What is allergy?

Does your body over react to something? Allergies are nothing but abnormal responses to the body’s immune system. People having allergy have an immune system which responds to harmless substances in the environment around. We all get some allergy or the other in our lives. The common allergens are pollen, mold, animal dander etc. Allergy symptoms could be mild, moderate or even severe. Allergies are mostly passed on from one generation to the other. So allergies are normally inherited. The child has more risk of getting it if both the parents have allergies. Allergies differ from person to person.

Mild symptoms of allergy reaction are normally affected in a specific area of the body and do not spread to the other parts of the body. The symptoms include rash, itchy, watery eyes and congestion.

Moderate allergy reactions tend to spread to the other parts of the body like itchiness and difficulty in breathing.

In a severe reaction called as anaphylaxis, the response to the allergen is so intense that it affects the whole body. It is rare and is life-threatening. It normally starts with eyes and face itching and then becomes more intense. The symptoms include cramps, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Swellings might also occur which may make breathing and swallowing difficult. This severe reaction might also cause the blood pressure go down which leads to dizziness.

Allergy symptoms that are found on the skin are Eczema commonly found in infants and adults. Hives is also a type of skin allergy in which a patch of skin might turn red, itchy and swell.

What really happens when I have an allergy reaction?

A specific type of anti body is produced by the body. These antibodies attach themselves to a blood cell called as mast cells which are normally found in airways and in the GI tract. These areas of the body become more sensitive to allergies.

In case there is an allergen in the air then the reaction of the allergy will occur in eyes, nose and lungs.

The most common allergens are:

Pollens from trees and weeds: Allergies occurring in spring season are due to tree pollen, those occurring in summer are due to pollens of weed and grass and the once occurring in the fall are caused because of ragweed.

Molds are normally found where water tends to collect and the place is always damp found in shower curtains, basements that are damp, rotten logs and compost.

What are the medicines used against allergy?

To relieve from stuffy nose of allergies decongestants and nose drops could be used. Antihistamines could be used when suffering from runny nose, sneezing and dryness of mouth. Eye drops can be used to relief oneself from itchiness and watery eyes.