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A
reaction might be from something that has not happened before, you may
be stung by a wasp or bee, and suffer no consequence. Stings like
these are hugely complex chemical compounds. Next time, because
the body has changed in some attempt to protect you, the protection
backfires. |

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It
is a fault that happens because it does; in any operation or scenario that is
repeated a billion times, chaos theory predicts that something will and almost
must go wrong. Ask a factory worker who churns out a million widgets a day,
whilst almost all might be perfect there will be some small peculiarity or
effect that will happen that will make a small number of them imperfect and
therefore rejected.

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Immunity
- The resistance of the body to infection, especially resistance due to
antibodies. Babies have passive immunity from antibodies transferred from the mother’s blood through the placenta. Active immunity involves the formation of antibodies after exposure to an antigen
- bacteria that invade the body during an infection are antigens. The two different kinds of immune response produced by antibodies involve: white blood cells called T-lymphocytes
- produced by the thymus, which produce cells with antibody bound to their surface and are responsible for such reactions as graft rejection; B-lymphocytes, which produce cells that release free antibody into the blood. |
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Immunoglobulin
- noun - Any of a group of related proteins functioning as antibodies. |
What
are Allergic Reactions?
An
allergic reaction may take place anywhere in or on the body, in or on the skin,
in or on the eyes, the lining of
the stomach, nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs. These are places where battles
usually take place; places where immune system
cells are generally located to fight off invaders that are inhaled, swallowed, or come
in contact with the skin.
Anaphylactic
Shock
Anaphylactic
shock is a severe systemic Type 1 consequence
to having a serious allergic reaction to something called an antigen - a
substance that produces antibodies, and it can happen very quickly.
Large quantities of an antibody called immuno-globin E are formed in
the body, these cause a variety of effects on the body's cells and tissues. In
particular, it causes the body to release an excess amount of histamine, a
very dangerous chemical in large doses. It
slows the heart-rate and reduces blood pressure to dangerous levels
It
is
in fact an often fatal medical emergency, and requires an immediate injection of adrenalin
and or large doses of antihistamine. But so quick is the adverse reaction that
patients sometimes do not have enough time to inject themselves, with their
Epi-Pen.
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Anaphylaxis
is a sudden, severe, potentially fatal, systemic allergic reaction
that can involve various areas of the body (such as the skin,
respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system).
Symptoms occur within minutes to two hours after contact with the
allergy-causing substance, but in rare instances may occur up to four
hours later. Anaphylactic reactions can be mild to life-threatening.
Individuals with asthma, eczema, or hay fever are at greater risk of
experiencing anaphylaxis. |
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The
leukocytes, or white blood cells, guard and protect the body against
infecting organisms and foreign bodies, both in the tissues and in the
bloodstream itself. Human blood contains about 5,000 to 10,000
leukocytes per cubic millimeter. This amount increases in the incidence
of infection; the body will produce more and others will travel to an
infection site. An extraordinary and prolonged proliferation of
leukocytes is known as leukemia . This over production stifles the
production of normal blood cells. Conversely, a sharp decrease in the
number of leukocytes, called leukopenia, strips the blood of its
defense against infection, and is an equally critical condition. A
dramatic fall in levels of certain white blood cells, occurs in
persons with AIDS. Leukocytes as well as erythrocytes are formed from
stem cells in the bone marrow. They have nuclei and are classified
into two groups: granulocytes and agranulocytes. |
Symptoms
The
outward signs that your body is responding to allergens give symptoms
such as:
-
Stuffy
nose
-
allergic
conjunctivitis - red, itchy, watery eyes
-
Runny
nose
-
Atopic
dermatitis - Eczema - red, itchy, dry skin
-
Sneezing,
wheezing, shortness of breath
-
urticaria
- hives or itchy welts
-
Itchy,
watery eyes
-
A
drip in the back of the throat that may cause coughing
-
contact
dermatitis - itchy rash
-
asthma
- unexplained shortness of breath, coughing,
-
itching
in ears or roof of mouth.
-
Rhinitis
- stuffiness, sneezing, nasal itching, nasal discharge

