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Symptoms and Causes of Allergy

At least once in a life, almost every person is faced with allergies, and often this can happen at the most inopportune moment, for example, while walking in the park. Although an allergic reaction is a frequent phenomenon, few people know for what reason an allergy occurs and whether it is dangerous to health.

In scientific terms, allergy is a protective mechanism of our immune system against external stimuli or allergens. These substances do not pose any danger to health. However, the immune system identifies them as something harmful. As a result, protective reactions are activated, which are usually expressed in the format of sneezing, headache, or increased tearfulness.

In this article, we will discuss the most common causes of allergies, types, and symptoms of an allergic reaction.

The Main Symptoms of Allergy  

Allergic manifestations can vary depending on what is the source of the allergy. In this regard, we will not just list the symptoms but link them to the types of allergic reactions:

  1. Allergy to Food

A person may have mild and severe allergic reactions to certain foods or dishes. Allergy to food in an acute form manifests itself quickly enough and is expressed by symptoms such as lack of air, swelling, and various rashes on the skin. Less dangerous symptoms are nausea and mild fatigue, so sometimes, a person does not immediately associate these symptoms with allergies.

  1. Spring Allergy

Allergies can occur at any time of the year. However, most often, allergies are fixed in spring and summer when active flowering occurs. Due to the increased amount of pollen, fluff, and dust, people begin to complain of nasal congestion, headache, runny nose, sneezing, and tingling in the eyes. All these symptoms resemble a cold; however, unlike a viral infection, an allergic reaction occurs instantly.

  1. Skin Allergy

When an allergen has a direct effect on the skin, a person can be haunted by a variety of irritable symptoms. In particular, painful, itchy, and red rash, urticaria, dermatitis, or eczema. In addition, rashes may occur on the mucous membrane of the throat or tongue.

  1. The Most Severe Form of Allergy

All of the above symptoms are very unpleasant, however, they do not threaten human life in any way, unlike anaphylactic shock, which is the most dangerous form of allergy. In the case of anaphylactic shock, it becomes difficult for a person to breathe and he loses

consciousness. You can not cope with it on your own, so you must call an ambulance.

Sources of an Allergic Reaction

Each person is unique and this statement is also relevant for allergies. Although scientists have proven the facts of hereditary transmission of allergies, this does not guarantee that if your parents have an allergy to citrus fruits, it is transmitted to their children.

It is impossible to list all types of allergens, however, the main ones can be distinguished:

  • Animal hair, most often cats and dogs.
  • Pollen of plants, in most cases, flowers.
  • Certain types of medications, such as antibiotics or anesthesia.
  • Various foods, such as nuts, milk, or eggs.
  • Mould.
  • Metals, most often nickel.
  • Latex

Each person has a unique set of allergens. The most important thing to understand is that allergy is a disease that can be treated and if an allergic reaction flows into an uncontrolled form, then it is necessary to contact a doctor for professional medical help.

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