What Is An Allergy?

What Is An Allergy?

There’s a lot of talk about allergies. But just what

is an allergy and what causes them? Why do some people

have them while others don’t? And why are people with

one allergy more inclined to have many?

The immune system is set up to protect our bodies from

harmful, foreign substances. Like viruses and bacteria

(dirt and germs). Sometimes the immune system doesn’t

develop properly or is just oversensitive and doesn’t

react right.

In these cases, it reacts to things that aren’t

harmful and don’t usually cause people any problems.

These things are called allergens. The term allergens

is just an easier way to say “things that cause

allergies”.

When the oversensitive or improperly developed immune

system sees these allergens, it sends out chemicals

like histamine. It’s the histamines that cause the

symptoms that are common with allergies.

Symptoms like itching, watery eyes, runny nose,

swelling, hives or rashes. Different people have

different symptoms, but the causes are the same.

The symptoms that are displayed depend on the part of

the body the allergen comes in contact with. Allergens

that are breathed in, like pollen or dust cause

coughing or wheezing, stuffy or runny noses and an

itchy nose and throat.

Plant allergies usually come in contact with the skin,

so they cause rashes.

Food allergies usually result in nausea, vomiting,

stomach pains or in severe cases, life threatening

reactions. Drug allergies tend to involve the entire

body, so they have a variety of symptoms.