Increasingly both children and adults are developing allergies to their environment or lifestyle. Most allergies are mild and easily controlled but some severe reactions can cause castastrophic collapse and may be fatal.
Symptom and Allergies
In people with allergies the body releases a substance called histamine; this causes an inflammatory response and produces swellings of the affected structures like the:
- Nose
- Lungs
- Skin
- Intestines
Other symptoms are itchy skin, swelling of mucous membranes and wheezing. In severe allergic reactions shock and even death may occur. Some of the more common allergic conditions are hay fever, asthma, eczema and nettle rash (urticaria).
Some Causes of Allergies
- Latex
- Insect bites and stings
- Grass and tree pollens
- Dust mites
- Foods like shell fish, cow's milk, wheat, strawberries.
Other common allergens are medications like penicillin and aspirin, nickel, rubber, pet hair and fur.
The cause of allergies is not well understood but what is known is that it has a tendency to run in families and is becoming a more common occurrence.
Immune System and Allergies:
The Immune system plays a big part in protecting against allergies and it may be that the fight against infectious diseases and an increasing emphasis on personal and environmental hygiene are having a depressant effect upon our immune systems leaving us more susceptible to allergies of all sorts. So exposure to the germs and grime of the past was not such a bad thing after all.
Allergy Predispositions:
Almost anyone can be affected with an allergy, however some factors play a part in the acquisition of an allergy:
- A family trait or history
- If both parents have the same allergy like hay fever, or asthma the risk of their offspring developing the same allergy is significantly increased
- Only children also have an increased risk.
Other factors that can increase the chances of developing an allergy are:
- Excessive use of antibiotics
- Passive smoking
- Overweight
- Over indulgence in processed foods.
Allergy Reduction:
But there are some things that will reduce or eliminate the chance of your becoming allergic. These include the lottery of birth: being born into an allergy free family greatly reduces the risk of developing an allergy.
Plenty of vitamins C and E and Omega 3 polyunsaturated oils (mainly found in certain oily fish), having a large nuclear family, letting kids be kids and allowing them to get grubby now and again – getting down and dirty so the immune system is running at full blast, may help reduce the chances of acquiring allergies.
Controlling Allergies:
Most allergies are easily controlled but some individuals develop severe reactions from an early age. They may have infantile food allergies (commonly cow's milk, egg and nuts) usually associated with extensive eczema. These people need continuing close supervision and managed care; they may require the help of many health professionals.
Most people who suffer an allergic reaction to food, pets or the environment know how to manage their allergy and do so very well. However regular checks with a specialist are always recommended so that the condition can be monitored and controlled and any new medical techniques or drugs used.
More on allergies here and here.
John Howe - John Howe is a qualified nurse, lecturer and journalist, he has written extensively on health, travel and lifestyle in Asia and Europe.
