The Why and How of Allergies
October 06, 2008 by
The word 'allergy' is used many times as the cause of various diseases, like common cold to serious asthma. Just what is an allergy? How is it caused? How to manage or control them?
What is an allergy?
In dictionary, the word 'Allergy' is described as 'Hypersensitivity reaction to a particular allergen'. And 'Allergen is 'Any substance that can cause an allergic reaction'.
How is it caused?
When you delve deeper, you can find that our body is programmed to fight any harmful attack from foreign substances and pathogenic organisms. This defensive mechanism is called the immune system. When the immune system is under developed or doesn't function properly, it reacts to allergens, that are not harmful, by triggering the body's defensive mechanism. A chemical, histamine, is produced as a result and this causes the outward symptoms seen in allergies.
Common allergens are dust mites, pollen, animal dander, food and germs. Even weather changes are said to trigger allergies in people. Air pollution and second-hand smoking are increasing the cases of people affected by allergies in recent times. The symptoms of an allergy attack are rashes, itches, stuffy or runny nose, watery and red eyes, wheezing and sneezing.
The allergy symptoms depend entirely on what you are allergic to and how you come in contact with these allergens. If you touch things you are allergic to, you may have rashes and itches. If you breathe in allergens like dust mites and pollen, you may develop health problems from simple runny nose to bronchial asthma attacks.
How to manage an allergy attack?
The allergic person can undergo tests to determine the allergens that they are sensitive to. This will give an idea of what to avoid to control allergy attacks.
Even though, pollen, air pollution and smoke are not within our control, these can be avoided by restricting movements during peak periods.
Keeping our surroundings clean will provide protection from dust mites and other germs.
Pets should be kept away from persons who are allergic to animal dander.
What is an allergy?
In dictionary, the word 'Allergy' is described as 'Hypersensitivity reaction to a particular allergen'. And 'Allergen is 'Any substance that can cause an allergic reaction'.
How is it caused?
When you delve deeper, you can find that our body is programmed to fight any harmful attack from foreign substances and pathogenic organisms. This defensive mechanism is called the immune system. When the immune system is under developed or doesn't function properly, it reacts to allergens, that are not harmful, by triggering the body's defensive mechanism. A chemical, histamine, is produced as a result and this causes the outward symptoms seen in allergies.
Common allergens are dust mites, pollen, animal dander, food and germs. Even weather changes are said to trigger allergies in people. Air pollution and second-hand smoking are increasing the cases of people affected by allergies in recent times. The symptoms of an allergy attack are rashes, itches, stuffy or runny nose, watery and red eyes, wheezing and sneezing.
The allergy symptoms depend entirely on what you are allergic to and how you come in contact with these allergens. If you touch things you are allergic to, you may have rashes and itches. If you breathe in allergens like dust mites and pollen, you may develop health problems from simple runny nose to bronchial asthma attacks.
How to manage an allergy attack?
The allergic person can undergo tests to determine the allergens that they are sensitive to. This will give an idea of what to avoid to control allergy attacks.
Even though, pollen, air pollution and smoke are not within our control, these can be avoided by restricting movements during peak periods.
Keeping our surroundings clean will provide protection from dust mites and other germs.
Pets should be kept away from persons who are allergic to animal dander.
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