Pollen, latex, certain foods, molds, animal dander, and insect stings are examples of generally innocuous substances that can cause allergies. Allergy symptoms can range from minor (rash or hives, itching, watery/red eyes, runny nose) to life-threatening (a rash or hives, itchy, runny nose, watery/red eyes, etc.), nasal steroids, asthma medications; Antihistamines, decongestants, and immunotherapy are some of the treatments available.
What is Allergy?
Allergies are your body's response to what it perceives as a dangerous ‘invader’. For example, the immune system that is your body's defense mechanism may respond if you come into touch with something that is generally innocuous, such as pollen. Allergens are substances that trigger allergic responses.
The way your body reacts to an allergen is referred to as an ‘allergic response’. An allergic response is the outcome of a series of events.
If you have allergies, your body produces allergic (IgE) antibodies the first time you are exposed to a specific allergen (such as pollen). These antibodies are responsible for locating allergens and assisting in their removal from your system. As a result, a molecule called histamine is generated, which produces allergy symptoms. Stay Informed about Allergy Clinics Near You.
Which are the symptoms of Allergy in the body?
We can classify allergy symptoms as mild, moderate, and severe:
- Local symptoms (factors that affect a particular area of the body) including a rash or hives, itching, hay fever, watery/red eyes, and a runny nose are examples of mild responses. Mild responses are not contagious and do not extend to other regions of the body.
- Symptoms that expand to other regions of your body are considered moderate responses. Itching, hives, swelling, and/or difficulty breathing are all possible symptoms.
- Anaphylaxis, or a strong allergic reaction, is an infrequent, life-threatening emergency wherein your body reacts to an allergen immediately and affects your entire body. Anaphylaxis might start with irritation in your eyes or cheeks.
- More serious symptoms emerge within minutes, involving throat swelling (which may cause eating and respiratory issues), stomach discomfort, cramps, vomit, diarrhea, rashes, and swelling (angioedema). Because anaphylaxis can induce a reduction in blood pressure, you may experience mental disorientation or dizziness.
What can cause Allergy?
Any substance you come into touch with that your body perceives as a "harmful intruder" might trigger an allergic reaction. Pollen, animal dander, mildew, dust, foods, insect venom, and latex are all examples of normally innocuous items that can trigger allergies.
These symptoms are the outcome of a series of events that occur as a result of your body's reaction to the "harmful intruder." The body "sees" the intruder, produces antibodies to combat it, and produces histamines in the process, causing allergic symptoms.
Types of Allergies
- Dust Mites: Dust mites are microscopic creatures that dwell in the fibers of household items including pillows, mattresses, carpets, and upholstery. In warm, humid environments the dust mites thrive. Dust mite allergy symptoms are comparable to pollen allergy symptoms. Dust mite encasements (airtight plastic/polyurethane coverings) can be used over pillows, beds, and box springs to aid with dust mite allergies.
Also, vacuum often with a high-efficiency filter vacuum cleaner or eliminate carpet. Medications to manage your nasal/eye and chest symptoms may be used as part of your treatment. If your symptoms aren't under control with avoidance and medicine, immunotherapy may be considered. - Pollen: Hay fever, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to pollen. It inflames and swells the inside of your nose as well as the protecting tissue around your eye (conjunctiva). Some of the symptoms are sneezing, congestion (feeling stuffy), and itching, eye irritation, nose, and mouth. Nasal steroids, Oral antihistamines, anti-leukotrienes, nasal antihistamines, and nasal cromolyn are some of the treatments available.
Pollen exposure can trigger allergic asthma symptoms (wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and/or chest tightness) in certain persons. Pollen avoidance might help to alleviate your symptoms. When pollen counts are high, close your windows, stay indoors, and turn on the air conditioner. To treat pollen allergy, talk to your doctor about immunotherapy (sometimes known as "allergy injections"). - Animal Dander: Proteins released by sebaceous glands in an animal's skin and shed in dander, as well as enzymes in an animal's saliva, can induce allergic responses. Avoidance tactics aren't as effective as just removing the pet from the house. Second-best precautions include maintaining your pet away from your bedroom, utilizing air purifiers with HEPA filtration, and regularly cleaning your pet (cat or dog) since so many people are hesitant to do so.
Medications to manage your nasal/eye and chest symptoms may be used as part of your treatment. If your symptoms aren't under control with prevention and medicine, immunotherapy may be considered. - Mold: Molds are microscopic fungi (like Penicillium) with pollen-like spores that float in the air. Allergies are frequently triggered by mold. Mold may be found both indoors and outdoors, in places like the basement, kitchen, and bathroom, as well as in grass, leaf heaps, hay, mulch, and beneath mushrooms. Mold spores are at their most abundant in hot, humid conditions. Medications to manage your nasal/eye and chest symptoms may be used as part of your treatment. If avoidance and medicine aren't enough to control your symptoms, immunotherapy may be considered.
- Latex: After repeated contact with latex, some people acquire a latex allergy. Rubber gloves, like those used in surgeries or for household cleaning, are a common cause of the allergic response. If you have a latex allergy, you may have skin rash, hives, eye tearing and irritation, wheezing, and skin itching. Skin redness and itching are common allergic responses to latex. If the mucosal membranes are uncovered, like during a surgery or a dental or gynecologic exam, you may experience more severe responses.
- Food Allergy: When your body creates a particular antibody to a certain food, you get a food allergy. An allergic response can happen as soon as minutes after consuming the meal, and the symptoms might be severe. Shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts are the most prevalent food allergies among adults. In youngsters, they include wheat, shellfish, milk, egg, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts. Diarrhea, breathing difficulties, itching, hives, nausea, vomiting, and swelling around the mouth are all indications of a food allergy.
If you are allergic to any of the above stay in contact with Best Allergy Clinics in India.
What is allergic rhinitis and how does it affect you?
Allergic rhinitis refers to nasal allergy symptoms and hay fever. Nasal allergies that alter with the seasons due to pollen in plants are known as seasonal allergic rhinitis (grasses, trees, or weeds). Seasonal symptoms appear during specific plants' pollination seasons. Because you might be allergic to many things, your symptoms may worsen at different periods of the year or remain consistent throughout the year.
