Are Allergies An Immune System Disorder

What Can Go Wrong With Your Immune System

When your immune system doesn’t work the way it should, it is called an immune system disorder. You may:

• Be born with a weak immune system. This is called primary immune deficiency.

• Get a disease that weakens your immune system. This is called acquired immune deficiency.

• Have an immune system that is too active. This may happen with an allergic reaction.

• Have an immune system that turns against you. This is called autoimmune disease.

What Is Anaphylactic Shock

Anaphylactic shock, also called anaphylaxis, is a severe, life-threatening reaction to certain allergens. Body tissues may swell, including tissues in the throat. Anaphylactic shock is also characterized by a sudden drop in blood pressure. The following are the most common symptoms of anaphylactic shock. However, each person may experience symptoms differently. Other symptoms may include:

• Itching and hives over most of the body

• Swelling of the throat and tongue or tightness in throat

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Integrative Medicine: Lowering Your Inflammatory And Immune Burden

Autoimmune diseases often flare due to the immune system becoming overstimulated by multiple triggers. By identifying and decreasing common triggers such as food allergies, stress, or environmental toxicities, you can decrease your bodys immune burden giving your immune system more resilience against viruses.

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Integrative Medicine Puts You In Control Of Your Immune Health

Autoimmune disease and allergy symptoms share one thing in commonyour immune system. And since much of healthy immune function is driven by diet, lifestyle, and overall health, you hold significant power to decrease your risk of autoimmune disease and worsening allergy symptoms.

Your integrative medicine doctor will work with you to identify your genetic risk for autoimmune disease, and develop functional solutions tailored to your individualized needs to maintain or restore balance to your immune health.

Which Food Allergies Are Most Common

In adults, they include:

• Tree nuts, such as walnuts
• Shellfish, including shrimp, crayfish, lobster, and crab

For children, the food allergens that most often cause problems are:

Adults usually dont lose their allergies, but children do sometimes. Kids are more likely to outgrow allergies to milk, eggs, and soy than to peanuts, fish, and shrimp.

The foods that youll react to are often those that you eat regularly. In Japan, for example, youll find rice allergy. In Scandinavia, codfish allergy is common.

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An Overactive Immune System

If you are born with certain genes, your immune system may react to substances in the environment that are normally harmless. These substances are called allergens. Having an allergic reaction is the most common example of an overactive immune system. Dust, mold, pollen, and foods are examples of allergens.

Some conditions caused by an overactive immune system are:

• Asthma. The response in your lungs can cause coughing, wheezing, and trouble breathing. Asthma can be triggered by common allergens like dust or pollen or by an irritant like tobacco smoke.

• Eczema. An allergen causes an itchy rash known as atopic dermatitis.

• Allergic rhinitis. Sneezing, a runny nose, sniffling, and swelling of your nasal passages from indoor allergens like dust and pets or outdoor allergens like pollens or molds.

Allergies And The Immune System

Allergies are disorders of the immune system. Most allergic reactions are a result of an immune system that responds to a “false alarm.” When a harmless substance such as dust, mold, or pollen is encountered by a person who is allergic to that substance, the immune system may react dramatically by producing antibodies that “attack” the allergen . The result of an allergen entering a susceptible person’s body may include wheezing, itching, runny nose, watery or itchy eyes, and other symptoms.

What is the immune system? The purpose of the immune system is to keep infectious microorganisms, such as certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi, out of the body, and to destroy any infectious microorganisms that do invade the body. The immune system is made up of a complex and vital network of cells and organs that protect the body from infection.

The organs involved with the immune system are called the lymphoid organs, which affect growth, development, and the release of lymphocytes . The blood vessels and lymphatic vessels are important parts of the lymphoid organs, because they carry the lymphocytes to and from different areas in the body. Each lymphoid organ plays a role in the production and activation of lymphocytes. Lymphoid organs include:

• Lymphatic vessels
• Peyer’s patches

• Itching and hives over most of the body
• Swelling of the throat and tongue
• Difficulty breathing
• Stomach cramps, nausea, or diarrhea
• Loss of consciousness

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Types Of Food Allergies

True food allergies can be divided into two main types:

• Immunoglobulin E mediated. In this type of food allergy, your bodys immune system makes IgE antibodies that react with certain food. Antibodies are a type of blood protein used by your immune system to recognize and fight infection. An IgE-mediated allergic reaction usually occurs within several hours of eating the food allergen and can include mild to severe symptoms, including anaphylaxis
• Non-IgE mediated. In a non-IgE food allergy, your immune system does not make IgE antibodies, but other parts of the immune system are engaged in mounting a response against the perceived threat. A non-IgE mediated allergic reaction often involves skin or digestive symptoms, or a combination of those symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea, and can occur up to 3 days after eating the food allergen

• Mixed IgE and non-IgE-mediated food allergies some people may experience symptoms from both types.

