Allergies are a problem that many people deal with. You might know someone who sneezes a lot during spring or can’t eat peanuts without getting sick.
This happens because the body’s defense system (immune system) overreacts to things that are usually not harmful, like certain foods, pollen, or pet fur. These reactions can cause symptoms such as sneezing, itching, or even swelling.
Now, you might be wondering, why do some people have allergies and others don’t. Is it because of what they inherited from their mom or dad? Or did they get allergies from something around them?
In this article, we’re going to look closely at whether allergies are inherited or acquired. We’re going to dive into the latest research to understand better why people get allergies. We’ll also look at ways you might be able to prevent or lower your chances of getting allergies.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a clearer idea about how allergies happen and what they mean for you and your family’s health and daily life.
Quick Note On Are Allergies Genetic?
Yes, the predisposition to allergies is largely genetic, meaning the likelihood of developing allergies can be inherited from parents to their offspring. On average, a child has a 50% chance of developing allergies if one parent is allergic, and up to a 75% chance if both are. However, inheriting allergy-related genes doesn’t guarantee an individual will have allergies; environmental factors also play a crucial role. While genetics set the stage for allergic potential, whether someone actually develops allergies can depend on exposures to allergens in their environment.
For a more detailed understanding of the genetic and environmental influences on allergies, their various types, development processes, and management strategies, continue reading the article.
Understanding Allergies
Allergies are a widespread issue, affecting millions of people. In the U.S. alone, over 50 million people face allergies, and worldwide, the number is even higher. Let’s break down what allergies really are and how they affect our bodies.
What Are Allergies?
Imagine your body’s immune system as a superhero, always ready to fight off bad guys (like germs).
However, in the case of allergies, this superhero gets a bit confused. It mistakes harmless stuff like pollen, certain foods, or dust as bad guys and attacks them. This mistaken attack by your immune system is what we call an allergy.
There are different types of allergies:
- Food Allergies: These happen when your body reacts badly to certain foods like nuts, eggs, or seafood. You might get itchy, have swelling, or even have trouble breathing. Sometimes, food allergies can be really serious and require immediate medical help.
- Seasonal Allergies: These are allergies to things like pollen from plants. They can make you sneeze, have a runny nose, or get itchy eyes. These are also known as hay fever.
- Skin Allergies: These occur when something touches your skin and causes a reaction. You might get a rash, blisters, or itching.
- Other Allergies: There are many other kinds, like allergies to pets, medicines, or insect bites. Each one has its own triggers and symptoms.
How Do Allergies Develop?
When your immune system sees an allergen (the thing you’re allergic to) for the first time, it might start creating special proteins called antibodies.
This is like your body taking a note to remember this allergen. This process is called sensitization and can take a while.
Once you’re sensitized, your body will react to the allergen every time you encounter it. This reaction can happen quickly, sometimes within minutes. Your immune system releases chemicals like histamine, which cause the symptoms of an allergy.
What Happens During an Allergic Reaction?
If you’re allergic to this substance, your immune system overreacts by producing antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies travel to cells that release chemicals, causing an allergic reaction.
The most well-known of these chemicals is histamine. Histamine and other chemicals cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
These chemicals cause the blood vessels to expand and the surrounding skin to swell. This can lead to various symptoms, which can vary. They can be mild, like a bit of itching, or severe, like trouble breathing. Here are some common signs:
- Itching or tingling in your mouth.
- Swelling in parts of your face.
- Hives or rashes.
- Sneezing, coughing, or wheezing.
- Runny or blocked nose.
- Red, watery eyes.
- Feeling tired or having a headache.
In severe cases, like anaphylaxis, the reaction is more serious. This is an emergency and can be life-threatening. Signs of this include trouble breathing, fainting, or a rapid heartbeat. If you see these signs, get medical help right away.
People who know they have severe allergies should often carry an EpiPen. It’s a device that can give a quick dose of medicine to stop the reaction.
The Genetic Basis of Allergies
Allergies are a big deal for many people and it often comes down to our genes – the tiny instructions inside our bodies that determine everything from our eye color to how our immune system works.
Key Genes and How They Work
Let’s dive into some science here. There are hundreds of genes involved in allergies, and they do different things:
- IL4 and IL13 Genes: These are like the managers of your immune system. They help produce IgE, the chemical that causes allergic reactions.
