Allergies By Elizabeth Turner
Allergies are so common nowadays that most of us do not even think about why we are allergic to certain things and not others. The common reflex is to go straight to the medicine cabinet, reach out for the stuff that worked the last time and hope it will do the trick again. This article briefly covers what an allergic reaction involves and what options people with allergies have. An allergy is basically a cleansing reaction from the body to a certain substance. These substances may be totally harmless and incapable of causing any danger to other people but some people may not be able to cope with the same substance hence provoking the body’s defense system which in this case works by cleansing out the substance. These substances are called allergens. Common allergens include: • Pollen grains • Dust mites • Certain cosmetics • Bee stings • Certain medication • Certain foods and etc These are common substances that we come across everyday and most people are not even allergic to these. But quite frankly one can be allergic to anything. Allergic reactions can be classed into 3 different types depending upon the seriousness of the discomfort caused. Mild allergic reactions include sneezing, watery eyes, scratching, hives, rashes, and swelling, Stronger reactions include congestion, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and in some cases a patient may experience stomach pain, cramping, and even diarrhea. And extra strong reactions which are also called anaphylaxis involve narrowing of the airway tubes and therefore making breathing very difficult. This may lead to a drop in blood pressure resulting into dizziness and loss of consciousness. Without immediate medical attention a patient having an anaphylaxis attack may even die. This is the worst of allergic reactions and persons with such allergies must be careful not to allow the allergy to trigger. Such reactions are commonly associated with food allergies (nuts, fish, dairy…) or certain types of medications (such as aspirins for certain people) or insect bites (such as bee stings). In order to understand allergies we must shed some light on what exactly happens when the body comes in contact with an allergen. The body’s reaction to harmful substances is to react defensively. The defense reaction is to produce antibodies. The antibodies that fight allergens are called IgE antibodies (ImmunoglobulinE). These work by attaching themselves to the allergen and some of the body’s own cells which are the mast cells located in the nose, skin, lungs and gastrointestinal tract or basophils cells found mainly in the blood. Upon attachment certain chemicals are produced. One of these chemicals is called histamine. Histamine causes defensive/cleansing reactions such as watery eyes to clear the eyes or a cough to expel toxic fumes before they get inhaled. How do you know what you are allergic to? Allergy tests involve introducing various suspected allergens to the body and checking for a reaction. It is a good tool to find out what the person may be allergic to. However it may not determine all the causes of the allergy. What can be done for those who are allergic? A lot is the answer but it depends upon which way you want to go: Avoid the triggers: So if you are allergic to dust then make sure there is no dust in your surrounding. However this is not possible at all times. Medication available: There is a lot of medication available to deal with allergies. Most work quickly by suppressing the allergic reaction in some way or another. Antihistamines Such drugs work to suppress the body’s histamine from reacting to the allergen. Decongestants These work by reducing swellings of the membranes in the nose. Nasal Sprays These relieve congestion in the nose and allow the patient to breath more freely. Immunotherapy: This works by increasing the body’s immune system to allergens. By giving the patient regular doses (from very low doses increasing them gradually) of what they may be allergic to. Gradually the patient’s body becomes immune to the allergen and may not produce an allergic reaction when exposed to it. Immunotherapy is a lengthy procedure and may take up to 6 months. Patients with allergic asthma and those allergic to dairy products and bee stings have benefited from immunotherapy. Homoeopathy: Homoeopathy also works by increasing the body’s own immune system to the allergen and may take time. Detoxification: This works by cleansing out toxic substances in the body which are blocking the body’s natural immune system from working correctly. Once the body has been detoxified patients find that there is no longer an allergic reaction. Vitamin therapy: This works by finding the deficient vitamins per person which is usually Vitamin C, the most necessary vitamin for boosting the immune system. However each person’s deficiency in vitamin C may differ and the amount of dosage may differ. The dosage is gradually increased until the patient’s allergic reactions do not return. Care has to be taken so that the dosage is kept below the level which will give the patient diarrhea. Do nothing at all: Some believe that if nothing is done about a mild allergy such as dust or smoke then after some time of exposure to it the body stops reacting defensively to it. For example people who are beginning to smoke choke and cough for the first few times they smoke and then the body gets used to it. This doesn’t mean that smoking is not harmful to the person any longer but it just means that the body’s ability to throw off the toxins has weakened. Certainly these are not the only choices you have for fighting your battle against allergies but I aim to inform you on what it is that happens within your body when you have an allergic reaction and to open up your options a little as to what it is that can help you. About the Author Elizabeth Turner is a Chartered Certified Accountant. She is an all rounder and writes on a variety of subjects. She specializes in preparing tutorial material for students of finance. |