What Is Autoimmune Disease And What Do Allergies Have In Common With Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune disease is a last stage adaptation to an over active immune response. When the immune system is over stimulated in the initial stages it manifests with allergies. If the root source of these allergies are not found and corrected , then the allergies will eventually become chronic immune over stimulation and can transform into autoimmune disease.

In putting autoimmune disease and allergies in perspective of normal immune function, it is necessary to understand that allergies are an initial phase of immune over stimulation that are triggered from outside of the body whereas autoimmune reactions are a late phase of chronic immune over stimulation that occurs within the body causing damage to tissues, glands and organs. Both these reactions are from a hyper or exaggerated immune response. Cancer and recurrent infections on the other hand are a hypo or decreased immune system response from an insult either outside of the body or from inside the body. In the same pattern, if you do not heal the cause of the bacteria, virus, parasite, fungus or candida then the immune system drain can trigger a failure to contain the normal spontaneous cancer cell growth and turn into a full blown cancer colony called a malignant tumor.

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A New Approach To Allergies And Autoimmune Disease Care

We care for people with allergies and autoimmune diseases like nowhere else in the country. When you choose the Autoimmunity Institute for allergy care, you benefit from our:

• Skilled specialists, which include trained physicians with deep knowledge of allergy and asthma care as well as specialists who treat dozens of other autoimmune diseases
• Focus on research that leads to care innovations that allow us to better diagnose and treat people with autoimmune diseases
• Coordinated care that makes managing your medical records and medication lists easier than ever before
• that is designed for your comfort and makes it easier for your specialists to discuss your care
• Convenience where we managing multiple autoimmune conditions in one place, often at one time

Autoimmunity Institute:

Specialized Care For Allergies And Autoimmune Disease

An allergy is your bodyâs response to a substance or food it sees as a threat. This response can lead to mild or sometimes life-threatening symptoms.

Our board-certified allergy specialist has received extra training in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies. This allergist works with other physicians to care for people affected by conditions caused by an autoimmune response, including:

• Food allergies: When something you eat, such as peanuts, triggers an immune system response
• Environmental allergies: When tiny substances in the air, such as ragweed, trigger inflammation and other symptoms
• Eczema: Red, sometimes scaly skin patches
• Asthma: Airway inflammation that can make it hard for you to breathe
• Rhinitis: Congestion and inflammation in the nose
• Sinusitis: Inflamed sinuses, near your forehead and cheeks

At our institute, different autoimmune specialists work together to get you world-class care conveniently. They provide comprehensive testing and treatment for these conditions.

Often, avoiding an allergen is the best treatment. We also offer allergy shots and an oral immunotherapy treatment that has helped many people outgrow certain environmental and food allergies.

If we think you have an autoimmune disease in addition to an allergy, our specialists closely collaborate to diagnose your symptoms. Then, they provide the best treatment for your circumstances.

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What Is The Immune System

The purpose of the immune system is to defend itself and keep microorganisms, such as certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi, out of the body, and to destroy any infectious microorganisms that do invade the body. The immune system is made up of a complex and vital network of cells and organs that protect the body from infection.

The organs involved with the immune system are called the lymphoid organs. They affect growth, development, and the release of lymphocytes . The blood vessels and lymphatic vessels are important parts of the lymphoid organs. They carry the lymphocytes to and from different areas in the body. Each lymphoid organ plays a role in the production and activation of lymphocytes.

Lymphoid organs include:

• Lymphatic vessels

• Peyer’s patches

How Common Is It To Be Allergic To Nickel

Between about 10% and 17.5% of people in the United States are believed to be allergic to nickel. Its more common in women. This may be due to higher rates of pierced ears and jewelry wearing by women in general. People usually become aware of a nickel allergy right after getting their ears pierced.

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Continue Learning About Allergies

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Risk Factors Of Food Allergy

Food allergy risk factors include:

• Family history. Youre at increased risk of food allergies if asthma, eczema, hives or allergies such as hay fever are common in your family.
• Other allergies. If youre already allergic to one food, you may be at increased risk of becoming allergic to another. Similarly, if you have other types of allergic reactions, such as hay fever or eczema, your risk of having a food allergy is greater.
• Age. Food allergies are more common in children, especially toddlers and infants. As children grow older, their digestive systems mature and their bodies are less likely to absorb food or food components that trigger allergies.

Fortunately, children typically outgrow allergies to milk, soy, wheat and eggs. Severe allergies and allergies to nuts and shellfish are more likely to be lifelong.

• Asthma. Asthma and food allergy commonly occur together. When they do, both food allergy and asthma symptoms are more likely to be severe.

