WHAT ARE ALLERGIES?
"An allergy is when your body is hypersensitive and over reacts to a harmless environmental substance. It is a disorder of the immune system
and is characterised by allergic reactions where your body activates your immune system as if it were under attack resulting in an
inflammatory and purging response. This is why allergic reactions lead to swelling, redness, itching, sneezing and watery eyes. Allergic
reactions range from a mild annoyance to extreme and life threatening anaphylactic shock.
TYPES OF ALLERGENS
1. AIRBORNE
This is one of the most common forms of allergy. It is
triggered by tiny particles suspended in the air. Its
scientific name is allergic rhinitis. This includes seasonal
rhinitis such as hayfever, tree and fungus allergies as well
as perennial rhinitis such as pet and dust mite allergies.
These allergies can be made worse by pollutants and
irritants such as car fumes, smoke and strong perfumes.
The symptoms usually include running nose and eyes,
sneezing, swelling and itchy eyes.
(Click here to see pollen and spore calendar)
2. CONTACT
If your skin comes into contact with an allergic trigger then it can cause a
skin reaction like dermatitis. Common triggers are materials like latex,
chemical cleaners, insect bites or stings. Symptoms include local redness,
swelling, itchy hives and eczema.
3. FOOD
Allergies from eating or drinking a substance can range from mild reactions of discomfort, heartburn
and itchy hives on the skin to life threatening anaphylactic shock. Food allergies can come out of
nowhere and can sometimes go away. Common allergens include dairy, gluten, nuts, shellfish and
certain fruits."
To read the full article on how to relieve your allergies please click here
Re posted from Chinalifeweb.com
