What You Need to Know About Allergies

An allergy is an immune system reaction to a substances such as pollen, animal fur, dairy products, etc. When your immune system recognizes something as a threat, it produces antibodies to counter-effect said threat. The foreign substance that causes the allergic reaction is called an allergen.

There is a specific way to diagnose different types of allergies. For example, the skin allergy test is made by exposing the skin to suspected allergens to observe the reaction. A blood test is usually used if there is any doubt about drug allergy and when there is a reaction to a skin test. A blood test is not widely preferred because it is accuracy is not well researched. Allergic reactions vary from case to case but may appear as rashes, inflammation of the skin, digestive system, airways, etc. Allergies can vary in degree of reaction from mild to life-threatening. The life-threatening condition is called anaphylaxis and it is characterized by a drop in blood pressure, weak pulse, shortness of breath, vomiting and even loss of conscious. Anaphylaxis can be caused by an allergic reaction to food, drugs, and insect sting.

When it comes to food allergies it is important to note the difference between allergy and intolerance. Food allergies cause reaction of the immune system that can affect different organs of the human body. As mentioned before, an allergy reaction can be life-threatening, which cannot be claimed about food intolerance. If you are intolerant to a kind of food, you can feel symptoms connected with your digestive system. If you react in any way to a specific food, you should ask your doctor to test you and to determine whether it is allergy or intolerance. Allergy treatment begins with diagnosis and can continue with medication or immune therapy. For relieving your symptoms and softening the immune system’s reaction, your doctor may prescribe medications. If they don’t give the expected results or there are severe allergies you may start with immunotherapy.