Allergies — What Are They
Allergies, what are they?
It is helpful to understand what allergies are. If you experience any of the symptoms of allergies and are aware that your symptoms may be caused by allergens you can find help to control the problems early.
There are a lot of questions about allergies:
1. Just what is an allergy and what causes them?
2. Why do some people have them while others don’t?
3. Why are people with one allergy more likely to have many?
The immune system is set up to protect our bodies from harmful, foreign substances, like viruses andd bacteria, dirt and germs. Sometimes the immune system doesn’t develop properly or is just overly sensitive and doesn’t react right. People with strong, healthy immune systems are not usually troubled by the things that attack those with overly sensitive or improperly developed immune systems.
These things are called allergens. The term allergens is just an easier way to say “things that cause allergies”. When the overly sensitive or improperly developed immune system sees these allergens, it sends out chemicals like histamine. It’s the histamines that cause the symptoms that are common with allergies.
Different people have different symptoms, like itching, watery eyes, runny nose, swelling, hives or rashes, but the causes are the same. The symptoms that are displayed depend on the part of the body the allergen comes in contact with.
Allergens, (like pollen or dust), THAT ARE BREATHED IN, cause coughing or wheezing, stuffy or runny noses and an itchy nose and throat.
Plant allergies usually come in contact with the skin, so they cause rashes.
Food allergies usually result in nausea, vomiting, stomach pains or in severe cases, life threatening reactions.
Drug allergies tend to involve the entire body, so they have a variety of symptoms. Always be aware of any unusual changes in your body when introduced to a new drug and inform your doctor about how you are affected.
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