What is an Allergy?

Allergies

The term 'allergy' means an altered or abnormal tissue reaction after exposure to a foreign antigen.



Allergies are caused by allergens. Any food protein can be an allergen. The immunity system does not recognize it properly and believes it belongs to a foreign body (eg. bacteria).



Hence it attacks the allergen thus causing an allergy! An allergy to food is developed by the body’s immune system perceiving the food to be harmful. The immune system creates specific antibodies [Immunoglobulin E (IgE)] against the food that is considered to be harmful by the body. For egs: Massive amounts of chemicals, including histamine (protein involved in many allergic reactions), are released by the immune system to protect the body. These very chemicals impact the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, or cardiovascular system and cause symptoms of allergy.

Symptoms of Allergy:

The symptoms of allergy differ as the substances causing the reaction vary in nature.



These include recurring headache, migraine, dizziness, irritability, nervousness, depression, neuralgia, sneezing, conjunctivitis, eczema, heartburn, hay fever, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, gastric ulcer, asthma, overweight, high blood pressure, chest pain, heart attacks, a stuffy or runny nose, shortness of breath, swelling of the face and eyes, etc.

The same food can cause different symptoms in different people. Symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after a person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic.

Symptoms of allergic reaction to food:

1 Tingling sensation in the mouth

2 Swelling of the tongue and throat

3 Difficulty breathing

4 Hives

5 Vomiting

6 Abdominal cramps

7 Diarrhea

8 Drop in blood pressure

9 Loss of consciousness, and death.

Causes of Allergy:

A wide range of substances and conditions causes allergic reactions. We list a few to give you an overview of the causes that lead to an allergy:

1 Natural and airborne substances like: pollen, dust and animal hair, physical agents such as heat, cold and sunlight and foods such as milk, eggs, wheat, fish, chocolates, cabbage, potatoes, peanuts, tomatoes and strawberries. Additives and refinements are also responsible for the rise in allergies. Chemical allergens include: Nickel sulphate, Fragrance mix, epoxy resin etc. Other allergenic substances include: yeasts, sugars, peanuts poisonous plants, serums, vaccines and drugs.

2 It is also believed that one of the major causes of allergy is feeding babies such food as cereals, meat, corn, whole milk, etc., before they reach the age of 10 to 12 months. These foods are known to cause allergic reactions and babies lack the proper enzymes needed for their digestion before that age. Hence it is suggested that babies are breast-fed for at least eight months, as this is nature's way of providing all the required nutrients during this period.

3 Processed foods are loaded with numerous chemical additives, which may cause powerful reactions. An imbalanced diet could hinder the body's ability to handle sugar due to excessive intake of refined sugar and lead to blood sugar irregularities, or mineral and vitamin deficiencies.

4 According to Dr. Hans Salye, the world's premier researcher on stress, allergic symptoms are often nothing more than the body's reaction to stress. A person can, through chronic stress, become sensitive to common foods or commonplace substances like petrol fumes.