The thing is, our bodies react differently to allergens. While it is true that allergy-inducing components are present in the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink in varying quantities, our bodies can somehow fight them or get defeated by them. It is basically a war between the immune system and the nasty foreign substances we dearly call “allergens”.

The difference lies in the reaction of the immune system. Normally, allergens such as pollens, food and dust are very well tolerated by our bodies. The body treats them as common substances that do not pose any harm to the system. However, for some people with so-called allergic reactions, their bodies react defensively, oftentimes producing symptoms that are identified as allergic reactions.

This is where things mess up because by nature, the body should be tolerable enough to come in contact with the so-called allergens without putting up a fight. By the way, allergens are certain types of antigens which are basically foreign substances that upset the homeostasis of the immune system.

For normal people with normal reactions to allergens, the immune system produces antibodies that are meant to combat with the foreign materials. These antibodies are, in a way, protectors of the body in protein form. They are medically known as immunoglobulins. They work by attaching themselves to the surface of the invading materials such that other immune system cells can easily destroy the allergens. There are five immunoglobulins that are found in human body namely IgA, IgD, IgG, IgM and IgE. The latter is the allergic reaction-producing immunoglobulin.

However, the case is different for those people with allergic reactions for they develop the allergy antibody called IgE in abnormally high quantities. This either develops on the first exposure or it can sensitize for several years and will only arise on succeeding exposures.

For both conditions, it is possible that there is prior exposure to allergens that have triggered the development of the IgE antibody in higher quantities. Once this happens, the immune system would produce much higher numbers of IgE which would turn out to coat immune cells that contain certain chemicals that might cause various body reactions during their explosion.

When these chemicals are released, which include histamine, inflammation in specific sites of the body would occur, the typical symptom of allergy. This is the result of the body’s exaggerated reaction to various substances. On subsequent exposures to allergens, the body will react in the same exaggerated manner. In fact, the body may become more reactive. The result is an allergic individual who cannot put up with otherwise harmful substances.

But then again, for normal individuals, the reaction would be very different. Allergens will be treated differently by the immune system and would be readily eliminated from the body. Any subsequent exposures will not be entertained by the immune system as threats.

The importance of the IgE makes sense if seen from its original, and not the altered, function. IgE are meant to protect the human body from the invasion of parasites and not normal substances such as dust, dander and mites.

Thus, reactive responses to allergens are not normal and should be treated as such.

If you find yourself suffering from itchiness in your eyes, running nose, sneezing, or that your skin is terribly covered in hives, then you may be right in assuming that you are in for the allergy attack. There is no point in doubting that the attacks of allergy can give you all sorts of misery. Can you sleep through the night? Can you take in the food that you want? Sure enough, you want to be very careful.

There is always something and someone who can provide you with the relief that you so crave for. By going to the doctor, you are likely to be given the cure. Well, the medications are by and large going to address the symptoms but not really to dissolve the kind of allergic response that your immune system has.

Again, it is helpful to get to know the basics. The allergic reaction is brought about by the abnormal reaction of your immune system to those things or substances which are normally considered to be harmless. In fact, not all people can be affected by the same response. When you are labeled to be allergic to one thing, it means that your immune system considers the substance to be offensive.

Some of the known allergens are the pollens, animal dander, medicine, dust, fur, and food. The immune system takes on the role of the body’s protector so it releases the IgE antibodies which then lead to the cell release of the chemical like histamine and the likes to combat the foreign substance as it gets through the bloodstream.

The histamine, when released, acts on the individual’s lungs, throat, nose, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, and skin which then prompt the symptoms of the allergic response to come out. Any future exposure to the same kind of allergy can provoke the same response over and over again.

Again, you might wonder as to why some people are prone to allergies. There is an underlying fact that it can be due to the lineage. Meaning, it can be hereditary. If you have both or only one parent who has any allergic reaction then it may be passed on to you through your genetic makeup.

Common Things that Cause Allergies

As mentioned above, there are various types of allergens. Below are some of the very common ones which you might want to focus on.

