Few people start sneezing when they sniff a flower or come in contact with dust particles, however these can be normal to others. Therefore, a reaction caused by the body’s immune system to such things that does not harm or occur normal to other people is termed as an ‘allergy‘.
Our body take these particles as the foreign material is not able accept it at any condition and so it keeps on fighting to these pathogens until and unless it has loose the contact from the body.
Factors and Causes
The substance that behave as the reason for the allergies are known as ‘allergens‘. It is been observed that not only the causative agent is responsible for the allergies, even the environment and individual genes or other hereditary factors also paly the vita role. Like for example, if your parents are allergies to something, there are chances that even you can have the same conditions.
Our body’s immune system tries the best to keep ourselves protected from all kind of pathogens that can be harmful to the body such as bacteria and viruses too. Moreover, it (immune system) is readily available to fight against the allergens so that can be deleterious to the body. Noticeable point is that same allergens or causative factors of allergies can be harmful to one person but not to others.
Following are the common allergens:
Dust: Dust or dust mites are the commonest factor counted in indoor allergens. They are present in curtains, mattresses, furniture’s, etc. of your home, offices, etc. People who have allergy due to dust mites, they may face problem specially in the spring and summers, because the dust mites resides to prefer in humid and warmer environments.
Drugs (medicines): There are certain chemicals or medicines that may effect few sensitive peoples, and may cause allergies such as itching in skin, headaches, nausea, facial swelling, anaphylaxis, etc.
Food: Few people even suffer the allergies due to some food or eatables items, that may vary from dairy oroducts, few vegetables or cereals or pulses. Intake of such food may by the person who is allergic to it may feel nausea, vomiting, headaches, itching, bloating, tingling in the mouth, swollen tongue or throat, lips,etc.
Mold: The mold allergy is also the severe one and occur as the causative agent in several peoples that is termed as mold allergy. Trouble in breathing itchy skin, and eyes, coughing and sneezing are the common symptoms a person with allergic to mold may have to face if encounter with the molds.
Pollen: People having allergy due to pollens may suffer with itchy eyes, watery nose, and itchy throat and condition may get worsen in spring and late fall when the number of pollens increases.
Pet and other animal dander: This is also the common allergy, where pet saliva and dander are the causative agent, the pet allergic person may have coughing, sneezing, itching, hives.
The person may feel the above provided symptoms, when the pet or an animal is around them or at the palce where the animal was been.
It is noticed that person who have allergies, their immune response is oversensitive and quickly respond to the allergens and in recognizing it. The chemical known as ‘histamine‘ is found to be most crucial one to play the role in causing allergic symptoms. In additions, people are allergic to sudden changes in the hot-cold temperatures, environmental factors, sunlight, etc.
Symptoms of allergies
The symptoms of allergies may vary from person to person, and depends on the type of allergy one is having and the level of severity it has. Taking medications before the occurrence of the allergic response that you know you might encounter may also the reduce the symptoms the person experience.
However, in some cases the level of allergy raise to the severity level and can be life-threatening too, this is known as anaphylaxis.
Here are the list of the common symptoms occurring due to environmental factors:
Hay fever: This is also known as allergic rhinitis that may cause – runny nose or stuffy nose, sneezing, headaches, itching of eyes, nose or roof of the mouth and watery, swollen or red eyes.
Food allergy: This may cause swelling of the face, tongue, throat, or lips, tingling in the mouth, anaphylaxis, hives.
An insect sting: This type of allergy may bring hives and itching throughout the body, a large area of swelling at the sting site, anaphylaxis, shortness in breath or wheezing, cough, chest tightness.
A drug allergy: This allergy may leads to severity such as face swelling, itching on the skin, rashes, hives, wheezing, anaphylaxis.
Eczema or atopic dermatitis: It is a kind of skin allergy causing redness, itching or fake or peel.
Anaphylaxis: Severity in few allergies like insect bite, foods may leads to critical conditions of the person known as anaphylaxis. This can be life-threatening and may bring the person into shock.
Drop in blood pressure, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, rapid or weak pulse, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, etc., are signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis. However, the condition may vary and the health care provider are the one who can observe and guides to the patient in a much a better way.
Even in case of asthma the symptoms may be severe, in some people the condition gets worsen if they heave seasonal allergies for certain period of time in the year.
