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.

Spring is just around the corner. And with it comes

all the lovely pollen. Lots of people have no problem

with spring. They welcome it with open arms.

But for thousands of people, spring means runny noses,

itchy eyes and congested breathing. These people

suffer from an allergy. Probably the most common

allergy, affecting the most people is the allergy to

pollen.

Spring brings new growth and with this new growth,

plants have the urge to produce fruit or seeds.

Basically, pollen is created by the male plant parts

and taken to the female plant parts. While some plants

depend on insects to do their pollinating, many use

the wind.

The pollen grains are carried by the wind to other

plants to keep the species alive and flourishing.

Most people are just annoyed by the collection of

pollen on their automobiles, porch, patio and

everything else that sits around outside. But for the

people allergic to pollen, their problems are more

than annoying.

The most common symptoms of an allergy to pollen can

be seen every where. Runny noses, itchy watery eyes,

sneezing and coughing are yearly evidence that spring

is in the air.

The pollen irritates the areas that come into contact

with air. That means eyes, nose, throat and lungs. As

the pollen blows on the wind, it causes problems that

turn the joy and beauty of spring into anything from a

nuisance to a nightmare for the thousands that suffer

from this allergy.

It seems the more advanced our society becomes and the

cleaner we get, the more prevalent food and other

allergies become.

The occurrences of common allergies are much higher in

more developed countries than in their lesser

developed counter parts. And the numbers are

increasing as industrialization spreads through out

the world.

According to the hygiene hypothesis, the modern

methods of cleaning and sanitizing get rid of too many

germs. The body’s natural immune system doesn’t have

enough to do.

In children, it doesn’t develop the way it should. And

since allergies are an incorrect response of the

immune system, childhood and adult allergies have

become more prevalent.

Studies also show that common allergic diseases like

hay fever, eczema and food allergies are found less

often in children from large families.

Apparently being exposed to infectious agents (germs)

by brothers and sisters is a good thing. It helps the

immune system learn what it’s supposed to protect our

bodies from.

Antibiotic usage during a baby’s first year and the

growing use of antibacterial cleaning products has

also been linked to an increase in asthma and other

allergies.

The hygiene hypothesis explains that the antibacterial

cleaning products and antibiotic drugs limit our

immune system’s exposure to infectious diseases,

parasites and other bacteria.

This limits the immune systems development. Because of

the lack of dirt and germs, the immune system doesn’t

learn what it’s supposed to be protecting the body

from and goes after the wrong things.

* Milk *

Being allergic to cow’s milk isn’t the same as being

lactose intolerant.

* Eggs *

You can be allergic to either the whites of the yolk.

This type of food allergy is more prevalent in

children, but does affect some adults.

* Peanut *

Most people, adults and children with food allergies,

are allergic to peanuts too.

* Tree nut *

More children have nut allergies than adults. The

symptoms of nut and peanut allergies are the same, but

being allergic to one doesn’t necessarily mean you’re

allergic to the other.

* Seafood *

This is more common in, but not limited, to children.

The fish allergens can be passed through the air by

people eating or cooking fish near you.

* Shellfish *

Similar to seafood allergies. But having one doesn’t

mean being allergic to the other.

* Soy *

People allergic to soy need to be especially careful

when eating Asian foods or using Asian sauces.

* Wheat *

This is most commonly a food allergy, but can also be

a respiratory contact allergy.

In the United States these are referred to as “the big

eight”. Over 90% of U.S. food allergies consist of

these foods.

Allergens differ in other countries, but these 8 make

the top 10 in many places through out the world.

Food allergies may be based on contact. In East Asia

where rice makes up a large part of the diet, rice

allergies are more common, as are celery allergies in

Central Europe.