 What does the word "allergy" mean?
The word allergy is defined in medical dictionaries as "a hypersensitive
state". Allergy is derived from the Greek allos, meaning other, and
ergon which means work. If a person has an allergic reaction to something,
what they are really experiencing is an altered, or exaggerated reaction.
Thus, the allergy patient lives in an altered state of hypersensitivity.The
word allergy is not prejudiced with regard to its causes. So, allergy
type reactions can be induced by either immune mechanisms (too much allergy
antibody IgE) or by a direct hypersensitivity to an irritating fume, vapor
or medication (as occurs with codeine and strong perfumes).
What causes allergy?
Allergic reactions are caused by the interaction of a person’s immune
system with the outside world. Foreign proteins especially small proteins
from pollens, molds and dust mites can cause an immune reaction in an
individual. If the immune reaction induced by these foreign proteins,
otherwise referred to as allergens, involves IgE antibodies, then the
possibility exists for an allergic reaction to occur. Any substance which
is able to induce a person to make an allergy antibody type of immune
reaction is referred to as an allergen.
What are the most common allergens?
The most common causes of allergy and asthma symptoms are allergens derived
from pollens, molds, house dust mites, animal danders and insects. Many
people also experience symptoms of allergy due to altered reactions to
foods and medications.
How are allergies diagnosed?
The diagnosis of an allergy disease is made on the basis of a detailed
medical history and physical examination usually by a certified allergy/immunology
specialist. Most often, this will also involve a number of allergy skin
tests which are used to detect the real causes of the allergic reactions
and consequent symptoms.
Can allergies be diagnosed by a blood test?
The diagnosis of an allergic disease cannot be made by a blood test alone.
Serum testing is commonly done as a screening test to determined increased
risks of developing allergy-like symptoms. The blood tests for allergy,
however, do not tell your doctor with certainty whether or not the allergens
being tested for are causing your symptoms.
What are the most common allergic diseases?
The most common diseases caused by allergy mechanisms are those of hay
fever (allergic rhinitis), asthma, eczema (allergic dermatitis), contact
dermatitis, food allergy and urticaria (hives).Allergy really has different
names depending upon where in your body the reaction is occurring. If
an allergic reaction occurs in your nose, eyes and sinuses physicians
will call it allergic rhinitis. If the allergic explosion is occurring
in the lungs, we call it asthma. All of these allergic diseases are inflammatory
in nature. That is to say, there is inflammation characteristic of allergy
immune mechanisms occurring in those parts of your body when we give the
condition the above scientific names.
How are allergies treated?
Allergy treatments involve 3 fundamental principles. First, avoidance
of the known irritant or allergen responsible for inducing the state of
hypersensitivity. Second, when avoidance of a specific allergen source
such as house dust or certain pollens is impossible, then drug therapy
is used. Finally, when avoidance and drug therapy fail to adequately control
the inflammation involved in a person’s allergic disease, specific
allergen immunotherapy (otherwise known as allergy injections) are used
to help prevent the progression of the allergic disease.It is important
to point out that allergen immunotherapy is the only treatment available
today that can actually change a patient’s immune system back toward
normal.Also, it is most important to remember that all allergic diseases,
such as hay fever and asthma, are chronic long-standing diseases which
require long-term management to better control and prevent the inflammatory
mechanisms.
How many people have allergies?
The most common cause of allergy on planet earth is the house dust mite.
The house dust mite produces allergenic proteins primarily in its droppings,
or fecal pellets. The incidence of allergic diseases overall in the United
States’ population ranges from between 23-30% of individuals. This
tendency to become allergic to allergens is predetermined by the individual
genetic makeup of a person. About 15 million Americans currently experience
asthma symptoms.
Is there a time of year when allergies are more of a problem?
The allergy season really never ends. Springtime is the tree pollen season.
Summertime is the grass and weed pollen season. In the fall, people can
experience both a ragweed and mold allergy season, and finally in the
wintertime, people who suffer from allergies will go into the "indoor
allergy season". The most common indoor aeroallergens which can produce
hay fever, sinus and asthma symptoms are those of the house dust mite,
cockroach droppings, indoor mold spores and pet animals.
Can a person outgrow an allergy?