What
causes allergic reactions?
Although
hundreds of ordinary substances could trigger allergic reactions, the most
common triggers - called allergens - include the following:
-
pollens
-
molds
-
household
dust, which is 95% human skin flakes
-
dust mites and their waste
-
animal
proteins, like dander, urine, oil from skin
-
industrial
chemicals
-
various
foods
-
nuts
-
wheat
-
medicines
-
Milk
-
Latex
-
feathers
-
insect
stings
-
cockroaches
and their waste
-
parasite
bites
-
ALMOST
ANYTHING
Who
is affected by allergy?
Allergies
can affect everyone, despite age, gender, race, or socio-economic status.
Generally, allergies are more widespread in children. However, a first-time
occurrence can happen at any age, or recur after several years of remission.
The trigger may act in tandem with a psychological event. Such as even
being stressed about getting the symptoms; becoming short of breath when you
do not know why, does not help.

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Psychology
- The scientific study of the behavior of man and animals. Different schools of psychology use differing methods and theories. Clinical psychology applies the observations of psychologists to the understanding and treatment of mental illness,
see psychiatry; psychoanalysis. Educational psychology studies the ways in which children learn, in order to improve teaching methods. See also
ethology. |
There
is a predisposition for allergies to occur in families, see above, although the exact genetic
factors that cause it, are not yet totally understood. In predisposed people, factors
such as hormones, stress, smoke, perfume, and or other environmental irritants, may
also play a part in this situation, adding to its intensity . Often, the symptoms of allergies develop gradually over a
period of time, and it is said that if, we knew what could potentially cause
an allergy, that substance could be avoided by the patient.
Some
allergy
sufferers become so accustomed to some chronic symptoms, such as sneezing, nasal
congestion, runny nose, eyes watering, or wheezing, that they do not consider their symptoms to be
unusual, or even due to having an allergy. They go through life living with unnecessary
suffering.
Many cold like symptoms are presumed
to be colds or flu, when in fact they are the reaction to some substance that
the body considers alien. So when you believe that you have caught another
cold yet again, the truth is that you might not have had a cold for years, it
is just that the symptoms of being allergic are similar to having a cold.
Allergists
With the
support of an allergist, these symptoms can usually be
prevented or at least controlled; diminished enough so that the quality of life
is greatly improved.
With
clear thinking, it is possible to take control of the situation and manage the
problem. Anti-Histamine tablets are good, avoiding the allergen, taking quick
action, when you feel the symptoms coming on.
How
is allergy diagnosed?
In
addition to performing a clinical examination and taking a medical history, a
doctor may also use:
-
a
skin
test
The skin test is a method of measuring the patient's level of reaction to
antibodies to specific allergens. Using diluted solutions of a specific group
of common allergens, a doctor or nurse can either inject the patient with the solutions, or
apply them to a small scratch or puncture. A reaction appears as a small
red area on the skin, the intensity of this gives you an idea about how
severe an allergy might be. However, a reaction to the skin test does not always mean that
the patient is allergic to the allergen that caused the reaction.
When
you know what you are allergic to, you can avoid this allergen, or at least
steer clear of it to the best of your ability. Sometimes knowing what you are
allergic to, gives you a psychological edge, and improves your situation.
Treatment
for Allergic Reactions
Specific
treatment for an allergy will be determined by your medical representative and
is based on:
-
Your
age, overall health, and medical history
-
The
extent
of the condition
-
Your
tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
-
Expectations
for the course of the condition
-
Even
your
opinion or preference

Whether
it be drugs or counseling, whatever regime you take will help you control this
problem, as there is not a cure. We predict that by the year 2100, if we are
all still here, 90% of the Western Civilization will suffer from one kind of
allergy or another. It is reckoned that by 2015, 50% of the population of
Europe and the USA, will be sufferers. With the increase of diseases like asthma
and increased stress levels, and the propensity to suffer this predicament
that is carried in our genes, we can see no end to it at present.
Before
the Second World War, people going to their doctors for allergies was practically
nil. In 1965, 5% of the population had some problems. In 2005, 25% have a
problem that has an effect on them. Over 90% of the stuff we are commonly
influenced by was not around during WWII.
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