Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder that includes the
immune system reactions to things that are typically harmless to most
people. Allergic reactions occur when
your immune system mistakenly believes that certain substance is harmful to
your body. Substances that cause
allergic reaction includes certain foods, dust, plants, pollen or medicines,
and are called allergens. The immune
system produces antibodies to that allergen in an attempt to protect our
body. Those antibodies cause certain
cells to produce chemical in the bloodstream and one the chemical released is
called histamine. The histamine reacts
on the nose causing runny nose, on the eyes making it red or puffy, on the skin
manifested by rashes, on throat and lungs causing asthma attacks. If exposed to the same allergen again, the
same reaction of the antibody will occur, meaning, that every time you come
into contact with tat allergen, you will have an allergic reaction. Allergic reaction can be mild, but in some
people severe allergies may result in life threatening reactions called
anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis occurs usually
minutes after exposure to the allergen but some reaction might be delayed by
few hours. Signs of anaphylaxis include
swelling lips, tongue, throat or other body parts, difficulty in breathing and
swallowing, and dizziness or loss of consciousness. Allergy remedies include the use of
medications like anti histamines that specifically prevent allergic reactions,
steroids that modify the immune systems but may be harmful in long term use,
and decongestants that reduce the symptoms.
But the best treatment is to avoid the know allergens for you.
