Allergy is a condition in which a person's body overreacts to a particular substance, threatening his/her well-being. Such substances, which are known as allergens in medical parlance, could be anything from pollen, weeds and grass to even food items.
Allergy occurs when a person's immune system is not strong enough to ward off the evil effects of allergens. These allergens may not create the same effect on all people. A person with balanced immune system may not react adversely to pollens while another person allergic to pollens may start sneezing and experience watering of eyes and may even encounter problems while breathing.
These allergies are caused due to genetic predisposition, poor nutrition or excess exposure to harmful chemicals. If one of the parents or even grandparents of a particular person is allergic to a particular allergen, it is most likely that he too will be prone to allergy.
Diet devoid of the required minerals and vitamins too could weaken the immune system, leading to adverse reaction to the not-so-harmful substances. Excessive exposure to harmful chemicals like mercury and nickel could also cause allergies.
Find different types of allergies:
Food allergy - Food allergies has affected around four million Americans, with symptoms like asthma, vomiting and difficulty in breathing. However, sometimes food intolerance is mistaken as food allergies. While food intolerance may lead to a bloated feeling, gas or discomfiture, food allergies may lead to eczema, hay fever, asthma, suffocation, inability to breathe properly and in the worst cases even death.
Milk, eggs, peanuts, soy and wheat are some of the foods that causes allergy in the majority of the children suffering from the disease. As far as adults are concerned, they may be allergic to fish, peanuts, eggs and walnuts.
Severity of allergy differs from one person to the other. Some people may be even allergic to the smell of the particular allergy-causing food. Initially, an allergic person may feel an itching in tongue, cramping, vomiting or diarrhea, shortness of breath, eczema or low blood pressure.
Allergies caused by animals - Around 10 to 15 per cent of the people throughout the world are allergic to animals. A particular protein in the saliva, urine or dander of the animal causes allergies. Allergies caused by cat are more common than those caused by dogs.
It is preferable that you use hard wooden floors and washable rugs instead of carpets as it would be difficult to clean them regularly. It is advisable that you do not allow your pets inside your bedroom. Wearing a facemask while brushing your pet may help reduce, to some extent, exposure to allergens. You should also take a bath and change your clothes after cleaning your pet.
Atopic dermatitis - Atopic dermatitis, which is also known as eczema, is a skin disease which is often accompanied by other disorders, whose particular infected areas cannot be traced, like asthma, hay fever and conjunctivitis.
Most of these skin diseases can be treated but their chances of recurring are high as they are chronic. It is advisable that you visit a dermatologist as soon as you find wounds on your body. It is better to avoid using soaps as most of them contain chemicals which drain the natural oil from the skin, thus making your skin more prone to skin diseases.
Contact dermatitis - This is a condition in which skin reacts adversely to some elements or allergens, leading to allergies. Some of the most common medium through which one can get contact dermatitis are soaps, detergents, lotions and perfumes as their usage is unavoidable.
Excessive exposure to chemicals like mercury, chrome and nickel can also lead to Contact dermatitis. Excessive use of cosmetics too could be the reason behind your skin woes. Some of the symptoms of contact dermatitis include redness or swelling in the skin, itching and blistering in the infected area and temporary inflammation.
You can use cold compress or lukewarm water showers to get relief from the itching. It is advisable that you visit a dermatologist for quick relief. If possible, you should avoid all possible allergens you are aware of.