Allergy is a condition characterised by a level of sensitivity greater than normal to a specific substance or group of substances. These substances, called allergens, trigger a response in susceptible individuals. The allergens may be found in the ticks, moulds, food, pollen, pets, and dust mites.
A genetic tendency to develop allergic disease in a body is known as atopy. When the allergens come in contact with the people who are atopic, an immune gets developed which further leads to allergic reactions and inflammations. When the allergens come in contact with the person of a specific allergy then the possibility allergic reaction increases by many folds.
An antibody response is triggered by the body as soon as the allergen enters the body. The attachment of antibodies to the mast cells takes place. The reaction of the mast cell is to release histamine. If the histamine is released due to an allergen then it might lead to irritation and inflammation.
Cockroach: one of the most common causes of allergy can be due to cockroaches which are running around in the house. Breathing allergens released by cockroach can lead to the development of asthma in a person.
An Allergy is a reaction of the body to a particular agent. The symptoms include allergic rhinitis, sneezing, conjunctivitis, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, cough, red rashes that are raised and itchy i.e hives, swollen lips, tongue, eyes, and face, pain in the stomach, vomiting, diarrhoea, feeling of sickness and dry and cracked skin.
Allergy is triggered when the immune system responds to external stimuli such as pollen, bee venom, dander, or any food that usually does not cause a reaction in most individuals. The immune system responds by producing antibodies against a particular allergen considering it as harmful, though it may not be for most individuals.
Allergic symptoms may not be exhibited instantaneously. It may become apparent anywhere between a few hours to 10 days. Symptoms may last 2 to 4 weeks even with treatment. Avoiding continuous exposure to the allergen can prevent it from becoming perennial.
A person cannot prevent allergic reactions. Although, it is possible to limit the symptoms which are being experienced by a person. There are treatments available to alleviate the symptoms of the allergy. For the prevention of allergy a person is required to protect himself from the allergens. In some cases it is not as easy as it sounds. It is impossible to protect oneself from the allergens during the summer or late spring. If a person has pets in his/her house then it gets even more difficult to protect oneself from the allergy. However, being vigilant can prevent from allergies in the future.
Skin prick test: this test can also be referred to as the puncture test. In this test the skin is pricked with an allergen. If the skin of the person starts reacting then it confirms the presence of the allergens.
Anyone who has an allergy to any substance is eligible to seek out treatment for it. This is because allergies can often cause a lot of discomfort, fever like symptoms, skin problems, and so on and its best to treat these symptoms rather than to live with them indefinitely.
If a series of allergy tests have been administered and the results show that you are not allergic to anything, then your symptoms may be caused due to another medical condition. In this case, you are not eligible to seek out treatment for allergies as the problem you have is something else. Your course of treatment will be to treat that specific problem.
Allergies may be seasonal i.e hay fever or they may not be. We can avoid having allergies by doing some simple things in our daily life such as reducing exposure to the factors that cause Allergy, maintaining the purity of the indoor air, avoiding exposure to outside when the pollen counts are high, nasal irrigation with a saline solution and an application of oral antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal spray.
Histamine produced by the immune system protects against harmful irritants like mold, dust, and pollen. It helps to preserve water in the body. Once an individual is dehydrated, the production of histamine is enhanced by the body. This in turn results in symptoms similar to seasonal allergies. Hence, drinking sufficient water will not allow excessive production of histamine and decrease the Allergy symptoms.
There are no specific side effects to treating allergies. However, for people who are very vulnerable to multiple allergies, it is important to note that you may even be allergic to some of the ingredients that are used to create different medications. Therefore, if you experience anything unusual after taking your medication, you should report the same to your doctor immediately in case your symptoms begin to worsen.
In case of allergic rhinitis the home remedies would depend on the type of the allergen causing the allergic reaction. If a person suffers from the allergy of pollens then rather than opening windows a person can make use of the air conditioners. A person can also opt for some herbs for the natural treatment of allergic rhinitis. Butterbur can be very effective in the treatment of allergic symptoms. It acts like antihistamines. A nutrient quercetin which is commonly found in the black tea, apples, and onions blocks the release of histamines. Addition of essential oils when a person is bathing can be very beneficial in reducing the symptoms of the allergy.
Some of the natural remedies for the home treatment includes
Summary: An Allergy is a reaction of the body to a particular agent which includes allergic rhinitis, sneezing, conjunctivitis, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, cough, and red rashes. We can avoid having allergies by doing some simple things in our daily life such as reducing exposure to the factors that cause Allergy, maintaining the purity of the indoor air, avoiding exposure to outside when the pollen counts are high, nasal irrigation with a saline solution and an application of oral antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal spray.