All About Allergies (And How to Stop Them)
Allergies are really annoying. People with nasal allergies are constantly sniffling and blowing their nose, while people who suffer from food allergies experience stomach upset. There are many allergens in the world. Here are some tips for avoiding those allergens and treating allergy symptoms when they arise.
What Causes Allergies?
Sometimes allergies are inherited. They can be present from childhood, or they can set in later in life. When you have an allergy, your immune system reacts to the presence of whatever you’re allergic to.
When your body encounters an allergen, it responds by making chemicals called ‘histamines’. These chemicals produce a series of physical reactions. They cause membranes to swell, blood vessels to dilate, and bronchial passages to constrict. All of these effects are the result of an immune system that has overreacted to the presence of an allergen.
What Are Common Allergy Symptoms?
That depends on the type of allergies you suffer from. Nasal allergies cause itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, and sinus pressure.
Skin allergies cause redness, bumps, scaling, or itching where the skin has come into contact with an allergen. These allergies are also called ‘contact dermatitis’.
Food allergies can cause stomach upset, gas, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, and even hives and skin rashes. The symptoms are usually more severe than those produced by simple food intolerance.
Allergies to insect bites can be potentially life-threatening. If you’re allergic to bee stings, for example, symptoms of such a sting could include shock, fever, swelling of the airways, and respiratory arrest. This severe allergic reaction is known as ‘anaphylactic shock’.
How Can You Keep Allergies Under Control?
The first step to controlling your allergies is avoiding the things that make you allergic. Sometimes the cause is obvious; if you’re only itchy and sneezy when you’re around cats, for instance, you probably have an allergy to cat dander. Other allergens are more difficult to pinpoint, and an allergy test may be needed.
Hypoallergenic bed linens and laundry detergent can reduce contact dermatitis. For people allergic to feathers, synthetic down is a comparable filler that doesn’t trigger allergies. You can also purchase air filters for your home which improve the air quality and filter out airborne allergens.
For more serious allergies, drug therapy can bring relief. There are over-the-counter antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), and loratidine (Claritin). Cortisone creams can bring relief from skin allergy symptoms. In very severe cases, a doctor might need to prescribe steroids or prescripton-strength antihistamines. Allergy drugs can be taken every day, or as needed. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions and your doctor’s advice.
Allergies can also be suppressed by weekly injections. Speak with your doctor to find out which approach is right for you.
Are There Long-Term Cures for Allergies?
Allergy therapy can retrain the body to tolerate certain allergens. By introducing the allergens into the body in tiny amounts, doctors can gradually get the patient’s immune system to stop reacting to the substances. This approach is called ‘immunotherapy’, and has brought long-term relief to many allergy sufferers.
As we learn more about genetic therapy, we come ever close to the day when allergies can simply be deleted from the human code. Until then, drugs and immunotherapy will have to do.
