 |
Home 
conditions and treatments
Allergies |
What Are Allergies?The common symptoms of allergies could be runny nose, itching, rashes on skin, long spells of sneezes, tissue swelling, wheezing etc.
Some allergies caused when the body’s immune system react excessively to otherwise harmless substances might also result in disability or even death.
Some of the common allergens include pollen, house dust mite, moulds, pets’ dander, insects like wasps and bees, industrial and household chemicals, medicines, and food articles such as milk and eggs. In some rare cases some fruits, nuts or latex might also cause allergies.
Drugs like penicillin are examples for non-protein allergens, which sets off allergic reactions by binding to the body protein, once they get into the human body.
Allergy causing agents present in the environment are called as allergens. Most of the allergens contain protein, which forms an essential ingredient of our diet.
Allergy or hypersensitivity is an abnormal reaction to naturally occurring protein substances. When an allergic person is exposed to these foreign bodies or allergens, the body's immune system gets ready to fight them and the White blood cells (B-lymphocytes) produce Antibodies (IgE), against the allergens. The antibody gets bound to the surface of the allergen, thereby exposing it.
Soon, other blood cells also release chemicals such as histamine, which causes the symptoms of an allergic reaction. The impact of the allergic reactions depends on the nature of allergens and the effected body part.
The histamine dilates the blood vessels resulting in the swelling of the nasal mucous membranes and stimulates the glands in the nose and the respiratory passages to produce mucus (phlegm), which might result in blocked noses. It might also result in asthma or breathlessness in patients, which would call for immediate medical intervention.
Thus, an allergic reaction is caused when the body defense system wrongly identifies a substance as harmful and overreacts to attack it.
Allergic reactions could become a disease in extreme cases. It is still not clear why some people are allergic to otherwise harmless substances. Hypersensitivity is thought to be influenced by family history as well.
If one or both parents suffer from this condition, it is sensible to take the advice of a doctor on the preventive measures to be adopted to lower the risks of allergy in the children.
There are some time tested home remedies for allergies. Mix a few drops of cator oil into a cup of fresh fruit or vegetable juice or water, and drink it empty stomach in the morning.
Limejuice is yet another popular home cure. Mix lukewarm water with 1 tsp honey, and ½ tsp limejuice and drink it everyday in the morning. In addition, make your home spotlessly clean and dust free; seal all windows and doors; replace carpets with throw rugs, and stay off from allergy causing food articles. |
|
| |