- HLA Gene: This gene is like a security guard. It helps your body figure out what’s a friend and what’s a foe. When it comes to allergies, it helps your body recognize allergens.
- FLG Gene: This one’s like a bricklayer for your skin. It helps build your skin barrier. If there’s a problem with this gene, you might get eczema, which is a kind of skin allergy.
What Research Says
Scientists have done a lot of digging into “allergies genetics.” They use big studies called Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) to compare people with allergies to those without.
This helps them find specific genes linked to allergies. For example:
- A study on peanut allergies found 21 genetic markers that make someone more likely to be allergic to peanuts.
- Another study on hay fever found 41 SNPs linked to it. These bits are in genes that help create certain immune cells.
- A study on asthma identified 18 genetic markers. These are involved in how our airways work, which is why people with asthma have trouble breathing sometimes.
However, all these genes have a combined effect on the outcome and do not predict allergies on their own.
Are Allergies Inherited?
If you have allergies, you might wonder if you’ll pass them on to your kids. A bunch of studies have checked if allergies are hereditary – that means if they get passed down in families.
As discussed above, scientists know that certain genes play a role in how our immune system deals with stuff it shouldn’t react to, like pollen or certain foods.
Do you get allergies from Father or Mother?
When it comes to allergies and where they come from – your mom, dad, or both – it’s kind of like mixing a recipe with ingredients from both parents.
If your mom or dad has allergies, you might be more likely to have them too. And if both of your parents have allergies, your chances are even higher.
These studies show that if one parent has allergies, their kid has a 50% chance of having allergies too.
And if both parents have allergies, the chance goes up to 75%.
But it’s not just about who you get them from. It’s not like you’ll definitely get the same exact allergy as your mom or dad.
Instead, you’re just more likely to get some type of allergy. For example, your mother might be allergic to peanuts and you might inherit her allergic genes, but you may be instead allergic to cats.
It’s Not Just About Genes
Although genes and family history are important, they’re not the only things that cause allergies.
Allergies are complex and involve a mix of multiple genes and environmental factors. That’s why not everyone in a family will have the same allergies or any at all.
Even identical twins, who have the exact same genes, don’t always share the same allergies. This shows that other factors, like where you live, what infections you’ve had, or even stress, can affect whether you get allergies.
Plus, some people might develop allergies later in life due to changes in their surroundings or their immune system.
So, it’s hard to say for sure if you or your kids will get allergies. And if you’re worried about allergies in your family, it’s a good idea to chat with your doctor or an allergy specialist.
Environmental Factors and Allergies
While genes play a big role in allergies, the environment around us is just as important.
By “environment,” we mean everything we come in contact with daily – the air, food, water, and even the stuff we use at home.
Some things in our environment can trigger allergies, while others might actually help prevent them.
Let’s explore how these environmental factors play a part in allergies.
Environmental Triggers of Allergies
Some things in our environment can set off allergic reactions. These triggers include:
- Pollen: This is a fine powder from plants. It can cause hay fever, making you sneeze, have a runny nose, or get itchy eyes. It can also set off asthma attacks in some people.
- Dust: Dust in our homes can have tiny allergy triggers like dust mites, pet fur, mold, and even bits of bugs. It can cause symptoms similar to pollen allergies and can also lead to asthma and skin allergies.
- Food Additives: Certain things added to food for flavor or preservation can cause allergies. For example, sulfites in wine or dried fruits can cause hives, swelling, or even severe allergic reactions.
The Role of Environment in Allergy Development
The environment can influence how our immune system grows and responds to allergens.
For instance, if you’re exposed to certain infections or bacteria early in life, it might actually make you less likely to develop allergies later.
This idea is called the hygiene hypothesis. It suggests that being in overly clean environments might increase allergy risks because our body’s defenses don’t get trained to deal with different microbes.
Also, environmental factors can interact with our genes. This means that a gene linked to asthma might only affect you if you’re also exposed to things like air pollution or smoke.
Some research finds that more people have allergies in Western countries like the U.S. This might have something to do with lifestyle or diet.
For instance, the Western diet, full of processed foods and low in fresh stuff, might mess with our gut bacteria. These bacteria help train our immune system, so if they’re out of balance, it might make us more allergy-prone.
