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Allergy is a condition in which the body reacts with unusual sensitivity to a certain substance or substances. These substances, which are usually proteins, are called antigens. They stimulate the body to produce antibodies, which weaken or destroy the invading antigens. In some cases, when an antibody reacts with an antigen, the organic compound histamine is released from special body cells called mast cells. It is an excess of histamine that results in allergy symptoms.

Question: What are the common allergy symptoms?

A runny nose and watering or itching eyes are common to many persons who suffer each year from hay fever. In asthma, there is wheezing; with eczema and hives there is itching, redness, and lumps. An inflammation of the skin (contact dermatitis) may occur from wearing rubber gloves or touching a certain chemical, such as some kinds of soap. A reaction to antibiotics, particularly penicillin, may take the form of a rash.

Question: Why are some people allergic to certain substances and others not?

This is due partly to hereditary factors; some families seem to be more susceptible to allergies than others, although particular allergies are not necessarily inherited. Emotional disturbances can also set off allergic conditions, and many physicians believe that an emotional factor may be the main factor that triggers an asthma attack.

Question: How does a physician determine the cause of an allergy?

The physician usually gets a detailed history from the patient to find the most likely source of the problem and may then carry out a skin test. A weak solution of the substances that are suspected is injected into the skin. A read reaction indicates an allergy to that particular substance. Sometimes a patch test is done for the same reason.

Question: What treatment can be given for an allergic reaction?

If the cause of the allergic reaction is not known, a physician may prescribe antihistamine pills or corticosteroid nasal and lung sprays to control the symptoms. Various medications, including theophyline, are used to treat asthma.

When the cause of an allergy is known, the patient can undergo desensitization with injections of the allergen known to cause the symptoms. Beginning with a weak solution, the dose is gradually increased over a period of weeks until a strong solution is reached and the patient is possibly immune to its effects. This process is not always successful; it is considered by some to be potentially dangerous.

Question: Are there any dangerous allergic reactions?

An allergic reaction to an insect sting or antibiotic drug, such as penicillin, is potentially dangerous and can even be fatal. A mild reaction usually causes a rash. In a violent reaction, which is called anaphylactic shock, the patient finds breathing increasingly difficult. This is an emergency condition, and a physician should be consulted immediately. Fortunately, the condition is rare.

Recent statistics show that as much as twenty percent of the United States population – one in every five people – suffers from some kind of allergy. That’s tens of millions each year dealing with a broad spectrum of allergies, including everything from common pollen and animal fur to various kinds of foods and even some smells.

Though seldom pleasant, allergic reactions are the body’s ways of defending against attacks it perceives as harmful. Controlling allergy symptoms is largely a process of short-circuiting the body’s natural reactions to allergens in the environment.

How allergy attacks work

Allergies are a disorder of the immune system, considered a form of Type I Hypersensitivity in the body. Following the ingestion or the inhalation of an allergen, the body produces an antibody called Immunoglobulin E (or IgE) that activate certain kinds of white blood cells – the body’s most common form of immune system defense. These white blood cells, called mast cells and basophils, release the chemicals histamine and heparin as the allergen particles bind with the IgE.

Histamine is the cause of most perceived allergy symptoms, including sneezing and runny eyes. Blocking or reducing its presence in the body with anti-histamine medication is probably the most prevalent form of allergy treatment.

Three levels of allergies.

Allergies are typically classified according to three levels of severity. Mild reactions are generally limited to one area of the body. Moderate reactions are more acute, spreading to other parts of the body as the allergy attack progresses.

Severe allergic reactions occur when the body produces so much histamine and other allergy mediators in so short a time that the patient undergoes a dramatic drop in blood pressure. This condition, known as anaphylactic shock, can cause death in minutes if not treated. Researchers believe that sixteen percent of United States residents are in dangerous of anaphylactic shock, though such incidents result in less than 1,000 deaths each year.

