If you want to have a healthier immune system and keep your body protected from diseases, you can start by learning what are allergies- types and symptoms and how to prevent them. Allergies plague millions of people around the world and they are responsible for constant visitations to the hospital among children. Although they are very common, you still need to know exactly what they are in order to avoid them.
What are allergies?
Your eyes are itchy, your nose is runny, you are sneezing and wheezing and you are covered in hives or rashes. These are the things you will likely experience if you have allergies. Doctors often refer to allergies as abnormal immune system reactions to things or substances which are normally harmless to most people. If you have allergies, your immune system mistakenly believes that a particular substance is harmful to your body so it produces antibodies to that allergen. These antibodies trigger cells to release chemicals like histamine into the bloodstream. Histamine acts on a person’s eyes, nose, throat, skin and other parts of the body and causes allergies.
Types of Allergies
• Hay Fever or Allergic Rhinitis
This type of allergy is characterized by an inflammation of the nasal passages caused by an irritant. It is the most common type which strikes millions of children annually. The increased incidence of allergies is caused by pollutants that are found in the environment.
• Animal Allergies
Animals like your favorite pets can also cause allergies. Cats and dogs have allergens like their fur that can irritate nasal passages and cause sneezing and wheezing. Insect bites and bee stings can also cause hives to appear.
• Chemical Allergies
Substances in beauty products, house cleaners, and others which include chemicals can cause allergies too. Some women are allergic to make-up. People who are exposed to chemicals like muriatic acid and chlorine also experience having hives and itching.
• Drug Allergies
Some medications can also cause allergies. Antibiotics, penicillin, aspirin, and other anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsant drugs can also trigger allergies. Even the drugs we use sometimes to cure illnesses also have side effects that make our skin red and itchy.
Symptoms of Allergies
How can you tell you have allergies? The most common symptoms of allergies include having itchy hives in some parts of the body, sneezing, wheezing, and runny nose. Angiodema or swelling of the eyes, lips, and tongue can also occur. In worse cases, difficulty in breathing happens.
You can have a better health if you know what are allergies- types and symptoms. Knowing other facts like what causes them and how to prevent them from happening to you can also be very helpful.
