What are allergies?
Allergies occur when your body’s immune system reacts to a foreign substance or a food that is considered safe for most people.
When you have allergies, your body’s immune system makes antibodies for a particular allergen it considers harmful, even though it isn’t. The allergic individual’s body responds to allergens by releasing chemicals that impact the skin, respiratory system, digestion system, and more. When you are exposed to the allergen, your immune system’s reaction can inflame sinuses, airways, the digestive system, or your skin.
Common allergens include things like pollen, dust mites, and molds. The severity of allergies varies and can range from minor irritation to potentially life-threatening emergencies (anaphylaxis). While most allergies can’t be cured, natural treatments can help relieve your allergy symptoms.
Common allergy symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, congestion, rash, and swelling. In many cases, allergies can even lead to deadly signs, such as anaphylaxis. The most typical kinds of allergies include food allergies, hay fever, asthma, and atopic dermatitis (eczema).
Frequently asked questions
It’s what happens when your body’s immune system responds to something that’s normally harmless. Those triggers, which doctors call “allergens,” can include pollen, mold, animal dander, certain foods, or things that aggravate your skin. Allergies are really common. A minimum of 1 in 5 Americans has one.
Allergies are caused by a body’s immune system’s overreaction to a non-threatening trigger. Numerous different immune systems might be at play, but immunoglobulin E (IgE) hypersensitivity responses are the primary factor behind allergies to insect stings, particular drugs, and foods. Allergies also tend to run in families, and environmental aspects, such as secondhand smoke, can put you in greater danger.
It begins when you enter into contact with a trigger that you breathe in, swallow, or get on your skin. In action, your body begins to make a protein called IgE, which gets onto the allergen. Then histamine and other chemicals get released into the blood. That causes the symptoms you observe.
- Saline nasal watering.
- Acupuncture.
- Air filters.
- Butterbur.
- Bromelain.
- Probiotics.
- Honey.
- A/c and dehumidifiers.
Eating foods high in vitamin C has actually been shown to reduce allergic rhinitis, the irritation of the upper respiratory system brought on by pollen from blooming plants. So throughout allergy season, feel free to load up on high-vitamin C citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes.
Spring and fall are both considered to be allergy seasons. However, particular timing depends on the type of allergen. Tree pollen is most common in early spring, from January to April, while lawn pollen strikes its peak between late spring and early summertime. From the late summer season to early fall, weed pollen is the main culprit. Holistic treatments can be useful, but the best allergy treatment is to find out and avoid your allergen trigger.
Key Terms
Any substance that triggers an immune system reaction is known as an allergic reaction. Allergens may be airborne (molds, pet dander, pollens), topical (insect stings, latex), or maybe certain foods (peanuts, dairy, shellfish) and medications.
An antibody is a specialized protein created by the immune system in order to defend the body from disease by helping it "recognize" viruses, bacteria, and pathogens by their antigens. The body has five types of antibodies, known as immunoglobulins. Immunoglobin A (IgA) is the front-line defense against any infection. IgA binds to pathogens to identify them for destruction from other antibodies. Like a single key fits into a lock, each antibody produced matches a specific antigen.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) are antibodies that are produced by your immune system. If you suffer from an allergy, your immune system responds to an allergen by producing antibodies known as Immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies go to cells that release chemicals, thereby causing an allergic reaction.
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