Top Allergy and Asthma Triggers -- and How to Avoid Them

by Stephanie Welch Alexander

Click here for a larger image
Food
Food allergies occur when a person's immune system overreacts to an ordinarily harmless food. The most common food allergies (responsible for up to 90% of all allergic reactions) are proteins in cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish and tree nuts. The most common symptoms are hives, eczema, asthma and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Anaphylaxis, a systemic allergic reaction that can be fatal, is the most severe reaction and is marked by an initial feeling of warmth, flushing, tingling in the mouth and red, itchy rash. These symptoms are usually reversed with emergency measures, including antihistamines and injectable epinephrine under the care of a physician or allergist.