Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to normally innocuous substances like pet dander or pollen, producing proteins known as antibodies to stay alert for allergens that come in contact with skin, nose or throat surfaces and destroy them immediately.
BU Today asked her to explain what is taking place when allergies appear.
Symptoms
Allergic reactions depend on the allergen being exposed, but symptoms typically include sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, itchy skin or lips or throat as well as itchy patches on lips or throat. A severe reaction could result in hives, tongue swelling, difficulty breathing and in anaphylaxis requiring immediate medical treatment – anaphylaxis is considered an emergency medical situation and requires prompt action to be taken against.
Untreated allergies can have an enormous effect on quality of life. Pollen season restrictions, food restrictions that make dining out or attending social gatherings challenging and sleep disturbance can all have adverse impacts. Chronic sinusitis caused by allergy flare-ups can result in fluid build-up in ears which leads to hearing loss or speech impairment in children; frequent asthma flare-ups can strain cardiovascular health over time.
Allergies can affect people of any age, but infants often become susceptible to them through what’s known as the “atopic march”, whereby eczema progresses into food allergies, environmental and seasonal allergies and asthma. Adults can also become allergic due to changes in circumstances – such as moving to an area with different plants and trees or adding a pet that triggers their allergic responses – making diagnosis and treatment from an allergist essential.
Triggers
Allergies are caused by your immune system’s response to normally harmless substances like pollen, pet dander or food that cause you to release chemicals such as histamine that lead to itching and sneezing symptoms. Allergies can impact various parts of the body such as skin, eyes, digestive tract or respiratory tract.
Common allergy triggers include pollen, dust mites, mold, animal dander, insect stings, foods and certain medications. If you’re uncertain which substances triggered your allergy reactions, speak to a doctor about allergy tests – these will allow them to pinpoint your triggers so you can avoid them more effectively.
Allergies can severely disrupt daily life. For instance, pollen allergies may prevent you from enjoying outdoor activities during peak seasons and food allergies can limit dining out or trying new cuisines.
Avoid allergens like pollen, pet dander, dust mites and mold to help alleviate allergy symptoms such as runny or stuffy noses and itchy eyes. OTC antihistamines may also help block histamine production to alleviate allergy symptoms like runny or stuffy noses or itchy eyes. In extreme cases, your doctor may provide emergency epinephrine auto-injectors (like EpiPen) for emergency use in case severe allergic reactions occur.
Treatment
Allergies can significantly hinder daily life and overall health. Seeking diagnosis and treatment to alleviate allergy symptoms is vital in order to control them effectively; allergies result from an immune response designed to defend the body against perceived or real invaders; inflammation from allergies can hinder normal immune system function leading to disease development.
Traditional allergy treatments involve medications to control and prevent allergic reactions, including both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription (Rx) pills, liquids, nasal sprays and eye drops. They may help lower immune system reactions while relieving symptoms like sneezing, runny nose or watery eyes; additionally they may prevent severe reactions like anaphylaxis from developing.
Your doctor can use either a skin test or blood test to identify what allergens you’re sensitive to. They may ask you to avoid certain foods for two-four weeks to test for food allergies or administer low doses of allergen under your skin (allergy immunotherapy) so as to build up tolerance over time. Research into new methods of treating allergies such as gene therapy and biologics drugs made from living organisms targeting specific parts of the immune system are currently ongoing, while altering your environment to limit allergen exposure such as keeping pets out of bedrooms and vacuuming regularly can help as well.
Prevention
Pollen season and animal allergies may seem like minor inconveniences, but allergies can have serious repercussions for those affected. They’ve even been linked to impaired immune system performance; so getting diagnosed and treated early is essential to your overall health and wellbeing.
Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to something it perceives as a threat – usually food, pet dander or pollen – that most people find harmless, such as food. When exposed to an allergen (a substance considered harmless by most), your immune system produces antibodies to attack it while activating mast cells; mast cells release chemicals such as histamines that lead to allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes or even hives.
Some forms of allergies are more severe than others; anaphylaxis, for instance, is potentially life-threatening; but many allergic reactions are less serious and can be treated using over-the-counter medicines like antihistamines and steroid nose sprays.
Preventing allergies involves learning what allergens you’re reacting to and taking steps to avoid them, whether that means staying indoors on days with high pollen and mold spore counts or wearing a mask when mowing the lawn or using a humidifier during winter months. Talk to your family members about hiring babysitters/caregivers who know how to care for children with food allergies as well as having plans in place in case an emergency arises.
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