Cause Of Allergies

Many people associate pollen, dust, pet dander, and specific foods like peanuts to be the cause of allergies. However, these can be said to be allergy triggers. Allergy symptoms are usually treated with popular medications such as Bendryl and Claritin. However, these often carry side effects.

It is important that you learn more about the true cause of allergies in your body as well as to determine the triggers that may set them off. Through understanding, you can equip yourself with knowledge and methods to keep yourself healthy and safe.

When the offending allergen gets into your body, your immune system recognizes it as an intruder since you have an allergy to it. This causes the immune system to create immunoglobulin E., an antibody, to begin the process of fighting against the offending allergen. The immunoglobulin E. creates mast cells who release histamine into the bloodstream to fight against the allergens. The histamine release is what sets into motion your body having allergy symptoms.

Hence, antihistamines are often to treat the symptoms of allergies. They fight against the histamine reaction in your body to help reduce your symptoms so that you can feel better right away.

The cause of allergies is also in many cases hereditary. If you have a parent who suffers from allergies, chances are you are at a greater risk. There is one difference, however. Your parent and you may not be allergic to the exact same things, because it is the sensitivity to allergens that is hereditary, rather than the allergy to a specific factor.

Some natural health experts also propose the idea that the cause of allergies is due to a condition known as the leaky gut syndrome. A leaky gut syndrome refers to the damage to the lining of the gut. When this lining is damaged, there is an increased permeability of the intestinal lining. These experts say that the lining becomes inflamed and damaged, due to various reasons such as poor diet, the overuse of antibiotics, toxins and infection. With an increased permeability of the intestinal lining, these toxins, undigested food, waste, or other matter are allowed to pass through to the blood, causing inflammation to occur. Allergic symptoms, brought about by the inflammation, then manifest.

An exposure to something that you are allergic to can cause you to experience any of the following: watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, and other symptoms in the respiratory system, skin, or even the digestive system.

Your symptoms can be mild or severe. You may not realize that you have an allergy if your symptoms are low grade and/or you have not been observant enough. For instance, you may mistakenly believe that the symptoms of a runny nose that you have is actually a cold instead of an allergy reaction to something in the air. Allergy symptoms tend to be reactions that can persist for weeks and months.

The most severe allergy reaction that you can experience is an anaphylectic shock. An anaphylactic shock can lead to death in a matter of minutes if left untreated.

Pollen allergies. Most people think of allergies as respiratory allergies. Triggers and causes of allergies can include dust, mold, mildew, pollen, and more. Seasonal respiratory allergies can also exist due to changes in pollen count and weather.

Food allergies. More and more people are found to have multiple food allergies. These allergens come from food. Most people react to a common list of foods. They include shellfish, cow's milk, wheat, soy, peanuts, eggs and berries. A food intolerance should be distinguished from an allergy. You can get minor symptoms of intolerance such as diarrhea and bloating, or an allergic reaction as severe as death.

Drug allergies. Drug allergens include penicillin, codeine, and sulfa drugs. Allergy symptoms include hives, digestive problems, or a rash. A drug allergy can be very dangerous. It is important that you report if you have any drug allergies to your physician at the start of a medical appointment.

Insect sting allergies. Insect sting allergies occur when an insect such as a bee, wasp, hornet, fire ant, or yellow jacket stings you and releases a poison into your body. You only get symptoms of allergy if you are sensitive. You can experience pain, itching and swelling at the site of the insect sting instantly. However, you can also develop an anaphylactic reaction, in which case, you need to get immediate medical attention.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS). Many people are increasingly reporting that their causes of allergies are due to an excessive exposure to chemicals. These chemicals can be found in everyday products, ranging from detergents to paints and cosmetics. Their allergies can be so bad that it is impossible to function normally after that.

Research is being poured into understanding more about the causes of allergies. Health practitioners from developed countries are warning about an allergy epidemic. One estimate forecasts that half of all Europeans may be suffering from some sort of allergy by 2015, if the rates continue to escalate. In the U.S., a recent nationwide survey found that more than half (54.6 percent) of all U.S. citizens test positive to one or more allergens.

Experts are also warning policy makers that allergic disease might replace infectious disease as a major cause of ill health in cities undergoing rapid demographic changes in developing countries. The cause of eczema in these cities is blamed on toxic environmental factors.

Prevention by reducing exposure to allergens is the best treatment method there is currently. Hopefully, more light from the various research studies can be shed soon; so that more of us can get on with our lives, allergy-free.