Topics on this page
Allergy
People are becoming more allergic
What are allergens?
Allergy and changes in the body
Allergy and the symptoms
Prevention of allergy?
In Western society allergy takes severity and extent rapidly. Thus the number of allergy patients over the past twenty years doubled. This means that almost everyone in their own environment knows people who have it.
Thirty to forty percent have been suffering from an allergy, often combined with asthma. And the percentage of allergic disorders in the coming years will only increase further.
About ten to fifteen years more than half of the population will suffer from an allergy. Most of the year they are sneezing, having teary eyes or skin problems.
An allergy is very common. I would almost say you are different if you are not allergic. Allergies are among the Western lifestyle. Why? Scientists have no clear answer.
The innate immunity against bacteria and germs from newborn disappears as children grow up. Except for children who live on a farm, or babies during their first year going to the nursery. Allergies and asthma in those groups are less.
And if you think allergy is luxury, it is anything like it. Itching may be worse than pain. An attack of angina feels like a very fat man sitting on top of your chest.
Allergy is the result of an immune response. This system responds to one or more substances, called allergens.
Examples of these substances are:
- pollen grains,
- animal dander,
- droppings of dust mites,
- fungal spores,
- food components.
- Inhalation: mold spores, pollen from plants (the famous hay fever) and skin flakes and hairs of (domestic) animals such as dogs, cats and horses.
- Food: you get itchy bumps and red spots. Allergic reactions to highly aromatic foods: Coffee, chocolate, vanilla, cloves, smoked food, citrus, leeks. Manifests itself in nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea and headache.
- Contact: allergy to some metals, especially nickel and chromium. Manifests itself as eczema.
Allergic reactions in the body:
- vascular dilation (vasodilation of blood vessels in the skin)
- narrowing of the bronchi of the lungs
- decrease in heart activity.
The body reacts by creating antibodies. This reaction causes symptoms such as:
- a runny nose, sneezing, swollen nasal mucosa, watery eyes, red eyes;
- hypersensitivity reaction of the skin: skin changes such as becoming more red, heat, itching, eczema;
- sensitivity of latex (gloves / condoms);
- In severe cases, hypotension and shock;
- In extreme cases, cardiac arrest.
Prevention of allergy is aimed at preventing an allergy or postponement thereof. To know what measures will be necessary, it is first necessary to know which states that an allergy occurs.
