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Have You Ever Wondered What Allergies and Allergic Reactions Really Are?
By David Chandler
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity to foreign substances which are
normally harmless but which produce a violent reaction in the allergy
sufferer. Allergies are generally the body's effort to eliminate
something it considers unsuitable. Typical allergic reactions are hay
fever, migraine, asthma, allergic rhinitis, digestive disturbances, coeliac
disease, conjunctivitis, urticaria, eczema, drowsiness, CFS,
hyperactivity in children, tinnitus,
recurrent sinusitis and ear infections. In a few people, the histamine
(anaphylactic) reaction can cause muscle cramps, disorientation,
unconsciousness, and death from shock
or suffocation.
Types
There are different types of Allergies, the most common being type1.
When an allergen encounters cells capable of antibody formation, they
then form IgE antibodies, which bind to the surface of other cells,
called mast cells and basophils. In response to the attachment those
cells release chemicals, called mediators of anaphylaxis, among them
histamine. Those chemicals cause allergic reactions such as swelling or
the secretion
of mucus.
Almost any substance can be an allergen for an individual. Common
allergens include certain foods, especially milk, wheat and eggs,
pollens, dust, moulds, cosmetic and certain food additives.
An Allergy is not the same as intolerance. Allergies always involve the
immune system, whereas intolerance, e.g. lactose intolerance, is
caused by a lack of lactase, the enzyme that converts lactose into
glucose.
Causes
Allergies may have many different causes-from pets to pollen to certain
types of medicine and foods. In addition, allergic symptoms may be
just as varied. While no one can predict when or how an allergy will
develop, you can learn how to keep allergies under control by
following a treatment plan and avoiding the things that aggravate your
allergic symptoms.
Symptoms
When allergies flare up, they may cause a considerable amount of
discomfort and inconvenience, but having allergies does not mean you
have to struggle with your symptoms. Understanding how to help
keep allergies from interfering with the things you want to do may
make a big difference in how you feel and how you live.
About the Author
For more information visit: http://www.AllergiesInfoCenter.com
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