Allergies: Symptoms, Causes, Identification, Treatment and Precautions

 

Allergies

    One way to define a "allergy" is the body's sensitivity to a substance that doesn't ordinarily affect other people. There are compounds in the environment that many people can respond to in a mild to violent way. These reactions range from actual allergies brought on by a food or drug intolerance to those brought on by pollution.
    After a patient comes into touch with an allergen, allergic reactions may happen quickly or they may take several hours or even days to manifest. Allergies can affect almost every part of the body. The body part that is impacted is referred to as a shock organ. The nose, eyes, skin, chest, intestines, and ears are common locations. Numerous chemicals and situations can trigger allergic responses. Pollen, dust, makeup, animal hair, toxic plants, serums, immunizations, medications, physical stimulants like heat, cold, and sunlight, and a wide range of foods are among them. Of all the allergens in the food area, oranges, milk, eggs, wheat, fish, chocolate, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, and strawberries are among the most frequently occurring.

Symptoms

    Depending on the type of allergen and the sensitivity level of the individual, allergies can present in a variety of ways with varying symptoms. Typical allergy symptoms include:

Symptoms of the Respiratory System:

• Sneezing
• Nasal congestion or runniness (allergic rhinitis)
• Coughing
• Breathing difficulties or wheezing (particularly in allergic asthma patients)

Skin responses:

• Itching
• Hives are itchy, red, elevated pimples on the skin.
• Eczema: irritated, itching skin
• Angioedema, or swelling, particularly in the face, lips, eyes, and neck

Symptoms related to the stomach:

• Emesis
• Throwing up
• The diarrhea
• Cramping or discomfort in the abdomen

Symptoms in the eyes:

• Redness
• Itching
• Dousing or ripping
• Inflammation of the eyelids

Anaphylaxis (a serious allergic reaction that can be fatal):

• Breathing difficulties brought on by airway constriction
• Tongue and/or throat swelling
• Quick heartbeat
• A decrease in blood pressure
• Unconsciousness

    It's crucial to remember that not everyone has the same symptoms, and some people may respond mildly while others do so more severely. Furthermore, the type and intensity of symptoms can change depending on the allergen and the individual's immune system. It's critical to speak with a healthcare provider if you think you may have allergies so they can properly diagnose and treat you. 

Causes

Allergies arise from the immune system's aberrant response to generally harmless chemicals. These compounds, also referred to as allergens, can differ greatly and may consist of:

1. Pollen: A common allergen, pollen from grasses, trees, and weeds can cause symptoms including runny or stuffy noses, itchy eyes, and sneezing (also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis).
2. Dust mites: Microscopic organisms that are present in household dust, especially in carpets, furniture, and bedding, can cause allergic reactions that result in symptoms such as runny nose, itchy skin, and sneezing.
3. Pet dander: Proteins from the skin, saliva, and urine of animals such as dogs, cats, rats, and birds can trigger allergic reactions in those who are sensitive, leading to symptoms including itchy eyes, congestion in the nose, and sneezing.
4. Mold: Both indoor and outdoor mold spores can cause allergic reactions that mimic hay fever symptoms and, in certain situations, exacerbate asthma symptoms.
5. Insect stings: The venom of fire ants, bees, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets can trigger allergic reactions in susceptible people that range from moderate swelling and itching to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
6. Certain Foods: specific foods Peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish are among the common food allergies. Food allergies can cause symptoms including hives, swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, and anaphylaxis, and their severity can vary greatly.
7. Medication: Certain pharmaceuticals, like antibiotics (like penicillin), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and chemotherapy therapies, can cause allergic responses in some people. These reactions can cause symptoms ranging from minor rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
8. Latex: People who are exposed to latex goods, such gloves, balloons, and rubber bands, may develop a latex allergy, which can cause symptoms like rashes, itching, and breathing issues.
9. Cosmetics and personal care products: Certain ingredients in skin care products, cosmetics, and personal care items can occasionally cause allergic responses that manifest as swelling, redness, and itching.
10. Some environmental factors: Although these allergies are not common, some people may experience allergic reactions to things like cold air, sunlight, or water.

    Allergies are a sign of decreased resistance and internal disharmony brought on by significant causes and incorrect lifestyle choices. Feeding babies things like cereals, meat, corn, whole milk, etc. before they reach the age of 10 to 12 months is thought to be the main cause of allergies. Because babies don't have the right enzymes for appropriate digestion until they reach that age, these foods trigger allergic reactions. Breastfeeding is the natural way for babies to receive all the nutrients they need throughout the first eight months of life.
    The manufactured foods of today, which are laden with various chemical additives that frequently trigger strong reactions, are another significant contributor to allergies. Unbalanced diets can lead to an allergic reaction. Defective dietary habits can lead to mineral and vitamin imbalances, or an overload of refined sugar that compromises the body's ability to metabolize sugar, causing blood sugar abnormalities.
    Allergies can also be brought on by psychological and emotional stress. The world's foremost expert on stress, Dr. Hans Salye, claims that allergy symptoms are frequently just the body's response to stress. Chronic stress might make a person more sensitive to common foods or everyday items like gasoline fumes.

Identification

    Many of the allergic problems can be treated in different ways. It is necessary to first identify the sources. While challenging, this endeavor is not insurmountable. Secondly, the sources ought to be shunned as soon as they are identified. The third, and most crucial, step is to develop overall health and resilience in order to develop immunity to them.

There are two ways to identify foods that are upsetting: 

• The trial-and-error elimination diet: This is the first technique. This automatically gets rid of a lot of risks and meals. If you can, stick to organic, untreated, and unprocessed foods. This will help you avoid additional risks like pesticides, other types of sprays, and other chemicals. Once all potentially disruptive elements have been ruled out, one should do a self-examination to identify any questionable symptoms related to eating.