Food. Allergy to food is frequent among infants and some of them are able to get away with it as they grow. However, some may be serious and may be carried on through adulthood. Some of the symptoms include diarrhea, stuffy nose, itchy rashes, abdominal discomfort, and a lot more. Several people drive allergic reactions to soy, milk, wheat, eggs, seafood, peanuts, tree nuts, and many other dairy products.

Insect stings and bites. The venom as found in the insect stings and bites often trigger an allergic reaction. The effect may either be mild or serious depending on how the person’s immune system may take it.

Airborne particles. They are known as the environmental allergens and are the most common types. Among them are mold spores, pollens from the trees, ragweed, or grass, dust mites, and animal dander.

Drugs. Antibiotics are the common medicines that trigger the allergy.

Chemicals. There are laundry detergents as well as cosmetics which cause allergy because of the components of these chemicals. The household cleaners, pesticides, and dyes may also promote the allergic response.

Take note that your parents’ allergies may not be exactly identical with the kind of allergic reaction that you may bear. The symptoms vary as well so you should be able to identify with the type that you suffer from.

The particular antigen that is released after the exposure to an allergen is the gamma E globulin or IgE. This type of immunoglobulin is present in all humans to protect the body from parasitic infections. However, among those people who have allergic reactions to certain allergens, the IgE are produced in abnormally higher quantities.

There are various types of allergens which can be roughly divided into 6 categories namely indoor allergens, outdoor allergens, animal allergies, plant allergies, cosmetic allergies and drug allergies. The typical allergens to which a large portion of the population reacts to are the following:

Pollens- Pollens are known to contribute substantially to the incidence of perennial allergies. There are three common sources of pollens namely the tree pollen, the grass pollens and the weed pollens. People who are allergic to pollens often end up with hay fever. The most notorious pollens come from the ragweed which gives off its pollen sometime in August or September.

Molds- Molds are found in environments that are either hot or humid. The best candidates are the basement and the attic. If you have a perennial allergy, the culprit is most probably a type of mold that has been sitting inside your own home. Molds can become airborne, thus they can enter the nasal passages down to the lungs. This leads to allergic rhinitis, a very common type of allergy.

Dust mites- Dust mites are microscopic insects that thrive in the dust. Where there is dust, there are dust mites. Like molds, these enter your lungs, thereby causing the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Animal dander- Another common cause of allergic rhinitis, animal dander comes from the skin flakes that come off the animals. For people with allergic reactions to animal dander, it is advisable for them not to keep pets.

Foods- FDA recognizes 8 foods that typically cause allergic reactions to humans. This list is inclusive of eggs, peanuts, milk, tree nuts, shellfish, soy, wheat and sulphites (typical components of food colors and flavors). Eggs, especially the albumin that is found in the egg white, cause allergic reactions among children. Milk, especially cow milk and other animal milks, have protein components that induce allergic reactions among children.

Children normally outgrow their allergic reactions to milk and egg. Some protein compounds in wheat can serve as allergens to some people while fish and seashells, soy, tree nuts and peanuts that are ingested can cause immune response for some highly sensitive individuals.

Cosmetics and Fragrances- Allergens are also found in the chemicals that are used in cosmetics and fragrances. These trigger a host of reactions ranging from rashes to serious immune responses.

Drugs- Different people react to drugs differently. Like in cosmetics, there are components used in the production of drugs that do not work well with the immune system.

Allergens, regardless of the types, are basically products of mistaken identities. They are common foreign substances that are mistakenly identified by the body as threats, thereby reaction towards them are exaggerated.

Repeated exposure is very risky as it not only produces the allergic reactions but also aggravates the allergy reaction itself.

The allergy to cats is definitely common. At least 25% of the population is suffering from this kind of allergy. In fact, this type is more common than the dog allergy. It is obvious that cats can’t be generally bathed so this likely heightens the potential of the risks.

