Allergies: Symptoms and Causes

(Positive Health Center) - More and more people react to actually harmless environmental influences with an allergy. Pollen, house dust, pet hair - suddenly everything becomes a threat. Why is that? The answer to this question can be found in an out-of-control immune system. How does this important defense system get out of balance? What happens in the body with an allergy? And which holistic measures are suitable for allergies? What can one do even with allergies? How can you treat allergies naturally - so that you can cuddle up with the cat again soon and enjoy the nature carefreely?

Allergies - The new widespread disease

The number of allergy sufferers has increased tenfold over the past decades. In Pakistan, USA, UAE, Germany alone, between 20 and 30 million people are affected by an allergy - and there are more and more. Already around 34 percent of the world's population already suffers from an allergy.

The reason for this is our way of life today, which has changed dramatically in the past decades. We are becoming increasingly unhealthy, constantly under stress, overdoing it with our personal hygiene, being exposed to excessive levels of pollution, etc. All of these factors make the body ill and thus contribute to the increase in allergy.

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Seasonal-allergies-symptoms

This turns a harmless substance into an allergen

The ONE cause of allergies, therefore, does not exist, because the development of allergic diseases usually involves several factors. In addition to the influences already mentioned above, a disturbed intestinal flora, a defective intestinal mucous membrane as well as persistent mental stress can additionally promote the development of allergies.

All these very different factors have one thing in common: They overwhelm the immune system so much that it over time begins to react inappropriately. In this situation, the defense cells then attack not only bacteria, viruses, fungi and other pests, but suddenly fight against such harmless substances, such as pollen, dust, animal hair, etc.

Antibodies and memory cells work hand in hand

The actual attack on these self-named by the immune system allergens, also called antigens, would still be quite unproblematic if it did not cause damage to health and an extremely unpleasant allergic reaction for those affected. However, these effects do not occur until the second contact with the allergen.

Expiration of an allergic reaction

If the immune system overreacts in contact with normally harmless substances, by viewing them as enemies and then forms antibodies, the next contact with this substance will lead to an allergic reaction. Antibodies such as immunoglobulin E ensure that the body's own immune cells release aggressive inflammatory substances. Histamine and other messengers then cause swelling, itching and dilated blood vessels. This reaction may be local or affecting the whole body, depending on whether the nose, skin, bronchi or circulatory system are affected.

In addition to the reaction via antibodies, which often occurs just minutes after contact with the "hostile" substance (the allergen), the immune system also has the possibility of allowing certain cells (T cells) to react to substances - this leads to contact allergies. Here, the reaction often occurs only after hours or days.

Causes of an allergy

Why the immune system suddenly has an allergic reaction is still unknown. Allergies are increasing worldwide - it is speculated whether, in addition to hereditary influences, the increasing pollution or the inadequate germ contact in childhood are responsible. In total, over 20,000 allergenic substances are known: they can be inhaled, taken with food or as a medicine and have contact with them through the skin - even involuntarily as in a wasp sting.

Distinguished from the allergic reaction is the pseudoallergy, which shows similar symptoms as an allergy, but already occurs at the first contact with a substance - without the body forms antibodies. Thus people react against salicylates (also against ASA) often pseudo allergic. In cross-allergic reactions, on the other hand, the body responds to substances that are somewhat similar to the substance on which it has formed antibodies - so people with a birch pollen allergy often respond to apples or nuts.

Typical symptoms of allergies

An allergy can be associated with a variety of symptoms: swelling, itching and dilated blood vessels cause the eyes to redness and conjunctivitis. On the nose, it can cause colds and a swollen nasal mucosa, which impedes breathing. When the lungs react with it, asthma develops: In the tense, swollen bronchi, tough mucus forms, which is difficult to cough up. Added to this is the typical, grunting-sounding asthma breathing sound.

The skin of allergy sufferers itches and tenses frequently, it is also dry and red: In the area of these eczema, the appearance of the skin changes from soft to coarse (especially strong in atopic dermatitis). In addition, digestive problems with diarrhea, flatulence, constipation or bloating in the area of the gastrointestinal tract are possible. In addition, the dilation of the blood vessels can lead to serious circulatory problems - when the blood with a running throughout the body quasi "sagging", it comes to cardiovascular failure. This life-threatening situation is called an anaphylactic shock, it often occurs in insect venom allergies or after intravenous administration of certain drugs.

Allergies: diagnosis

Anamnesis (ask for medical history): All complaints can be further limited by specific questions - nevertheless, allergy diagnostics often remains detective work. Thus, a nose stuffed every morning may indicate a house dust allergy and pets can be held responsible for so many allergies.

In various skin tests a variety of substances are tested - redness, itching and swelling indicate that the immune system really responds to the substance. Unfortunately, the skin tests are not always reliable.

Blood test: The concentration of immunoglobulin E in the blood indicates whether any allergy is present (RIST test), the more expensive RAST examination confirms an allergy to a certain substance, if the skin test was previously noticeable. In a provocation test, the person concerned is deliberately confronted with the potentially allergenic substance - because of the risk of a severe reaction (the anaphylactic shock) is performed only rarely and under medical supervision.