Allergies are a complex mix of our genetic makeup and the environment we live in. Understanding this can help us figure out why some people get allergies and others don’t, and it can also guide us in finding ways to prevent or manage allergies.
Allergies and Evolution
Allergies, intriguingly, can be viewed as an evolutionary artifact of our immune system’s development.
Historically, humans faced numerous threats from parasites and bacteria, leading our immune systems to evolve into highly sensitive defense mechanisms.
This sensitivity, beneficial in the past for detecting real threats, now manifests as allergies – our body’s overreaction to harmless substances like pollen or foods.
The hygiene hypothesis further suggests that our modern, cleaner living environments, which reduce exposure to a diverse range of microbes, might cause our immune system to be under-stimulated and overreactive, leading to an increased prevalence of allergies.
Additionally, lifestyle and environmental changes, such as urbanization, pollution, and dietary shifts, have altered our interaction with natural elements, potentially contributing to the rise in allergic reactions.
Genetically, those with a heightened immune response may have had an evolutionary advantage in more infection-prone eras, but in today’s world, this manifests as allergies.
This blend of historical immune system development and modern lifestyle changes shows that allergies are a byproduct of both our past and present.
Can Allergies be Acquired?
Allergies aren’t always something you’re born with. Sometimes, you can develop allergies as an adult, even if you never had them as a kid.
These are called acquired allergies. They can start at any age, from your 20s to your 80s, and can affect different parts of your body, like your skin, lungs, or stomach.
How Do People Get Acquired Allergies?
The reasons why some adults suddenly develop allergies aren’t entirely clear, but there are a few things that might play a role:
- Family History: Sometimes, if a family member has an allergy, you might get a similar allergy later in life. For instance, if your mom is allergic to shellfish, you might find yourself allergic to it when you get older.
- Moving to a New Place: If you move somewhere new with different plants, animals, or weather, you might start having allergies to these new things. Like, moving to the countryside might make you allergic to certain types of pollen.
- Stress: When you’re really stressed, it can weaken your body’s defense system, making you more likely to develop allergies. Stress can also make allergies you already have get worse.
- Medications: Some drugs can make you allergic to them or make your body react to other things you weren’t allergic to before.
How Your Lifestyle Can Affect Allergies
The way you live can also influence your chances of getting allergies. Here are a few lifestyle factors that matter:
- What You Eat: Your diet plays a big role in how your body deals with allergies. Some foods, like peanuts or milk, can trigger allergic reactions. But eating a variety of healthy foods like fruits, veggies, and fish can help keep your immune system strong.
- Cleanliness: There’s a theory called the hygiene hypothesis. It suggests that if you live in a super clean environment and don’t get exposed to many germs, your body might be more likely to overreact to harmless stuff and cause allergies. But being in a very dirty environment isn’t good either, as it can expose you to more things that can trigger allergies. It’s about finding a balance.
- Smoking: Smoking is bad for your lungs and can make you more likely to get breathing-related allergies like asthma. It can also make allergies you already have worse. Quitting smoking can help improve your lung health and reduce allergy symptoms.
So, acquired allergies can happen for various reasons – from your family’s health history to where you live and your lifestyle choices.
Understanding these factors can help you figure out why you might have developed allergies as an adult and what you can do about them.
If you’re concerned about new allergies, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor who can give you advice and help manage them.
Managing and Treating Allergies
Allergies can be a big nuisance and in serious cases, allergies can be dangerous and need quick medical help.
The best thing to do for allergies is to stay away from whatever triggers them.
But, we know that’s not always easy. So, there are different kinds of medicines to help calm down your body’s reaction and make you feel better.
Here are some common ones:
- Antihistamines: These block a chemical in your body that causes allergy symptoms. They come in pills, liquids, sprays, and eye drops and help with sneezing, runny noses, itching, and watery eyes.
- Decongestants: These help unblock your nose and relieve sinus pressure. They come as pills, liquids, sprays, or drops.
- Corticosteroids: These reduce swelling and inflammation in your airways and skin. They can be pills, liquids, inhalers, sprays, or creams, and they help with wheezing, coughing, rashes, and eczema.
- Immunotherapy: This is a longer treatment where you’re slowly exposed to small amounts of the allergen. Over time, this can make your body less sensitive to it. This treatment comes as shots, tablets, or drops under the tongue.