Anaphylactic shock typically presents itself as a moderate allergy attack but then quickly develops into more painful symptoms such as difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, and dizziness. Mental confusion and lightheadedness are also possible as the brain struggles to deal with the drop in blood pressure.

Atopic reactions

Allergic responses typically happen where the body encounters them – pollen produces sneezing, and so forth. Allergies also sometimes produce an atopic reaction, meaning the appear in areas besides where the body encountered the allergen (for example, breathing pollen making someone break out in hives.) Atopic reactions are strongly hereditary and may come from an overproduction of IgE within the bloodstream.

The countless people who suffer from allergies know that they are a real inconvenience that can prevent you from living your life. Maybe you’re the person who is miserably sneezing and wheezing at the dust mites, while everyone around you feels just great. For a person who suffers from allergies, small things like dust, pollen, and food become the enemy.

Allergies can be tough to live with, but there is one weapon that can do more to defeat them than anything else: Knowledge. Knowing a few basic tips and making some minor lifestyle changes can truly make a world of difference in your war on allergies. Here are some of the basics on allergies, and how to battle them and emerge victorious.

What Exactly Are Allergies?

An allergy is an abnormal reaction from a person’s immune system. The substance that triggers the reaction is not typically a damaging one, but the body reacts as if it were. The triggers of allergic reactions can be many different things: House dust, pet dander, pollen, and various foods are some of the more common allergens. Allergies may change over time, and new allergies may develop as well.

An allergic reaction is triggered when three factors combine: First, an allergy prone person is exposed to an allergen. This can be as simple as breathing in one time, if the irritant is in the area. Second, the body’s natural defense against allergies, Immunoglobulin E, starts trying to fight off the antigen by attaching to the body’s mast cells. The third part of the process is what leaves you with watery itchy eyes, breathing problems, and sneezing.

In an allergic reaction, the mast cells start releasing massive amount of chemical irritants. These irritants will bring on the allergies. Then, to compound the problem (as if the beginning of the allergy attack were not enough!) the chemical irritants in the body start attracting white blood cells called eosinophils. The function of the eosinophils is to bring even more fun (not!) to the party since they bring additional inflammatory chemicals along with them.

What Causes Allergies?

We know how allergies happen, and we even know the steps involved in an allergy attack. The question that most allergy sufferers want to know: Why me? What is it that causes one person to be severely allergic while another is able to blissfully ignore allergens with nary a problem? It is still not completely clear why some people have allergies and other do not.

Heredity appears to play a big role in many cases, however (Thanks so much, mom and dad!). If you have parents or siblings with allergies, your own chances for having them are much higher. In some cases, allergy sufferers have no hereditary link, and it is just uncertain why the allergies happen. It is possible that air pollution, and the increasing use of recycled indoors air may be contributing factors. It has also been theorized that the widespread use of antibiotics may be a factor. Since the immune system is not occupied with fighting off serious infections thanks to the antibiotics, it may be more susceptible to less harmful substances like the typical allergens.

Allergy Prevention

Allergy prevention has to begin with allergy recognition. Once you have determined exactly what you are allergic to, you can practice prevention based on the problem. For environmental allergies such as pollen, simply avoiding exposure is one of the best preventative methods. This will require tracking of the pollen counts, and staying inside if they are unusually high. Keeping all windows closed and running the air conditioner is also a helpful pollen allergy prevention.

For those who suffer from dust allergies, there are several small changes you can make inside the home that will help prevent attacks. Using airtight plastic covers that will encase your pillows, mattress, and box spring will keep the dust mites away and allow you to sleep far more peacefully. If you have carpeting in your home, very frequent vacuuming with high efficiency filters will help keep the dust from building up. Changing furnace and air condition filters frequently can help as well.

Pet allergies can be prevented by isolating the pet if at all possible, bathing the pet very frequently (Nobody said this part would be fun!), and the use of HEPA filtration air cleaners. The best, and in fact the only, prevention for food allergies is avoidance of the food that causes the allergy. This takes a lot of diligence, and careful analysis of all foods you or your child eats.