    It is recommended to start an elimination diet and avoid any suspected foods for a period of two weeks until the cause is identified. Occasionally, you can locate a meal equivalent that doesn't upset you by switching the brand or type.

•     The Pulse Test: Dr. Cocal's "pulse test" is an additional method for determining the etiology of allergy. The procedure is as follows: Take a pulse check before eating. After restricting the dinner to just one item, wait an hour after eating, and then order takeout. If your pulse does not increase above 84, even a small half-an is seen as normal, suggesting that you may not have any allergies. If your pulse pulse increases after the meal and becomes more intense than before, you may have a food allergy.

 Treatment

The goal of treating allergies is to reduce the body's allergic reaction to allergens while also easing symptoms. The particular treatment plan may change based on the kind and intensity of the allergy. The following are some typical allergy treatments:

1. Avoidance: Steering clear of recognized allergens is the easiest approach to manage allergies. Using allergen-proof covers on bedding to limit dust mite exposure, remaining inside during high pollen counts, and avoiding foods that cause allergic reactions are a few examples.
2. Medications /Drugs:

• Antihistamines: These medications prevent the effects of histamine, which the immune system releases when there is an allergic reaction. They can aid in the relief of symptoms like runny nose, itching, and sneezing.
• Decongestants: By contracting swelling nasal tissues, decongestants aid in the reduction of nasal congestion. When treating allergic rhinitis, they are frequently used in conjunction with antihistamines.
• Nasal corticosteroids: These drugs lessen nasal channel inflammation and help with runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion that are signs of allergic rhinitis.
• Leukotriene modifiers: These drugs prevent the body's natural production of leukotrienes, which are chemicals that aggravate allergic inflammation. They are frequently used to treat allergic rhinitis and asthma.
• Epinephrine: Adrenaline, or epinephrine, is given via auto-injector in cases of severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis to rapidly reverse symptoms and avert potentially fatal sequelae.

3. Immunotherapy:

• Allergy shots: Immunotherapy consists of administering little doses of allergens intravenously on a regular basis in order to gradually desensitize the immune system and lessen allergic reactions. For those with severe allergies who don't react well to alternative medications, it's frequently advised.
• SLIT or sublingual immunotherapy: Putting tablets or drops containing allergen extracts beneath the tongue is one way to avoid allergy injections. Similar to allergy injections, SLIT lowers allergic symptoms by desensitizing the immune system.

4. Emergency care: If you have anaphylaxis or a severe allergic response, you need to get help right once. This could entail giving someone adrenaline injections and then receiving supportive care in a medical facility.
5. Lifestyle adjustments: Using air purifiers, dressing protectively when outside, and maintaining proper cleanliness are a few examples of lifestyle adjustments that can help lower allergen exposure and control allergy symptoms.
Allergy sufferers must collaborate closely with medical professionals to create a customized treatment plan that addresses their unique requirements and situations. To attain the best possible symptom control and quality of life, therapy modifications and routine monitoring may be required.

Precautions

• The best defense against allergies is to maintain a 50% general physical resistance. The patient should first fast for four or five days, consuming only fresh fruit juices. Short juice fasts on a regular basis are probably going to increase tolerance to past sensitivities. 
• Following the fruit juice fast, the patient may follow a one-week mono diet consisting only of fruits or vegetables, such as apples, carrots, or grapes. The mono diet then includes one additional meal. The third food is added a week later, and so forth. One by one, the protein items can be introduced after four weeks.
• If a freshly introduced meal is found to be causing an allergic reaction, it should be stopped and a different food should be tried. This allows for the eventual elimination of all true allergies from the diet.
• The body needs a lot of alkaline reserves to function on a daily basis. The capacity of the alkaline reserves to handle the several emergencies of acid creation during the day caused by improper diet, exhaustion, mental stress, and sleep deprivation. For those with allergies, increasing the body's natural alkaline reserve through a diet high in alkaline-forming foods is crucial.
• Tea, coffee, chocolate, cola drinks, alcohol, sugar, sweets, and foods containing sugar, refined cereals, meats, fish, and poultry, tobacco, milk, cheese, butter, pickled, smoked, and salted foods are among the foods that should be avoided from the diet. These foods either lead to toxic buildup, overactive adrenal glands, difficulty producing pancreatic enzymes, or imbalances in blood sugar levels. 
• The full spectrum of C complex vitamins, also referred to as bioflavonoids, is advised for preventive measures. Their purpose is to help immunize the body against many allergens, including hay fever, by progressively strengthening cell permeability. 
• For allergy patients, adding pantothenic acid, or vitamin B, often provides significant relief. Inadequate adrenal gland function may lead to many allergies. In these circumstances, high doses of pantothenic acid are recommended. Even though it will take them several weeks to recover. Sufficient consumption of vitamin E is advantageous as well, since studies have indicated that this vitamin has potent anti-allergic effects.

Indian doctor Dr. Hement Pathak has found an interesting treatment for allergy. He discovered that taking five drops of castor oil in a small amount of juice or water on an empty stomach in the morning is very helpful for allergies affecting the skin, nasal passages, and intestinal tract. Chinese medicine specialist Dr. Pathak has documented multiple instances of allergy prevention using this approach. It is crucial to use techniques like relaxation, exercise, meditation, and mind control for allergy disorders where stress is a factor. These techniques will lessen or eliminate tension, which will help with allergy therapy. Additionally helpful are yogic asanas such anuloma viloma, sarvangasana, shavasana, and yogamudra ardh-matsyendrasana, as well as pranayama.

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