Allergy Elements

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Allergies are your body's reaction to a substance it views as a harmful “invader.” For example, coming into contact with what is normally a harmless substance, such as pollen, might cause the immu... ne system (the body's defense system) to react. Substances that cause these reactions are called allergens. What is an allergic reaction? An “allergic reaction” is way the body responds to the allergen. A chain of events occur that result in an allergic reaction. The first time an allergy-prone person is exposed to a specific allergen (such as pollen), the body responds by producing allergic (IgE) antibodies. The job of these antibodies is to find molecules of the offending substance in the bloodstream and tissues and to usher them to the body's mast cells (a type of white blood cell) for destruction. As the mast cells destroy the allergens, a chemical called histamine is released into the bloodstream. A large amount of histamine swells body tissues (inflammation), causes itching, enlarges blood vessels, increases secretions, and causes bronchospasm (tightening of muscles that surround the airways). What are the symptoms of allergies? Allergy symptoms can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe: •Mild reactions include local symptoms (affecting a specific area of the body) such as a rash or hives; itchiness, watery/red eyes, hay fever, and runny nose. Mild reactions do not spread to other parts of the body. •Moderate reactions include symptoms that spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms may include itchiness, hives, and/or swelling, and trouble breathing. •A severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, is a rare, life-threatening emergency in which the body's response to the allergen is sudden and affects the whole body. Anaphylaxis may begin with severe itching of the eyes or face. Within minutes, more serious symptoms appear, including throat swelling (which could cause problems with swallowing and breathing); abdominal pain; cramps; vomiting; diarrhea; hives; and swelling (angioedema). The person may also have mental confusion or dizziness, since anaphylaxis may cause a drop in blood pressure. What is allergic rhinitis? Nasal allergy symptoms and hay fever are referred to as “allergic rhinitis.” Seasonal allergic rhinitis is nasal allergies that change with the seasons because of pollen from plants (trees, grasses, or weeds). Seasonal symptoms arise during the pollinating seasons for particular plants. Because you can be allergic to more than one thing, your symptoms may get worse at different times throughout the year, or may be constant. Does everyone get allergies? No. Most allergies are inherited, which means they are passed on to children by their parents. People inherit a tendency to be allergic, although not to any specific allergen. If a child develops an allergy, it is very likely that at least one of his or her parents has allergies. How common are allergies? More than 50 million Americans (1 in 6) suffer from all types of allergies, including indoor/outdoor allergies, food and drug, latex, insect, skin and eye allergies. The number of people who have allergies continues to increase across all ages, sex, and racial groups. How are allergies diagnosed? If you think you have allergies, don't wait to see if your symptoms will go away. When your symptoms last longer than a week or two and tend to come back, make an appointment with an allergy/immunology specialist. Allergy skin testing may be used to identify the allergens that are causing your allergy symptoms. The test is performed by pricking your skin with an extract of an allergen, and then checking the skin's reaction. If a skin test cannot be performed, a radioallergosorbent blood test (RAST) may be taken. This test is not as sensitive as a skin test. The RAST evaluates the number of antibodies produced by the immune system. Higher levels of certain antibodies can identify particular allergies. Allergies cannot be cured, but symptoms can be controlled using a combination of avoidance measures and medications, as well as allergen immunotherapy in properly selected cases.

Allergy Elements

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