The Problem behind the Allergy to Cats

The cat allergen is largely produced because of the usually non-neutered male cats. The allergens are basically controlled by their hormones. The dander is by and large airborne, commonly found in public areas, and is sticky. They can be present in these areas even in the absence of the cats.

The reason behind is that these allergens obviously stick to the clothes of those cat pet owners and then they get shed in the public facilities and places.

The cat dander particles are relatively too small in size. When it is present, the person gets to inhale it into the deepest parts of the lungs so that provokes the allergic reaction. Allergic asthma is commonly triggered by the cat dander. Thus, those who have cats at home but are allergic to them have higher risks of developing the asthma symptoms.

Controlling the Symptoms for Your Sake

The most possible therapy for those who have cat allergies is that of avoiding any contact with cats. There are several allergy medications which you may take provided that they have been prescribed by your doctor but then again it will help if you adhere to some other precautionary measures.

Below are other tips on how you can control the symptoms and reduce the chances of getting exposed to the cat allergens.

Be sure to have the cat neutered.

If possible, bathe your cat once or twice within the week. It will also help control the symptoms if you wipe the cat with a wet cloth everyday.

Take away the cat from the bedroom. Keep the bedroom doors and the air vents closed at all times.

Station the cat in the garage or in any other part which doesn’t have carpets on the floor.

Buy a HEPA equipped vacuum cleaner and frequently vacuum the sofas, doorstep rags, and carpets.

If your budget allows it, better buy the HEPA room air cleaner.

Research about the dust mite avoidance tips and follow them.

Vacuum the hard floors, clean all curtains and bedding, and steam clean the carpets and other upholstered furniture sets.

Change the heater vent and air conditioner filters from time to time.

For desperate measures, get rid of your pet cats especially when the allergic reactions persist and turn uncontrollable.

Take note that the cat dander normally persists in a range of months up to years. Even when the cat has long been gone, the effect remains unchanged. Thus, it will be wise to keep up with these precautionary measures to protect your health as well as your family’s. So, say no to cat allergies!

For children, the allergic response normally occurs when they are below five years old. Some of those can be resolved while there are others which are carried on towards the adult stage. It is said that children who have two allergic parents are most likely to acquire allergies too as compared to those who only have one allergic parent.

Allergy to Food as Related to the Symptoms

By and large, an allergic reaction to food can trigger breathing difficulties. As the immune system responds, the symptoms include fatal anaphylaxis, asthma, wheezing, burning, itching, or swelling in the mouth, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps, generalized urticaria or the time when the skin gets raised and turns reds.

Different Types of Food Allergy

Food allergies are classified into four types. They have their own descriptions too.

Type I. It often leads to anaphylaxis right within the 60 minutes span of time after having ingested the food. The blood vessels begin to dilate while the nose runs. Many a times anaphylaxis can be life-threatening.

Type II. This leads to the same causes as with the first type.

Type III. This occurs after some hours of eating. The normal reaction of the skin is to get irritated and the bronchi to be somehow blocked.

Type IV. This is the delayed reaction which may take place between 24 up to 48 hours after the food has been ingested. The more food has been eaten, the worse the symptoms can get. Normally, people who are allergic to food succumb to this type.

The common food allergens are contained in the soy, egg, milk, shellfish, nuts, fish, legumes, tomato, berries, some fruits, mustard, white potato, and cucumber.

Diagnosing the Allergy

The first thing to look into when diagnosing an allergic reaction is the person’s medical history and diet. The doctor is likely to investigate if there are any other types of allergies that run in the family.

The diagnostic tests are also helpful. They are medical procedures which are administered to further investigate the case. The tests often include blood and skin tests as well as oral food challenges. These are conducted to unearth the certain types of food that trigger the allergy symptoms.

Food allergies are best handled by the health care professionals. They are the very persons who can administer the right treatment after some careful sets of diagnosis. It is relatively important that one who suffers should be given the proper medical attention to further stop getting to the worst side of the coin.

As you clearly know, the signs and symptoms vary from one person to another. At the same time, the diagnosis is likewise a complex structure. Thanks to the modern breakthrough in the medical field because today’s society is actually embraced by the concept “for every ill is a corresponding pill” thing.