Most people grow into allergy, not out of it. One can, however, lose a
sensitivity to certain foods if one totally avoids the offending food
allergen. This occurs in most children who have the unfortunate experience
of having hives due to cow’s milk. Later in life that same person
who had hives early in infancy can tolerate milk and other cow proteins.Unfortunately,
one cannot totally avoid exposure to certain pollens, molds and dust and
thus, year after year having been repeatedly exposed to these airborne
proteins allergic individuals continue to have allergic diseases due to
their continuous or repeated exposure to these aeroallergens.
Can allergies develop later in life?
Allergy does not discriminate on the basis of age. Allergic reactions
can develop at any time in life whether it be age one day, one year, 20
years, 40 years or 60 years. The peak age at which allergy develops, however,
is in the late teens. For reasons yet unexplained, the immune system of
a 19 year old is most able to produce IgE allergy antibody responses.
Are there any long-term effects from allergic reactions?
Allergic reactions which occur in the sinuses or the lungs repeatedly
year after year may actually result in a change in the anatomy of the
body part being affected. For example, if asthma symptoms are allowed
to occur without adequate control, then the inflammation involved in the
disease will cause the lungs to misbehave forever regardless of continued
therapy. In the past it was believed that asthma did not result in emphysema.
However, recent research has indicated that a patient suffering from asthma
which is out of control may develop a form of emphysema, or fixed airways
disease, which is not reversible.Asthma by its very definition, means
a reversible airway obstruction which is accompanied by allergic inflamation
in 90% of the cases.
What allergies cause fatal reactions?
The most common causes of fatal allergic reactions include severe reactions
to foods such as shellfish, peanuts and cod, or to stinging insects.
Should people wear ID bracelets for their allergic conditions?
Patients with life-threatening allergic reactions to antibiotics or bee
sting reactions should definitely wear ID bracelets and should carry with
them an emergency kit containing epinephrine. Contact your physician for
a prescription for an Epi Pen. If you have had a severe allergic reaction
in the past, you should have available in your home at all times an adrenaline
kit for self-administration should it become necessary.
What is the best treatment for allergic disease?
The most important thing in treating any human disease is receiving an
exact and accurate diagnosis of the problem. For most all patients suffering
from allergic diseases such as hay fever, sinus headaches, asthma and
food allergy this means a visit to a Board Certified specialist in allergy
and asthma.Educated victims of allergy and asthma do much better in life
than those patients who are under-diagnosed and under-treated. When patients
die from asthma attacks, it’s primarily because of under-treatment
by the patient and/or under-diagnosis on the part of their physician.
Are there particular food allergens to be aware of?
The most frequent foods responsible for causing allergic reactions are
nuts, peanuts, milk, egg, wheat and soybean proteins. Unfortunately there
are food preservatives which may also induce allergy symptoms. These preservatives
include metabisulfite and monosodium glutamate. Metabisulfites are present
in most wines which need preserving.
What is a food allergy?
A food allergy is an immune system response to a food that the body mistakenly
believes is harmful. Once the immune system decides that a particular
food is harmful, it creates specific antibodies to it. The next time the
individual eats that food, the immune system releases massive amounts
of chemicals, including histamine, in order to protect the body. These
chemicals trigger a cascade of allergic symptoms that can affect the respiratory
system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, or cardiovascular system. Scientists
estimate that approximately 12 million Americans suffer from true food
allergies.
What are the common symptoms of a reaction?
Symptoms range from a tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling of the
tongue and the throat, difficulty breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal
cramps, diarrhea, drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness to
death. Symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after the
person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic.
What is the best treatment for food allergy?
Strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food is the only way to avoid
a reaction. Reading ingredient labels for all foods is the key to maintaining
control over the allergy. If a product doesn't have a label, allergic
individuals should not eat that food. If a label contains unfamiliar terms,
shoppers must call the manufacturer and ask for a definition or avoid
eating that food.
Is there a cure for food allergies?
Currently, there are no medications that cure food allergies. Strict
avoidance is the only way to prevent a reaction. Most people outgrow their
food allergies, although peanuts, nuts, fish, and shellfish are often
considered lifelong allergies. Some research is being done in this area
and it looks promising.
Should I stop eating the food that I think I'm allergic to?
Randomly taking food out of your diet can leave you with an unbalanced
diet that can cause other health problems. Additionally, you may become
frustrated because you reach a point where you believe that everything
you eat is causing a reaction. Seek the help of a doctor before making
significant changes in your diet.
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