Are you suffering from allergies? Many people do suffer from different types of allergies, including food and environmental allergies. What are allergies? These are damaging immune responses from the body towards unfavorable substances. Such substances might include food, dust, pollen, dust, or other things which make the body hypersensitive. Your body will create an antibody that fights the allergen, even when not harmful. When you contact the substance, the body can inflame the airways, digestive system, skin, sinuses, and other body in reaction to the substance. If you don’t have any allergies, you probably know a family member or friend who suffers from the same.
This article will highlight some details about allergies which you should know in 2021. Check on the facts below.
1. Hypersensitivity
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Having an allergy doesn’t mean you are sick. Allergies are hypersensitive reactions caused by the body to foreign materials. Most people who suffer from these allergies aren’t ill, and the foreign substance isn’t harmful. You might be taking a healthy substance, but the body will overreact to it, making you have an allergy. Some of the substances that cause allergies include pet fur, insect bites, stings, food, pollen, chemicals, etc. Also, allergies don’t happen to everyone. Some have it, while others do not. One might be comfortable with one food type but be allergic to the other, while the other person gets vice versa.
When you suffer allergies, your body produces antibodies that identify the substance as a potential threat, even when it’s not.
When the individual gets into contact with the allergen, the immune system’s reaction will inflame that person’s digestive system, skin, sinuses, airways, or the skin. Medically, allergies are not defined as diseases but hypersensitive body reactions.
2. Allergy Causes and Effects
As highlighted, there are many causes of allergies. These causes are divided into two, hosts or environmental. The host factors that cause allergies include age, hereditary factors, race, and sex. Some people are naturally born with allergies. In environmental causes, we have five classifications that cause allergies. These include airborne allergens, certain foods, insect stings, medications, or the substances you come into contact with. Airborne allergens are caused by substances in the air, some of which are caused by problems with air conditioning. These allergens include pollen, dust mites, dust, animal fur, mold, among others.
Foods that cause allergies include peanuts, nuts, wheat, soy, eggs, milk, etc. The insect stings can come from wasps, bees, etc., while medications can be penicillin or other related products. The substances you touch, including latex, can also cause skin reactions. It is important to keep off or reject items that may cause you or any family member allergies to avoid further complications.
3. Risk Factors and Complications
What are allergies risk factors? While anyone can contact allergies, some factors increase its risks. These include genetics in children and those living with asthma or other conditions. Having allergies increases some medical conditions, which include asthma, anaphylaxis, and infections of the lungs. Anaphylaxis is an induced allergic reaction that is triggered by certain foods, medications, and insect stings.
Most people who have allergies also have asthma. This condition affects the airways and other vital passages, which affects your breathing. Allergy-Asthma gets triggered by allergens in the environment.
Individuals who have hay fever or asthma are also at high risk of contracting sinusitis or other ear and lung infections. If suffering from any of these allergens, it’s advised to seek medical advice or stay away from substances that cause allergies or asthma. This situation will reduce the worsening of the condition.
4. When to See a Doctor
Most allergies will clear on their own if you stop using the substance causing the allergies. It will help to see a doctor if the situation becomes worse. If the allergy is caused by medication, it’s advisable to visit your doctor to change the medicine. Over-the-counter medication doesn’t provide much relief from allergies.
In case you have a severe allergic reaction, also known as anaphylaxis, it’s recommended to seek emergency services to treat the situation. If you have an auto-injection kit, you can use it immediately if you suffer a severe allergy. It would be best if you also visited the hospital after injection to be sure of the situation. At times, managing allergies can get complicated. It’s important to keep your doctor on speed-dial if you are in this situation.
It is important to prevent any form of allergy by taking preventive measures, including avoiding known triggers, keeping a diary, and wearing a medical bracelet showing the kind of substances you are allergic to. It is also important to maintain your air conditioner and other home apparatus to avoid allergies caused by contaminated air.
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