You may reach your doctor as soon as the symptoms persist and of course be very careful with the food that you take.

The allergic reactions to food need to be treated in several directions via the same time. The procedure takes on the actions like that of eliminating the allergen, modifying the immune response of the patient, and that of handling the patient’s nutritional status. It is not only the doctor who has the responsibility on this matter. As a sufferer, you must get yourself involved too!

What must you do then? It is vital that you observe your own allergic reaction. How often does it come? When does it go away? What triggers it? As soon as you begin feeling and seeing the signs and symptoms, you must review those things that you have eaten, touched, and the likes. Take note that the reactions can be quite complicated. There are cases when the allergic reaction can be fatal. Thus, it follows that you seek medical attention at once.

You know your own body more than anyone else in the world. For you to be in the most perfect shape, you have to deal with the responsibility. That means that you must watch out for the triggering allergens. Be well abreast of the causes and the treatment that you need. So much more, it is essential that you exercise self control and avoid those things that may cause your immune system to react to a naturally harmless substance.

A Review of the Treatments

As a basic thing, getting on with a special diet counts a lot as a treatment to food allergy. If the patient is discovered to be allergic to at least one or two types of food, then the best way to handle it is by getting rid of those offending foods. This is true with the children who happen to be inflicted with the so called peanut anaphylaxis.

For those who suffer from multiple food allergies, the process of rotation is applied. It means that the offending food needs to be taken at intervals and that means to eat it about four up to five days or even longer. The usual case is that suffering from multiple allergies means that you have the same overt allergies to other types of food which are basically thought of to be safe. By eating them in rotation, you will be able to lessen your own exposure and the effects as well and it can help build your tolerance for them.

Supplements and medications are also used to address the problem with the allergy signs and symptoms. They are able to provide the relief that the patients really crave for. The drugs typically repel the production and release of the histamine and other related chemicals. However, it must be done prior to the exposure to the allergens.

The digestive enzymes also have their own roles to take since they chunk down the food into smaller particles so they tend to become lesser allergenic.

Vitamin C is also eyed as an anti-allergy kind of supplement. It aids in the stabilization of the mast cells so they don’t get to release the histamine and other chemicals.

Food allergies have to be treated at a medical perspective. It is only appropriate to get to know these remedies before it gets too late.

Pet allergy. Normally, the allergic reaction to pets persists if some people keep more indoor cats and dogs and they simply can’t get rid of them. In this case, the affected individuals may opt for the allergy shots. These types of treatments are administered by the physicians.

Hay fever. This one is more popularly known as allergic rhinitis. It is the inflammation or irritation of the very sensitive linings along the nose and the eyes. This one is generally characterized as seasonal. The symptoms come around when the pollen and the rest of the airborne particles are rated at the highest levels. The allergic reaction is practically caused by grasses, pollens, dust particles, pet dander, and mold spores. This is a kind of condition that can be passed on from one family member to another.

Dust mite allergy. Considered as insects, the dust mites are closely related to the tick and spider families. They are commonly found in the homes and they are too small to be seen by the naked eye. They grow considerably in the humid areas and feed on dead human skin and a lot other airborne bacteria. To prevent them from inhabiting your home, it will be best to use HEPA filters and lessen the humidity.
Mold allergy. People are more prone to mold allergy at the height of the summer season. The allergic reaction is brought about by the native household molds. Again, molds thrive in the moist environment. It will be best to lessen the humidity in your house.

Asthma. This is characterized by the inflammation of the airways and lungs as a result of the inhaled allergens or the high sensitivity to some chemicals or odors. These factors may trigger the asthma symptoms. Among the effects are breathing troubles, shortness of breath, and other related allergy indicators. The attacks are generally considered to be temporary but it pays to have the spray medication ready at all times.

