Allergy Relief

What is allergy?

Allergy is a condition where any exposure to substances known as “allergens” causes a reaction in the body called an allergic reaction.

Causes of allergies

When the body of allergy sufferers meets some substances for the first time, a record of that substance is stored in the allergy cells.



Whenever these “allergens” are encountered again, the allergy cells respond by releasing chemicals (like histamine) into the blood stream, resulting in an “allergy attack “.

Symptoms of allergy:

Symptoms vary greatly from sneezing and itching to the most dangerous allergic reaction: anaphylactic shock.

1. Mild reaction: Exposure to allergens causes sneezing, wheezing, red itchy eyes, wheals on the skin, sometimes diarrhea.
   
2. Anaphylaxis: If an allergy sufferer is exposed to even small quantities of the allergen, dramatic reactions occur, like hypotension, swelling tongue, rash over the skin, swelling and spasm of the throat causing difficulty breathing.
   
   
   
   Anaphylaxis is a life threatening condition.

Treatment of allergy:

1. Mild allergies are best treated by avoiding the allergens, for example someone who is allergic to milk might never have the symptoms if they never drink milk.
   
2. Drug treatment: For a mild allergic reaction, the mainstay of treatment is a type of drugs called antihistamines.
   
   
   
   They counteract the allergic reaction and produce allergy relief.
   
3. For anaphylaxis, the single most important medicine is “epinephrine” or “adrenaline”, it is life-saving, that is why an allergy-sufferer who is prone to anaphylaxis must carry an adrenaline shot with them at all times.

Prevention of allergy:

1. Allergen identification and avoidance: examples of allergens include animal fur, pollen, house dust, foods like shellfish or eggs, aerosols like perfumes and insecticides, certain materials like rubber (latex) etc Allergens are identified by the doctor and subsequently avoided.
   
2. Immunotherapy and hyposensitization: consists of exposing the allergy sufferer to gradually increasing doses of the allergen until the body gets used to it and there is no more allergic reaction.

Home remedies for allergies:

1. Vit C for example from tomatoes (not from citrus fruits) is very helpful for allergy relief.
   
2. Honey from local apiaries helps with pollen allergy and bee-sting allergy.

When to call the doctor?

Whenever the drugs are not effective in relieving the attack, or when allergic attacks persist in spite of avoiding known allergens.