What are Allergies?

With how allergies are affecting us and the people whom we care about, we need to know more about these and how to manage them. Issues on allergies are getting more diverse, there are all sorts of allergies now that would affect all kinds of people at any given time. So to increase our awareness and possess good knowledge on allergies, here are some important details each of us must know about allergies. What Exactly Is An Allergy? An allergy is a disorder of the immune system that brings about an exaggerated reaction when our body gets in contact with foreign substances that are seemingly harmless. The foreign object that causes the body to react in an unlikely manner would only do so to people who are also allergic to that certain substance and not people who are not allergic to it. The foreign substances that would cause allergies are called allergens and the most common types of these include food, molds, dust and other airborne substances. As a responsible individual, it is very important that you know what substances you are allergic to and are aware of what it can cause you. Causes of Allergies Most allergies can be classified into two general categories, environmental and host factors. Host factors refer to those of which an individual would posses which would include heredity, age, gender and race. Environmental factors on the other hand would refer to how the environment affects the individual in relation to the allergies. Genetics is one of the most common causes of allergies. Allergic parents are also most likely to have allergic children. Identical twins are most likely to have the same allergies about 70% of the time. Hygiene is also a major cause for some allergies as this brings bacteria that would later be the cause of allergies. Symptoms of an Allergy Different allergies bring about different symptoms depending on the type of allergy and on what part of the body it is affecting. The characteristics that all allergies have in common is that they are all irritations and would only occur if an individual would get in contact with a substance of which he or she is allergic to. If the allergy is caused by an airborne substance, the most common symptoms would be irritation of the nose, sneezing, itching and redness of the eyes, narrowing of the airways and increased production of mucus in the lungs. The most common symptoms for food allergies would be abdominal pain, bloating, itchy skin, diarrhea and abnormal respiratory reactions. Medical Test for Diagnosing Allergies There is a good variety of tests that you can take to diagnose if you have any allergies. Generally, these tests would include skin testing and blood testing. These tests are offered at any hospital or doctor’s office in your area. Blood testing methods are done to detect allergies of various substances however; skin testing is preferred by more people because it’s cheaper, easier to do and is still an excellent method to test a patient for allergies. Treating Allergies For some allergies, the best treatment or management of the allergen would be simply to avoid the allergens or to reduce exposure to it. This is done by people with food allergies or people who are allergic to other certain avoidable substances however; this is difficult for individuals who are allergic to airborne substances. Fortunately, medicine is now available widely to treat or manage these various allergy diseases. Several drugs are already FDA approved for the treatment of these. The most common are antihistamine, cortisone, cromolyn sodium and theophylline. Other types of allergies could be treated using immunotherapy which would involve having an individual routinely injected with gradually increasing amounts of the allergen being tested in attempt to eliminate the allergy.

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