies, such as hay fever, as well. This might be because the immune system is weakened by the existing allergy. This results in the body being less able to withstand allergens of other kinds. This makes it more likely that another allergy will develop.
