Allergens are everywhere; in the air, on your pet, in the foods you eat. A person can be affected by an allergen by eating the allergen, breathing the allergen, or touching the allergen. It seems like the simple solution is to not be around the allergens. However, that is easier said than done.
Many people suffer from different kinds of allergies. Some people are able to go jogging outside without any problems; others may need to take allergen preventative measures, such as taking allergy medicines. Some people can have cats or dogs for pets, but those who have allergies to animal dander may not be able to be in the same vicinity of a cat or dog. Some people can eat peanuts without having an epipen; others can’t be around any form of nut without the risk of anaphylactic shock. Each person with allergies will suffer from those allergies differently from someone else who has the same allergy. Various people will also react to allergens with differing degrees of intensity.
Why do allergies affect people differently? The reason why people react differently to allergens is because each person’s immune system is different. Allergy attacks generally are not because of a weak immune system, but due to an overly active immune system. Another way to refer to “allergy” is “hypersensitivity.”
A person’s immune system takes something like pet dander or pollen (something that isn’t necessarily or typically a real threat to the body) and the immune system decides that the allergen is a threat to bodily functions. When an allergen finds itself in a person’s body, the body starts producing a little something called an immunoglobulin (IgE) antibody. This antibody, also known as the allergy antibody, will attach itself to the allergen. After the IgE antibody attaches itself to the allergen, it will then find what is known as a mast cell. The mast cell is located in different mucous membranes, such as nose, eyes, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and skin.
When the person is exposed to the same allergen again, the mast cell releases different chemicals like histamines, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins. These chemicals try to defend the body against the allergens, but allergens are not threats to the body. The symptoms of allergies are caused when these chemicals try to fight the allergens. The mast cell and IgE are hypersensitive from the possibility of a threat from an allergen. The two of them are trying to defend the body from disease and ailments, but they only make matters worse in the case of allergens.
That is why people feel different symptoms from allergies, but what are some of the best ways to combat allergies? That is a pretty loaded question. As I have already stated, people have different allergies and are affected by differing degrees. A remedy that may work for certain food allergies may not work for others. Similarly, a solution for someone suffering from nasal allergies may not work for someone suffering from lung allergies.
Nasal allergies will cause the nose to drip and congestion. An infection is also possible with nasal allergies. Because of the closeness, a person who is affected by nasal allergies will likely develop eye allergies at the same time. Eye allergies will cause itchiness in the eyes, watering, redness, and swelling. When a person has nasal and eye symptoms for a limited time (a couple of days to several weeks), the person is suffering from seasonal allergies. Besides the already mentioned symptoms, a person suffering from seasonal allergies may also have headaches, coughs, stuffy ears, and facial pain.
People who suffer from nasal allergies can use different remedies to subside the symptoms. Some people can use a nasal spray. There are a variety of brands that are available over-the-counter as well as prescription nasal sprays. Other decongestants in a pill form can also subside the symptoms. The body does release the chemical histamine when a person suffers from allergies, so an antihistimine can help stop the symptoms as well. Some people may not want to use any kind of medicine, especially a medicine that goes inside their nose. There are some home remedies that can alleviate nasal allergies. WebMD, a popular medical website, has a list of options people can use to reduce nasal allergy symptoms.
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Use a humidifier or vaporizer.
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Take long showers or — very carefully — breathe in steam from a pot on the stove.
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Drink lots of fluids, which will thin out your mucus and may help prevent your sinuses from getting blocked up.
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Use a nasal saline spray – simple unmedicated salt water – to help prevent your nasal passages from drying out.
These tips can also help with eye allergies; however, WebMD has some additional ways to decrease eye allergy symptoms.
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Reduce the allergen load by minimizing clutter where allergens can collect.
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Minimize carpeting that can harbor dust mites.
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Clean regularly and thoroughly to remove dust and mold.
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Eliminate water leaks and standing water that encourage mold growth.
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Use barriers and filters.
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Avoid pet dander and other irritants.
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Apply cold compresses to the eyes to help reduce the allergic reaction.
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Use artificial tears/lubricating eye drops as needed to help flush out allergens that get into your eyes.
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Use over-the-counter medications, such as allergy eye drops and oral antihistamines, as directed for mild allergies.
Seasonal allergies can be a real pain and annoyance, but food allergies can be much, much worse. In 2011, food allergies resulted 30,000 emergency room visits, 2,000
hospitalizations, and 150 deaths. Most of these cases were due to the person going into anaphylactic shock. There are other less serious, but still aggravating symptoms associated with food allergies. The USDA lists 12 different symptoms that are associated with food allergies:
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Hives
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Flushed skin or rash
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Tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth
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Face, tongue, or lip swelling
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Vomiting and/or diarrhea
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Abdominal cramps
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Coughing or wheezing
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Dizziness and/or lightheadedness
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Swelling of the throat and vocal cords
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Difficulty breathing
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Drop in blood pressure
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Loss of consciousness
People who have food allergies may not have a simple over-the-counter medication solution to reduce their symptoms. Some people with light food allergies can get by with taking Benadryl or Lactaid. However, if an allergy is severe, a person should carry around an allergy kit (EpiPen). Sometimes the only option for a person who has been exposed to the food allergen is to go to the emergency room or his doctor.
Jonathan Corren has some tricks for people who want to limit their exposure to food allergies in his book 100 Questions and Answers About Allergies.
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Remove all sources of food that the patient is allergic
to. Even trace amounts of a food protein can cause a
severe reaction in some people. It can be particularly
challenging to avoid foods that frequently show up in
food items as hidden ingredients, such as peanuts.
Therefore, always read food labels carefully before
purchasing a food item. Companies are required to
clearly label any product that contains even small
amounts of a food product. Periodic alerts published
by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network are
very helpful in updating patients regarding hidden
sources of food allergens.
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Be careful when dining out. Most inadvertent exposures
to allergenic foods occur while eating in restaurants
or in friends’ homes.When you eat at restaurants,
always check to make sure that food ordered by the
allergic patient was not cooked in the same pans, oils,
or utensils used to prepare foods that are allergenic to
that patient (i.e., cross-contamination). Tell everyone
who handles the food that the allergic person eats,
including waiters in restaurants and cafeteria workers
at school, about the food allergy. If the manager or
owner of a restaurant cannot accommodate your request
for allergen-free food preparation, you probably should
not eat there.
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Do not eat foods with an unknown list of ingredients.
For children with food allergies, it is very important
to make all lunches and snacks that are taken
to school or any outing away from home.
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For children, talk to the daycare supervisor or
school principal, and work with the school and
family friends to create a food allergy emergency
action plan (sic).
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Wear a Medic-Alert bracelet to identify yourself as
having a life-threatening allergy to food.
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Epinephrine is the single most important treatment
for food-induced anaphylaxis. People with
histories of systemic reactions to foods should have
epinephrine available at all times, including in their
backpack or purse, home, school nursing office, and
car(s).
There are other kinds of allergies besides seasonal (nasal and eye) and food. However, the steps a person can take to treat and alleviate the symptoms for these kinds of allergies can be used with other kinds of allergies. If you suffer from allergy symptoms, but don’t know what is causing them, make an appointment with your doctor or a healthcare physician.
Here are some links to helpful books, websites, and documents if you would like more thorough information about allergies.
USDA’s Allergies and Food Safety
FDA’s Food Allergies: Reducing The Risk
100 Questions & Answers About Allergies
Living With Food Allergies: A Complete Guide To A Healthy Lifestyle
Eine Geschichte über Allergene 