Posts Tagged ‘Allergic’
What are allergies?
What are allergies?
An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a substance that is harmless for most people. But in an allergic person, the immune system treats the substance (called an allergen) as an invader and reacts inappropriately, causing symptoms that can range from mild discomfort to problems that may endanger the life of the person.
The immune system of an allergic person, in an attempt to protect the body against what it perceives as a threat, it produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) against the allergen. In turn, these antibodies cause cells called mast cells to release certain chemicals, including histamine, into the bloodstream to defend against the allergen “invader.”
It is the release of these chemicals that cause allergic reactions, which affect the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin and gastrointestinal tract. The subsequent exposure to the allergen (substances such as pollen or nuts) will trigger the same allergic reaction. This means that whenever the person is exposed or that allergen, is eating a particular food or by touching or breathing in a substance, submit an allergic reaction. Read the rest of this entry »