EasyAllergies.com
What is Allergy?
Allergies occur as a result of your body’s immune system reacting incorrectly to some sort of foreign substance. Your immune system will see pollen or mold as a harmful substance to your body and react accordingly. The end result can be sneezing, watery eyes, itching, hives, and even trouble breathing during more severe reactions. For many, the reaction will be mild and require little or no medical intervention. During an extreme allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, you may initially feel itching which will quickly progress to swelling, pain and vomiting. Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical assistance.
Most allergies can be managed with the help of your doctor, by using antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays. There are also lifestyle modifications that you can make to help reduce your exposure to your allergen, such as keeping pets out of the home or maintaining a dust-free environment. If your allergies begin to get in the way of your daily life, your doctor may also recommend immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, to “cure” your allergies and help you to have symptom-free days. The good news with allergies is that there are many options for managing them effectively. If you suspect that you are suffering from some type of reaction to a particular substance, talk to your doctor today about your choices in allergy treatment.
The Process of an Allergic Reaction
Allergies occur when the immune system malfunctions, and recognizes a normally harmless substance as a harmful one. When the body comes in contact with the substance that the immune system has deemed as harmful, the body will produce a large number of immunoglobulin E, or IgE’s antibodies. These antibodies will cause the body to release chemicals such as histamine that will result in itching, increased secretions, swelling and tightening of the airways. The symptoms that you feel as a result of this biological process include watery eyes, runny nose, hives, and coughing. In severe reactions the symptoms can go further in producing difficulty breathing and dizziness. If allergic symptoms become severe, it is called anaphylaxis, and while rare it is also life-threatening. Emergency medical care is required in these circumstances.
Types of Allergies
There are many things that a person can have an allergic reaction to. Hay fever is caused by a reaction to pollen, and can be seasonal or year-round depending on exactly what you are allergic to. Another common culprit is dust mites, which live in dust and other fibers of common household objects. Animal dander is another frequent cause of allergy symptoms, as is mold, latex and some types of foods. Most people will have a reaction to one or two allergens, while a few unlucky souls will suffer symptoms from exposure to a number of culprits. You will have a greater likelihood of developing allergies if you have a parent that suffers from them, or if you have another chronic condition like eczema or asthma. You can also develop an allergy if you are exposed to an allergen while you immune system is compromised, such as during a viral infection or while pregnant.
Although allergies are a common complaint, there are a number of treatment plans available for many sufferers. These can include antihistamines, decongestants or nasal sprays that are all taken to relieve the symptoms. You can also consider immunotherapy, or allergy shots, which will essentially “cure” your problems and allow you more symptom-free days with less medication. Talk to your doctor about the best course of action to treat your allergy symptoms.