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All about Allergy, What is an Allergy?

November 21st, 2008 by admin | Filed under Allergies


The issue of allergies has become routine in our lives, and certainly most everyone has an idea of what is an allergy. Allergies are a common theme, in fact, it seems acceptable to discuss your allergies at a cocktail party with strangers.

An allergy is an abnormal reaction of a person’s immune system against a normally harmless substance. A person without allergies would be no reaction to that substance, but when a person is allergic encounters activate the body reacts by releasing chemicals that cause allergic symptoms. However, just because there is a causal link between exposure to a substance and the development of symptoms does not always mean that the person is allergic to that substance. For example, drugs, and have known side effects to expect, a person has one of these side effects are not necessarily allergic to this medication.

What is Happening During an Allergic Reaction?
During an allergic process, the substance responsible for causing the allergy, or allergen, binds to allergic antibodies present on allergic cells in a person’s body, including mast cells and basophils. These cells then release chemicals such as histamine and leukotrienes, resulting in allergic symptoms.

How do Allergies Start?
The allergic person can make allergic antibodies, or IgE, against a variety of allergens, including pollens, molds, animal danders, dust mites, foods, venoms and medications. This occurs through a process called sensitization, where a person’s immune system is exposed to enough of the allergen to make the body produce allergic antibodies to that substance.

With later exposures, that same allergen binds to its corresponding IgE on allergic cells, and the body reacts with symptoms of allergies. Allergic symptoms can vary somewhat with the type of allergen and route of exposure (airborne pollen exposure may cause different symptoms than eating a food to which you are allergic).

When and Why do People Develop Allergies?
It is unknown why some people develop allergies and some don’t. Allergies seem to run in families, and in some cases family members can share allergies to specific foods or medications. It appears that the allergic response was once meant to protect the body against parasitic infections, although now seems to be an abnormal response to non-infectious triggers.

Allergies can occur at any time during our lives, but are more common to occur during childhood or young adulthood.

Sources :
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this site is for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your physician for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.

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