Allergy Diagnosis Help
- Date: 2007-04-05 - Word Count: 464
Share This!
Diagnosing your allergy can be challenging. Allergies affect many people worldwide. If you have never had an allergy you can't imaging the toll it can take on the quality of your life. It can affect your productivity at work and at home. It can affect a child's ability to concentrate and therefore learn. Many people don't want to admit they have an allergy particularly when they've tried over the counter treatments and they haven't worked. The good news is that an allergist can help you but only if you help them identify what is causing your allergy.
What is an allergic reaction?
Many times the reaction itself can point an allergist to the cause. Allergies occur when the immune system recognizes a non-harmful substance as harmful and causes your body to react. When the body comes in contact with the perceived harmful substance, the body will produce a large number of antibodies. These antibodies will cause the body to release chemicals. The most known chemical is histamine that results in itching, increased nasal secretions, swelling and tightening of the airways. The symptoms that you feel as a result include coughing, watery eyes, runny nose,and possibly hives. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that requires immediate treatment. It is caused when the swelling and the tightening of the airways cause severe difficulty breathing as well as dizziness.
There are many types of allergies. Allergic reactions can be caused by airborne substances like pollen that cause hay fever. Depending on the allergen (the substance that causes your allergic reaction), hay fever can be seasonal or year-round. Another allergen also associated with asthma are dust mites, which live in dust and other fibers in things like bedding and rugs. Pet dander is another frequent cause of allergy symptoms, as is mold, latex and some types of foods (food intolerance). In my mind a chocolate allergy can be the most tragic.
If you are lucky you will have an allergy to one or two allergens. Unfortunately some of us will be allergic to a wide range of sources. If your parents have allergies you will be predisposed to having them. Ironically though they may not be to the same things. Asthma and eczema sufferers also seem to be more likely to get allergies.
How can you treat these allergies?
Luckily there are many treatments available today. These can include antihistamines, decongestants or nasal sprays that can provide you with some relief of your symptoms. If these typically over the counter treatments don't work you can try immunotherapy (desensitization), allergy shots as well as the new allergy drops can help you manage and sometimes cure your symptoms. Your allergist can decide what your best course of action should be because it all depends on what you are allergic to.
What is an allergic reaction?
Many times the reaction itself can point an allergist to the cause. Allergies occur when the immune system recognizes a non-harmful substance as harmful and causes your body to react. When the body comes in contact with the perceived harmful substance, the body will produce a large number of antibodies. These antibodies will cause the body to release chemicals. The most known chemical is histamine that results in itching, increased nasal secretions, swelling and tightening of the airways. The symptoms that you feel as a result include coughing, watery eyes, runny nose,and possibly hives. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that requires immediate treatment. It is caused when the swelling and the tightening of the airways cause severe difficulty breathing as well as dizziness.
There are many types of allergies. Allergic reactions can be caused by airborne substances like pollen that cause hay fever. Depending on the allergen (the substance that causes your allergic reaction), hay fever can be seasonal or year-round. Another allergen also associated with asthma are dust mites, which live in dust and other fibers in things like bedding and rugs. Pet dander is another frequent cause of allergy symptoms, as is mold, latex and some types of foods (food intolerance). In my mind a chocolate allergy can be the most tragic.
If you are lucky you will have an allergy to one or two allergens. Unfortunately some of us will be allergic to a wide range of sources. If your parents have allergies you will be predisposed to having them. Ironically though they may not be to the same things. Asthma and eczema sufferers also seem to be more likely to get allergies.
How can you treat these allergies?
Luckily there are many treatments available today. These can include antihistamines, decongestants or nasal sprays that can provide you with some relief of your symptoms. If these typically over the counter treatments don't work you can try immunotherapy (desensitization), allergy shots as well as the new allergy drops can help you manage and sometimes cure your symptoms. Your allergist can decide what your best course of action should be because it all depends on what you are allergic to.
Related Tags: allergy, allergic reaction, chocolate allergy
Marilyn Franklin is a writer for www.allergyfiles.com where you can find more information on all types of allergy symptoms.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Relieve Back Pain From Spinal Stenosis, Herniated Disc With Laser Spine Surgery
Do you suffer from chronic back and neck pain? Do you need surgery, but you're afraid of invasive pr - Issues And Advantages Of Hemorrhoid Medical Procedures
Hemorrhoid surgery is what people resort to if other therapies have failed. Surgical elimination fre - Anyone Can Be Affected By Lyme Disease Symptoms
Lyme Disease is a tricky one to diagnose. It is incredibly easy to contract due to the size of the t - Are You Sick?
Symptoms for Lyme disease are numerous. A portion of these are very apparent. Some are more subtle a - Acne Curing Techniques - Natural Methods
This writeup suggests yet more ways of clearing your acne for good. Water helps flush the body of to - What Are The Symptoms Of Kidney Problems?
Although many kidney problem symptoms share a variety of similarities, there are still variations de - Herpes - Treating The Pain
A herpes infection can be a very painful experience. This can also affect you physiologically, emoti - Personal Care Of Lung's Health: Avoiding Cancer
Cancer can be in the form of many names. It can affect even the smallest bone or muscle inside the h - Acid Reflux Disease - The Causes, Symptoms And Treatments
Acid reflux, or gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a condition that produces abnormal reflu - What Will Happen If Gout Or High Uric Acid Is Left Untreated
Gout is not just a is toe pain that comes and goes, gout is a warning that sign that your body is un
Most viewed articles in this category:
- How to Cure Candida with Acidophilus
If you are having Candida, you need to know about acidophilus as it might help you with your conditi - The Symptoms Of Anorexia And Bulimia Nervosa
One of the most notable symptoms of anorexia and bulimia is the fast and excessive loss of weight. T - Self Care Tips For People With Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease can be overwhelming for many people who have it. Not only must patients face the - Common Wart Removal Doctor
Most common wart removal doctor or dermatologists are not only dealing with common warts but also wa - Crohn's Disease and You
If you have recently been diagnosed with Crohn's disease or another Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - Codliver Oil to Remove Skin Moles and Warts
The use of codliver oil to remove skin moles and warts is noted however this is less popular as comp - Early Warning Signs of Parkinson's Disease - What To Look For
Parkinson's disease develops when the neurons of the substantia nigra in the brain become progressiv - Leaky Gut Syndrome, Celiac Disease, Crohn's Disease, and Colitis Linked to Altered Gut Permeability
Leaky gut syndrome:Leaky gut syndrome is a term often used in complementary or alternative medicine - Acid Reflux Disease Diet
Acid Reflux is becoming a common problem these days due to the changing life styles and poor eating - Viral Infection Headache From Meningitis
A viral infection headache can come from different types of viruses. The concern about having such