Allergies occur when the body's immune system response mistakenly triggers a
false alarm to a substance that you have inhaled, ingested or touched that is
essentially harmless. When this response occurs the body produces an antibody
called immunoglobulin E or IgE. Immunoglobulin E signals your body that it has
been invaded by an antigen and it produces powerful chemicals like histamines,
cytokines and leukotrines to stop the invasion. What your body doesn't know is that
there is no invasion occurring. Common symptoms of allergies are: itchy eyes,
watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, dark circles under the eyes,
headaches, earaches and hearing loss.
The Best Offense Is a Good Defense
The way to beat allergy symptoms is to remove the allergen triggers from
your life. For example, if the pollen count is high close your windows and use
an air conditioner with a filter. Dust and vacuum your home frequently to
remove dust particles from your environment. Swap carpet for hardwood flooring
to eliminate more dust. Cover mattresses and pillows with allergy resistant products.
Ventilate your home well so that there is no mold build-up in any damp areas
such as the bathroom. Keep pets off the furniture and out of the bedrooms. Pet
dander is a major allergen trigger. Opt for shades instead of mini-blinds for
privacy. If you are allergic to medication wear a Medic Alert tag.
Common Allergen Triggers
Pollen
Mold
Animals
House Dust
Cigarette smoke
Chemical fumes
Air Pollution
Changes in Weather
Many people who have allergies also have asthma. Researchers believe that
eczema and asthma are red flags for future allergies. In fact asthma is now
considered to be the sixth leading chronic disease in the United
States. It has also been documented that
approximately 60 million people in the United
States have seasonal allergies. Many parents
report an increase in asthma flare-ups as the weather changes.
Doctors have put forth the theory that children are not exposed enough to
enough germs. They believe that their environments are too clean for the body
to recognize antigens when they are exposed to them and it is for this reason
that the body's immune system sends so many false alarms. Other researchers
believe that allergies are genetic in nature. Scientists have proven that one
out of five adults and children have some type of allergy. If one parent has an
allergy the child will have a one in three chance of also having an allergy. If
both parents have an allergy the child will have a seven in ten chance of also
having a similar problem. Allergies are gender neutral. This means that just as
many boys as girls will have sensitivities to certain allergens.