Exposure to cigarette smoke can increase the risk of respiratory infections, asthma, bronchitis, and sinusitis. Chemical additives and fragrances in soaps are common causes of skin allergies rather than the cleaning chemicals. Pollen from wind-pollinated plants like trees and grasses are a major cause of airborne allergies due to their small, lightweight particles. Sulfites used as preservatives in some foods can cause mild to severe allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Contact with the oil from poison ivy, oak, or sumac plants can cause a skin rash, and inhalation can also cause respiratory irritation. The article provides information on common indoor and outdoor allergens and symptoms.

1. Learn To Avoid Allergies

2. Cigarette Smoke Allergy

3. • Research shows that respiratory infections and asthma
are higher in the family smoking individuals. Smoking is
harmful to everybody. People exposed to secondhand
smoke will likely increase the risk of allergic
complications such as bronchitis and sinusitis.
• Moreover, exposure to secondhand smoke may increase
allergic complications like bronchitis and sinusitis. The
risks of obtaining allergic complications such as sinusitis
and bronchitis may increase with exposure to
secondhand smoke. Each time a cigarette is lit, it harms
the people in the surroundings.

4. Detergent Allergy (soap)

5. • Did you ever think that it's the chemicals in the cleaning
products are making you scratch your skin? Surprise: “Most of
the skin reactions are not caused by the cleaning chemicals but
by perfume additives,” Dr. Wedner says. Almost all soaps and
detergents contain plant extracts to make them more appealing
to the consumers.
• The skin may react with irritation, and give you itchiness due to
rashes.” What to do: Do not use soaps that are non-organic,
scented, have additives and contain phthalate. Read the label of
the soaps. Be mindful of “diethyl phthalate” found on the labels
of various products. Phthalates are known to cause allergic
reactions even when they are helpful in improving texture. Tide,
Ivory, and Dove are less irritating products, as well as other
organic brands.

6. Pollen Allergies

7. • Plants produce tiny, round or oval pollen grains for
reproduction. They are too tiny to see with the naked eye. While
other plant species use cross-pollination, some use the pollen
from its own flowers to fertilize its own self. Other plants should
be cross-pollinated by other plants of their own specie.
• For cross-pollination, pollen must be transferred from the
flower of one plant to that of another of the same species in
order for fertilization to take place and seeds to form.
Sometimes, it is the job of the insects to pollinate flowering
plants. Others rely on the wind to transport pollen. Plain-
looking plants such as trees, grasses, and weeds; the ones that do
not have showy flowers, are the types of pollen that commonly
cause allergic reactions. In order for pollens produced by these
plants to be suitable for air transport, they must be dry,
lightweight and small.

8. Sulfite Allergy

9. • Sulfites are a group of naturally occurring sulfur-based compounds. They are
sometimes added to enhance and preserve some food. An estimate of one out of
a hundred people sensitive to these compounds has been given by the FDA
Sensitivity to sulfites have vague roots. Moreover, it may arise in an individual
at any given time.
• A reaction to sulfites varies from mild to fatal in sensitive individuals. Since
1986, a ban has been implemented by the FDA against the use of sulfites on
fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw. Manufacturers of processed products
are required by law to list sulfites on their product labels when used. A variety
of cooked and processed foods have added sulfites in their ingredients. Fresh
foods no longer contain sulfites. Wine and beer have naturally occurring
sulfites.
• It is essential for people with sulfite sensitivity to avoid products which contain
sulfites. Individuals with sulfite sensitivity are advised to read labels on all food
products. To assure that you are eating sulfite free meals when dining out,
inquire from the kitchen staff if sulfite had been used at any point in the food
preparation.

10. Poison Ivy Allergy

11. • The irritant property of poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak is due to its urushiol content.
Grazing urushiol with the skin will produce a rash on the area within a few hours. Touching
objects contaminated with the sap of the poison plants may expose a person to urushiol. These
objects can be gardening and camping tools or equipment or even a pet's fur which have come
into contact with the sap.
• The poison plant leaves, stem, and roots predominantly consist of urushiol. The skin can soak
up urushiol very fast. Inhalation of airborne urushiol is a risk during the burning of poison
plants. Aside from skin irritation, contact with urushiol will produce irritation of the nasal
passages, throat, and lungs. This is especially true when it is inhaled. The climate in Alaska,
Hawaii, and the Southwest deserts do not provide optimal conditions for the growth of poison
plants.
• Vines of poison ivy grow in the Eastern, Midwestern, and Southern parts of the country. On
the other hand, poison ivy shrubs grow in the northern and western areas. Poison ivy is easy to
identify. Just count the number of leaflets and you will know. It will always have three leaflets
attached. Seven to thirteen paired leaves on a stem of a woody shrub characterizes poison
sumac. A dangling bundle of green berries can be seen in poison sumac. Red, upright berry
clusters generally grow on harmless sumac. Poison sumac prefers to inhabit wet and swampy
habitats.

12. • If you would like to figure out more details on
allergy symptoms, please go to the author’s
site.