Al-Huda
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Newsletter for November 2016
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What Are Allergies?
by Lynn Marks
While more common in children, allergies can affect people of any age.
Allergies happen when your
immune system overreacts to
substances called allergens.
Common allergens include pollen,
pet dander, and bee venom.
If you have allergies, your body
mistakenly identifies an
allergen as harmful and tries to
destroy it, resulting in
unpleasant allergy
symptoms.
Allergies can be mild, severe,
or — in some cases —
life-threatening.
What Is IgE?
When your immune system reacts
to an allergen, it produces an
antibody called immunoglobulin E
(IgE).
The production of IgE is part of
your body's attempt to destroy
the allergen and protect itself.
But this process allows the IgE
antibodies to signal other cells
to release certain chemicals,
such as histamine.
Too much histamine in the body
can cause an unwanted response
that leads to skin, nose,
throat, and lung irritation.
Who Gets Allergies?
As many as one in five Americans
— a total of about 50 million —
have some type of allergy,
according to the American
College of Allergy, Asthma, and
Immunology.
Allergies are the sixth most
common cause of chronic illness
in the United States, with an
annual cost of more than $18
billion.
While they can affect anyone,
allergies are more common in
children than in adults.
The prevalence of food and skin
allergies in children has
increased in recent years, but
experts aren't sure why.
Food allergies affect about 1 in
every 13 American kids,
according to FARE (Food Allergy
Research & Education).
Each year, allergic reactions
account for about two million
missed school days.
Types of Allergies
There are several different
types of allergies. Some are
seasonal, and others occur
year-round.
The most common allergens that
trigger flare-ups include:
Risk Factors
Your risk of developing
allergies is higher if you:
Sometimes, children outgrow
allergies as they get older.
It's also common for allergies
to go away and then come back
years later.
Allergy Complications
If you have severe allergies,
you may experience a
life-threatening allergic
reaction called anaphylaxis.
This condition is most commonly
associated with allergies
involving food, penicillin, and
insect venom.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis may
include:
If this happens to you or
someone around you, call 911 or
seek emergency medical help
right away.
People with allergies are also
at risk of developing
complications including:
Preventing Allergic Reactions
Some measures you can take to
prevent or limit allergic
reactions include:
Avoiding triggers This may be difficult, depending on the allergen you're trying to
dodge.
For example, if you're allergic
to pet dander, stay away from
animals. If you're allergic to
pollen, try remaining indoors
when pollen counts are high.
Keeping a diary If you're trying to figure out which allergens might cause or
worsen your symptoms, write down
what you eat and all of your
activities to help pinpoint
triggers.
Wearing a
medical alert bracelet or
necklace These
can let others know that you
have a serious allergy if you
aren't able to communicate
during a severe allergic
reaction.
For some
people with severe allergies,
however, it's necessary to have epinephrine immediately
available in case anaphylaxis
occurs.
Ask your
doctor if this is necessary for
you.
Sources
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