How to Prevent Allergic Reactions
Apart from medicines, there are things you can do to avoid or lessen allergic reactions:
- Keep your place clean. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and wash your bed sheets often. Try to avoid things that gather dust, like heavy curtains or fluffy toys.
- Use an air purifier at home and avoid smoking or being around smoke.
- Check the pollen and mold levels in your area and try to stay inside when they’re high. Wear a mask, sunglasses, and a hat when you’re outside. Shower and change clothes when you come back in.
- Read food labels carefully to avoid your allergens. Be cautious when eating out and always have an epinephrine auto-injector (like an EpiPen) with you if you have severe allergies.
- Wear protective clothing when you’re gardening and avoid animals that you’re allergic to. Clean your hands and clothes after touching them.
The Future of Allergy Treatment
Researchers are always finding new ways to understand and treat allergies. Here’s what’s coming up:
- Biomarkers: These are things in your body, like in your blood or skin, that can tell doctors more about your allergies. This can help them give you the best treatment.
- Vaccines: These shots can help your body fight off specific allergens. They either boost your body’s defense system or help your body get used to the allergen.
- Gene Therapy: This is about changing the genes that cause allergic reactions. It might mean tweaking, adding, or removing certain genes to help your body not overreact to allergens. It’s a hope but yet a far-reaching shot.
In short, while allergies can be a pain, there are many ways to manage them. From avoiding triggers to using medication and looking forward to new treatments, you can find ways to deal with allergies and live more comfortably.
Can Allergies Go Off On Their Own?
Allergies, while persistent for many, can sometimes diminish or resolve on their own, although this is not always the case.
The tendency for an allergy to subside naturally often depends on the type of allergy and individual factors. For instance, certain food allergies, like those to milk or eggs, are known to resolve in children as they grow older.
However, allergies to substances like nuts or shellfish are more likely to persist throughout life.
Similarly, seasonal allergies, such as hay fever, may fluctuate with age and environmental changes.
In some cases what happens is the body’s immune response decreases with age, reducing sensitivity to certain allergens. So you might find that you are no longer sensitive to the allergens you once were.
As I said earlier, it varies from case to case, and severity of allergy. Also, there may be fluctuations due to temporarily your immune system getting weaker for some time.
Final Words On Allergies Genetics & Environment
While genetics certainly play a role, as those with a family history of allergies are more likely to experience them, environmental factors like diet, pollution, and exposure to various allergens also significantly influence their development and severity.
So, you inherit the possibility of having allergies from your parents, but it’s not guaranteed. It’s like having a game on your computer – just because it’s there doesn’t mean you always play it.
The environment around you is like clicking on the game and starting it up. That’s why some people might never show allergies even if they have the genes for it, because their environment never ‘clicks’ on that allergy program.
Recognizing and avoiding triggers, coupled with seeking professional healthcare advice, is crucial for those dealing with allergies, be it adults or kids.
References For Additional Reading:
- Are Allergies Hereditary? Everything You Need to Know – Verywell Health
- Allergies Inherited or Acquired? – Naturopathic Doctor News and Review
- Are Allergies Inherited? – WebMD
- Are Allergies Inherited Or Acquired – KnowYourAllergy.net
- Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases | SpringerLink
- Allergy Facts | AAFA.org
- Allergies Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know – Verywell Health
- Are Allergies Genetic? – Verywell Family
- Interactions between genes and the environment. Epigenetics in allergy – Allergologia et Immunopathologia
- Are Allergies Hereditary? The Genetics of Allergies, Explained – Fatherly
- Adult-Onset Allergies: How to Get Relief – Verywell Health
- Can You Develop Allergies in Adulthood? What Science Says – Healthline
- Allergy Prevention | AAFA.org
- Seasonal allergies: Nip them in the bud – Mayo Clinic
- What is the best way to treat allergies? – MSN
- How to treat an allergic reaction: Treatment and home remedies – Medical News Today
Dr. Sumeet is a seasoned geneticist turned wellness educator and successful financial blogger. GenesWellness.com, leverages his rich academic background and passion for sharing knowledge online to demystify the role of genetics in wellness. His work is globally published and he is quoted on top health platforms like Medical News Today, Healthline, MDLinx, Verywell Mind, NCOA, and more. Using his unique mix of genetics expertise and digital fluency, Dr. Sumeet inspires readers toward healthier, more informed lifestyles.