Allergic Reactions and Possible Causes
It’s the combination of environmental factors and hereditary predisposition that matters.
The main reason for allergic reactions is a sensitive immune system that interprets certain substances as potentially hostile. The main function of the immune system is to make sure no such substances or viruses affect your body. So, your oversensitive immune system responds to irritants that are generally safe by displaying allergies symptoms.
Whenever your immune system becomes aware of an irritant it considers as hostile (an allergen), histamines are released. These chemicals may cause rash, hives, itching, swelling and other unpleasant symptoms when being released.
Allergic reactions can be caused by anything.
• Your immune system controls white blood cells responsible for the production of antibodies.
When your body believes some antigen might threaten it, it triggers a sequence of reactions.
The process of sensitization begins when white blood cells start to produce antibodies designed to fight the type of antigen threatening the body.
These antibodies are responsible for destroying irritants that are believed to threaten the integrity of your immune system. When allergic reactions occur, a certain type of antibody – immunoglobulin E (IgE) – becomes active.
• IgE triggers the production of mediators, which are special hormones.
The most well-known mediator is histamine.
Mediators are responsible for the activation of white blood cells and have localized effect on organs and tissues. Mediators are, in fact, the hormones that cause certain allergic symptoms.
Depending on the amount of mediators released, your allergic response may vary from moderate to severe.
• Every individual has an allergic response that is unique. Your body learns to develop pollen allergies symptoms, for example, after several cases of exposure.
• Most people suffering from an allergy of some kind are well aware of possible allergens and the response of their bodies to them.
Allergy food is one of the strongest triggers. It can be shellfish allergy, milk protein allergy, peanuts allergy and many other kinds. Apart from food, allergens may be drugs, vaccines, latex, pollen, animal dandruff, poison ivy, mold and many others.
Very serious conditions can be caused by fire ant stings, bee stings, and penicillin injections. The response of your immune system in such cases can affect your entire body and lead to serious consequences.
Another group of possible allergens includes: doing exercise, suffering minor injuries, suddenly changing temperatures or even experiencing certain emotions.
It can be quite challenging to detect the allergen unless the patient had a similar reaction at some point in the past.
• Very often allergies can be passed through generations; however, some people acquire an allergy even if it didn’t run in his of her family.
• If you know about one allergen that triggers the reaction, there may as well be more.
• People that have the following medical conditions are very likely to develop allergic reactions:
Asthma
Nasal polyps
Skin sensitiveness
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and other similar lung diseases
Previous or frequent infections of the respiratory tract
Previous severe allergic reactions
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