Allergic eczema. This is also known by the name atopic dermatitis. It is an allergic rash which may or may not be prompted by the physical contact of the skin with an allergen. This is also closely linked to asthma or allergic rhinitis. The common symptoms are rash on the face, around the eyes, behind the knees, and in the elbow creases, along with the redness, itchiness, and the dryness of the skin.

Food allergy. This kind of allergy is considered to be deadly since they are ingested and are more difficult to remove. The effect may be felt as some kind of mild irritation, slight itchiness in the mouth or in the back of the throat or inside the ears.

The severe reactions take the form of inflammation in the airway and the blocked passageway. If left untreated, it may result to death. Peanuts, powder oil, gluten, lactose, and the likes usually provoke the symptoms.

As always, it is best to know beforehand which allergies you have so you can take the necessary precautions.

Just like how the digestive or respiratory systems react from the allergens inhaled or ingested, your skin overreacts when certain substances or chemicals made contact with it. In some cases, the allergies set in too quickly while there are also other instances when they set in after a while. Either way, it can be very itchy and this can be very serious on your skin. Knowing what type of chemicals that cause the condition is one way to better manage skin allergies.

Second, identify and eliminate skin irritants and allergens that cause the itching or scratching cycle.

This can be hard considering that there are at last three thousands of irritants and allergens which trigger skin allergies. However, knowing or identifying your skin usually comes in contact with will give you a nice start. You have two general types of skin irritants or allergens to look at: natural and man-made ones.

• Latex

Latex is derived from a Brazilian rubber tree. These are natural proteins however when undergone manufacturing process, they become more of allergens which trigger the reactions when an individual suffering the condition comes in contact with it. Gloves are one of the products which are made of latex and are normally used by people.

However, there are others made of such as well, such as the balloons, elastic bands (and those even found in the undergarments), pencil erasers, and even baby pacifiers.  If you are known to have allergic reactions, it is best to avoid products that contain latex. Instead, opt for plastic or vinyl.

• Nickel

You can find nickel in many everyday things, such as coins, jewelry, scissors, zippers, and some kitchen and bathroom handles. You can also find it in certain eye shadows, mascara, eye pencils, and others. Nickel allergy patients have risen to 40% for the past years because of the growing popularity of using jewelry, body piercings, and cosmetics.

Aside from this, there are certain foods that contain natural nickel and if you are suffering severe symptoms, you need to undergo supervised medical diet. Avoiding nickel seems to be the best way to stop the allergies as there are currently no means to desensitize nickel allergy reactions.

Third, take care of your skin.

One thing that you can do is to always keep fingernails short. This reduces serious damage from scratching.

Dry skin tends to irritate easily, so it will help if it is kept moisturized and softened. For patients with reactions to certain chemicals, medical doctors may suggest using preparations with topical corticosteroid to control or prevent the inflammation.

When taking a shower, don’t go for hot ones. The heat increases the dryness and itchiness of the skin triggering causing more the irritants to attack. You can use lukewarm water though for 20-30 minutes of soaking. Adding baking soda or oatmeal can help sooth your skin.

Bubble baths are not a good idea since they stop the bathwater from moisturizing and softening your skin. As much as possible, use mild or non-soap cleanser.

It is also important to avoid experiencing heavy perspiration, heavy clothing, and heavy physical contact to stop skin irritants or allergies from being triggered easily. You will also have to remember rinsing the chlorine as soon as possible after swimming in a pool.

It is responsible for making the bread elastic, sticky; the cake spongy; and the French bread having crispy crusts. The wheat is the substance that gives the consistency that these goodies need.

Obviously, there are many food goodies that contain wheat. And that makes it scarier, because almost all people live by eating them. And that is sad too, because if you have allergy from wheat, it means you can’t eat those goodies too. But allergy reactions from wheat do not only develop from eating foods that contain wheat. People who are working or are constantly in contact with wheat flour can also become sufferers. In fact, they have higher risk of symptoms such as occupational asthma, which can be triggered if you inhale the wheat flour.

