Know About Common Allergies

What Is An Allergy?
The term 'allergy' refers to a wide variety of reactions to substances that the body determines and treats to be foreign. Anything that the body fails to recognize as a known factor to itself could be considered an allergen. When any earlier unknown factor to the body is encountered it is treated as a foreign substance. Then as a consequence of instant reaction the body fights and tries to destroy it by making antibodies or releasing certain chemicals known as 'histamines'. When histamines and other substances are released into the system, they cause an inflammatory reaction, which is called allergy.

What Are The Symptoms?
The inflammatory reactions taking place in the body affects the tissues and organs, mainly the skin, mucous membranes, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. The commonly produced symptoms of allergy include itching and watery eyes, runny and congested nose and sinuses, sneezing, respiratory symptoms, headache, skin reactions and fast heartbeat. Some other symptoms are fatigue, intestinal gas or pain, abdominal bloating and frequent mood changes.

Primary External Factors Causing Allergies
Examples of common external factors causing allergy are mould, spores, pollen from trees, flowers and grasses, dust (actually dust mites), animal hairs and insects. These substances normally produce upper respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals. Itching, redness and fluid (water and mucous) may affect the eyes, throat, nose, sinuses, bronchial tubes and lungs.

The season that is considered the most beautiful from the scenic point of view is also the time of the year for many people to take out Benadryl and hibernate indoors. Yes, it is the same season when beautiful flowers work their way through the soil and show off their colorful petals, green grass ornaments the backyard and leaves blossom on the trees. The fact is that one out of every 6 Indians suffers from some or the other allergic reactions. These allergic reactions could be against the weeds in your front-yard causing sneezing or sniffling or the floating pollen in the air causing shortness of breath. The pollen from trees, weeds, and grasses carried by the wind makes it impossible for those suffering from allergic reactions to enjoy the springtime weather.

Allergy is sometimes considered an inherited trait as a genetic susceptibility towards the production of certain allergy anti-bodies in the body. According to estimation more than 40% of the 5.8 million children who suffer from respiratory allergies miss their school and are confined to the bed.

Are The Allergic Inhibitors Located Just Outside?
A recent report from MSNBC tells that US houses are literally crawling with bugs that can worsen allergies and asthma. A national survey in the US showed that over 44 million homes have dust mite allergens and 6 million homes have cockroach allergens. These allergens worsen asthma symptoms.

Patrick Vojta of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) said, "Asthma remains the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States today." Allergens can be found in every room in your house, especially in the bedroom. "Beds in 23% of homes have dust mite allergens at a level associated with allergen sensitization," Vojta said.

To Reduce Allergies And Asthma Symptoms

• Encase non-washable bedding items such as box springs, mattresses and pillows in allergy-proof covers.


• Wash bedding every week in water that is at least 130 degrees F (54 C)


• Use an air filter in your home and car


• Take nutritional supplements that increase white t-cells and boost your immune system