Spring means many different things, to many different people. For individuals who live with seasonal outdoor allergies, it means finding a way to cope with months of discomfort every time they step outside. Each year, millions of allergy sufferers instinctively reach for over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs as their first line of defense. Unfortunately, not all users take the time to read and fully understand the potential side effects of these chemicals.

Allergy medications work by suppressing the immune system to prevent the release of a substance called histamine. Under certain circumstances, haphazardly taking these medications could pose a significant health threat to individuals with a compromised immune system. Surprisingly, very few people are even aware that there are natural compounds available to help support healthy histamine and immune system response. Let’s review four of the most promising.

Quercetin

During an allergy attack, white blood cells produce billions of molecules that scour the body in search of mast cells. Once they have been located, the two types combine to form one cell. Once this merger has occurred, they newly formed cells gradually begin to secrete histamine. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that works by stabilizing mast cells, thus preventing them from releasing excess histamine into the bloodstream. It is histamine that promotes the sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and other symptoms associated with allergies. Stabilizing the cells that produce histamine has a powerful effect on how much histamine circulates throughout the body. Nutritionists recommend taking Quercetin with Bromelain, to help increase efficacy.

Probiotics

Many people fail to realize that the human digestive tract plays an important role in allergies. In 2003, the Kirin Research Group in Japan discovered a particular strain of Lactobacillus, named Lactobacillus KW. According to Kirin researchers, this unique bacterium could be helpful in preventing the onset of some common allergies, including hay fever. This was evidenced in studies using animal models, where a marked reduction in allergy symptoms was reported. More impressive, studies conducted on humans with hay fever showed that adding Lactobacillus KW significantly reduced the frequency and severity of allergy symptoms. This is an indication that probiotics may be helpful in modulating immune response to allergic triggers.

Omega- 3

Researchers are constantly finding potential new health benefits associated with the consumption of omega-3 essential fatty acids, found in fish and flax oils. One study that may be of great interest to allergy sufferers took place in 2003. This study examined the effect of fatty acids in 334 individuals who suffered from hay fever. At the conclusion of this study, researchers determined that there appears to be link between high oleic acid (omega-9) levels and hay fever. Interestingly, they were also able to determine that people who consumed little to no omega-3 fatty acids reported the worst symptoms. This is just another reason that we, as health-seeking consumers, need to remain keenly aware of maintaining adequate omega-3 intake.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

NAC is a potent antioxidant that has been shown to increase the body’s production of the important antioxidant, glutathione. To date, there’s no evidence that it can completely eliminate allergy attacks, however it does appear to create an environment that is unfavorable to their proliferation. Within the body, glutathione is heavily involved in the protection of cells, oxidative cellular defenses, and a number of immune-related activities. Research has shown that glutathione also helps stabilize the lung’s response to inflammation in asthma models, while increasing the body’s production of T-cells involved in immune response. Ultimately, researchers believe that NAC might help the body naturally reduce the inflammatory response that leads to heightened allergy symptoms.

If you are one of the millions of individuals who enjoy spring and summer with some trepidation, relief might be closer than you think. The nutritional sciences are constantly discovering new ways to improve the quality of life without drugs and synthetic chemicals. A skilled, certified nutritionist can be very helping you in understanding what may be best for you.

References

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National Institutes of Health (NIH). Available at [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/print/] druginfo/uspdi/202060.html, Accessed 4-2-2006

New Bacteria to Fight Allergy Symptoms. Online resource, information obtained from nutraingredients.com Nov 2003. Accessed 4-2-2006

Blesa S, Cortijo J, et al. Oral N-acetylcysteine attenuates the rat pulmonary inflammatory response to antigen. Eur Respir J . 2003 Mar;21(3):394-400.

Witschi A, Reddy S, et al. The systemic availability of oral glutathione. Eur J Clin Pharmacol . 1992;43(6):667 – 9.

Nagle G. The influence of the dietary intake of fatty acids and antioxidants on hay fever in adults. Allergy 2003; 58(12): 1277-84