Statistics have shown that there is lower risk in consuming food products with wheat proteins. These products usually contain albumin and gluten, derivatives of wheat. Most people who develop allergic reactions to wheat have allergies to albumin and globulin, also a derivative of wheat.

If an individual has ingested allergy from wheat, they easily experience vomiting and stomach cramps. Some people develop this experience only after a few minutes, but there are also instances that said symptoms manifest after hours. Eczema and skin rashes are symptoms also likely to occur with this specific allergy.

Wheat Allergy Can Be Life-Threatening Too

It appears that inhalant allergens from wheat are the more serious, and can even be life-threatening, than the ingested allergens. Allergic reactions caused by breathing in wheat flour or any flour that contains wheat derivatives can likely trigger heart complications while they give extreme breathing difficulty to individuals exercising. These can be life-threatening because wheat flour and some grain products with wheat derivatives have been a common staple to people’s diet such that wheat allergies are more difficult to diagnose.

How to Detect If the Person Is a Sufferer

If the individual is eating wheat-based food products occasionally, it can make it a little easier to do the diagnosis. If they become sick or develop the symptoms following such occasion, then the wheat can be a strong indicator. If wheat is a regular staple to anyone’s diet and is also constantly sick after consumption, wheat allergy might look easier to be diagnosed.

However, it is tougher to identify the cause. At this point, the best way to do it is to do elimination-challenge test, the more reliable allergy diagnosis method.

If the allergy is caused by eating wheat-based food goodies, it is best to remove it from the diet. It can be particularly difficult a regimen to do, specifically to children who do not know how to understand content labels of the food they eat, but there are other alternatives you can give them such as snack foods that are soy based.

If allergies are coming from dust of wheat flour, it is best to keep that person from that environment where there is wheat flour.

Pregnancy
Prior to the development of science, allergists already have the firm belief that allergies can be slipped into the bloodstream of the infant during pregnancy. It turns out, this old belief holds water- at least partially. Allergies can develop even while the baby is still in the womb. However, the onset of symptoms commonly occurs several years afterwards.

Parents
When your parents passed their genes to you, they passed along with them diseases, disorders and things that you wish you can get away from. Also, they tossed in the genes to make you prone to allergies- if either one or both of them were allergic, that is. Genetics is the culprit for many things including allergy. According to studies, you are 60% more likely to develop your own type or the same type of allergies as your parents had if both of them were allergic.

Your chances get better if only one of them had allergies, then you become 30% likely to develop allergies. For most of us though who were graced with parents who had somehow developed immunity or rather did not develop allergies, we are only 15% likely to become allergic. This means that the genes dictate how sick one can be in the face of pollens, certain types of foods and animal dander.

The good news is, these risk percentages are only indications of possibilities. Not everyone with 60% possibility of inheriting allergies actually have them. Conversely, not everyone who had healthy parents will fail to develop allergies.

Allergy is not fully anchored on genetics and heredity though. There are other factors that determine whether you would clam up with allergens or not.

Birth
It was found out that premature babies are also more likely to have allergic reactions than those babies who had full term. Also, within the medical community it is believed that babies who were born in a high-pollen seasons have higher likelihood of developing hay fever. Bottle-fed babies also run the risk of developing allergies in comparison with breastfed babies.

Environment
Some people are lucky enough to carry the genetic predisposition to develop allergies as well as live in a conducive environment for allergen exposure. Not many people experience that. Children who grew up in places where there are higher pollen quantities, industrial pollution, dust, insects and other allergens are a lot more exposed to allergens than their counterparts.

With continuous exposure, it is possible for the immune system to exaggerate its reaction towards allergens, thereby producing allergic reactions.

One of the tell-tale examples that proves that environment act a major role in the development of allergies is the study conducted in Germany. A decade after the reunification of the East and West Germany, allergies incidence exploded. Nowadays, all of Germany is plagued with all sorts of allergies.

Over sanitation
The immune system generally weakens when not exposed to diseases, germs and harmful elements. Proponents of this belief as cause of allergy have found out that Westerners are far more prone to allergies than their counterparts in other parts of the globe.