Seeker+'s video: Are We Close to an Allergy Cure

Is there a cure for allergies? In this episode of Seeker+, we'll look into the different approaches used to help manage allergies. Watch the other episodes in this series: Part 1 - https://youtu.be/nk7O92DTA4A Part 2 - https://youtu.be/kDuwZzrFO3k » Subscribe to Seeker+! https://bit.ly/SeekerPlusSubscribe (then hit the little 🔔 icon and select “all.“) » Watch more! http://bit.ly/SeekerPlusPlaylist Before you try and treat your allergies it may help to know exactly what you’re allergic to, and to find out you can see a specialized doctor called an allergist. The first step to help narrow down the list is an interview about your medical history, how often you experience symptoms, what your home and office environment are like, if you have any pets, and if anyone in your family is allergic to anything. If it sounds like you are indeed having an allergic reaction to something there are a few different tests a doctor can order to try and identify the culprit. One is a blood test that looks for abnormally high levels of IgE antibodies. Because these antibodies play such a big role in allergic reactions, elevated levels of certain IgE antibodies could point you in the right direction. There’s also skin tests where potential allergens are pricked against the skin or injected just underneath for more sensitivity. These tests have their limits though and should be administered based on what the allergist thinks the problem is. If something in your environment could be to blame, a blood test might not be particularly helpful because it could miss some allergies. In this instance a skin prick test is better suited. If a specific food may be the problem, it’s important your allergist knows that based on your health history. Otherwise a skin or blood test on a broad range of foods has a high potential for false positives. Once the allergen that’s sending your immune system into overdrive is identified, the next step is figuring out a treatment. Unfortunately there is no way to completely cure an allergy, but there are ways to reduce their frequency or mitigate how severe they are. Read more: Hay Fever https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/hay-fever/ "Allergic rhinitis – commonly known as hay fever – is a group of symptoms affecting the nose. But don’t be misled by the name – you don’t have to be exposed to hay to have symptoms. And hay fever doesn’t cause a fever." Face masks suitable for preventing COVID-19 and pollen allergy. A study in the exposure chamber https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8278371/ "Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the population in Germany has been asked to wear face masks in public areas. The masks are accepted by the public. People with a pollen allergy have an interest in knowing whether masks can also provide protection against pollen and thus prevent symptoms even without medication." The race to deliver the hypoallergenic cat https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02779-3 "Researchers are looking beyond allergen immunotherapy to help people whose pets make them sneeze." -- Seeker+ is your home for deep dives, fun facts, rabbit holes, and more. Join host Julian Huguet as he unapologetically nerds out on the oddball history, astounding science and intriguing future around topics that will make you the smartest person at your next trivia night. -- Seeker empowers the curious to understand the science shaping our world. We tell award-winning stories about the natural forces and groundbreaking innovations that impact our lives, our planet, and our universe. Follow us on TikTok: tiktok.com/@seeker Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/seeker/ Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/seeker