Why Allergies?

An Interesting Tie Between Good Health and Atopic Tendencies

 

 

The process of an allergic reaction is an intricately orchestrated response from an individuals immune system to fend off what the body sees to be threatening intruders. Eyes water in an attempt to flush out any offending particles and mucus membranes start working overtime to produce a phlegmy layer of protection over the sensitive nasal passages. The inflammation of the airways that is associated with severe allergies or asthma is a natural reaction to preserve the body from a benign substance such as pollen, that has been mistaken for something threatening.

 

Your immune system has a powerful arsenal of weapons at its disposal—but in the cause of allergy and asthma sufferers, their immune system cries “wolf!” for irritating, but otherwise harmless particles. Because the allergic immune system is constantly expending itself to fend off imaginary foes, sometimes when a true hazard arrives (such as a virus), the defenses are too worn out to resist. Besides weakening the immune system, allergic reaction or asthma attacks can cause the body’s protective processes to cause damage to tissues.

One hypothesis as to why industrialized countries experience rising allergy problems may have more to do with improved health than anything else. Bacterial and viral infections in children often train their developing immune system to rely more on their TH1 cells which help counter balance the allergic responses that TH2 cells produce. If a child has been in exemplary health for his or her entire young life, it is most likely that allergy-related TH2 cells are running the show and that the TH1 cells that would correct allergic tendencies are going to be permanently left back stage.

 So, the theory is this:  if you had not been so healthy, you may not have developed allergies.

 A Few Allergy Facts:

People don’t grow out of allergies. A person who has experienced allergic reactions may find that their “pet" allergens change over several years or that the severity of their reactions wax and wane, or affect the body differently. So in some situations it appears that allergies have vanished completely, when the truth is that a new allergy may be about to hit the edge of the tolerance threshold—or perhaps that runny nose is now being expressed as a patch of eczema on your skin.

It is impossible to be allergic to tobacco smoke. Many people feel as though they are allergic to tobacco smoke—because it causes them to cough, sneeze, wheeze or makes their eyes sting or water—but the particles put off by cigarette smoke do not match the size of the larger particles responsible for allergic reactions. People who are allergic to tobacco will experience a reaction if they are exposed it its raw leaves—burning dried tobacco will definitely create a health concern, but these symptoms won’t be improved much by allergy medications.

For the majority of people, it’s not just pollen. Many people insist that they only experience seasonal allergies, but even during the rest of the year, these individuals will usually experience minor allergy problems like stuffiness, occasional sneezing or productive cough. Allergists often prescribe using a year-round allergy medication to treat both indoor (year-round) and outdoor (seasonal) allergies, because it will yield better results than only seasonal allergy treatments.

 

• Drinking water is essential for asthmatics. Hydration helps to thin mucus and regulate inflammation. This makes your coughs more productive and helps clear out your throat and upper bronchial areas as well as naturally alleviate swelling. Ten glasses of water a day are a prerequisite for effective asthma treatment.