Factors that may increase your risk of developing an anaphylactic reaction include:

• Having a history of asthma
• Being a teenager or younger
• Delaying use of epinephrine to treat your food allergy symptoms
• Not having hives or other skin symptoms

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Hiv And The Immune System

HIV infects and destroys , the type of lymphocytes that regulate the immune response. This process is illustrated in the diagram in Figure 17.6.8. The virus injects its own DNA into a helper T cell and uses the T cells machinery to make copies of itself. In the process, the helper T cell is destroyed, and the virus copies go on to infect other helper T cells. HIV is able to evade the immune system and keep destroying helper T cells by mutating frequently so its surface antigens keep changing, and by using the host cells membrane to hide its own antigens.

Figure 17.6.8 This diagram shows how HIV infects and destroys helper T cells.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome may result from years of damage to the immune system by HIV. It occurs when helper T cells fall to a very low level and opportunistic diseases occur. Opportunistic diseases are infections and tumors that are rare, except in people with a damaged immune system. The diseases take advantage of the opportunity presented by people whose immune system cannot fight back. Opportunistic diseases are usually the direct cause of death for people with AIDS.

What Is Called Food Allergy

Reaction to certain food components is called food allergy. It occurs when the cells of the immune system recognise a substance in food as harmful and try to destroy it. The substance which triggers an allergic reaction is called an allergen. The most common allergen in foods is proteins.

Food allergies can develop at any age. While some childhood allergies disappear later in life, a few may last forever. According to experts, children who outgrow one type of food allergy may develop a more severe and persistent type of allergy to the same food. According to researchers, high vitamin D levels in pregnancy could trigger a food allergy in the baby. Including solid food besides breast milk in a babys diet after the 17th week of birth helps develop a stronger immune system to fight food allergies.

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Keeping Track Of Symptoms

Particularly for symptoms that change over time, it can be helpful to keep a record you can share with your clinician. Pictures of the affected area can also give your healthcare provider a better sense of how you have been doing.

For symptoms that might indicate an infection, like fever, see a healthcare provider promptly. For any life-threatening symptoms, like sudden difficulty breathing, call 911.

Is It Autoimmune Disease Or An Allergy

When you think about autoimmune disease, you might imagine your immune system mounting an attack on your own tissueslike your pancreas with type 1 diabetes, or the thyroid with Hashimotos thyroiditis.

With autoimmune disease, your immune system mistakenly flags your own cells for destruction.

With allergies, the invaders are otherwise harmless environmental triggers like pollen, peanuts, or pet dander. Your immune system goes on the offensive to rid your body of the invader.

Both of these responses are generated by the immune system, and thats where their impact on your health begins. So why do they happen? And can integrative medicine help you avoid their triggers?

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Feature: Human Biology In The News

EpiPens® and their sole manufacturer were featured in headlines in 2016, but not for a good reason. The media outburst was triggered by a drastic price hike in EpiPens® and Mylans apparent greed.

Figure 17.6.9 An Epipen® is a hypodermic device that administers a dose of epinephrine, used for the emergency treatment of an acute allergic reaction.

EpiPens® are auto-injectable syringes preloaded with a measured dose of epinephrine, a drug that can rapidly stop a life-threatening anaphylactic response to an allergen. Using the device is easy and does not require any special training. The injector just needs to be jammed against the thigh, which can be done through clothing or on bare skin. Each year, doctors write millions of prescriptions for EpiPens®. Many people with severe allergies always carry two of the devices with them, just in case they experience anaphylaxis, although most of them never need to use them. Other people with severe allergies have literally had their lives saved multiple times by EpiPens® when they had anaphylactic reactions. Even when the devices havent been used, they must be replaced each year due to expiration of the epinephrine.

How Do Allergies Develop

When a person is first exposed to an allergen, they do not experience a reaction. Upon the first contact, the immune system produces immunoglobulin E or IgE. This is an antibody that binds with cells called basophils, found in the blood.

At the time of the second exposure to the allergen, the person will experience symptoms. The basophils and mast cells with IgE release chemicals such as histamine and prostaglandins.

These trigger the common symptoms of an allergic reaction including:

This reaction can be mild or severe.

A variety of substances can trigger an allergic reaction. Some of the most common allergens include environmental factors, animals, and food.

Food allergies are becoming a major problem in the United States. Many people are allergic to shellfish, peanuts, fish, cow dairy, soy, wheat, oats, and sesame.

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How Allergies Occur

The diagram in Figure 17.6.3 shows how an allergic reaction occurs. At the first exposure to an allergen, B cells are activated to form plasma cells that produce large amounts of antibodies to the allergen. These antibodies attach to leukocytes called mast cells. Subsequently, every time the person encounters the allergen again, the mast cells are already primed and ready to deal with it. The primed mast cells immediately release cytokines and histamines, which in turn cause inflammation and recruitment of leukocytes, among other responses. These responses are responsible for the signs and symptoms of allergies.

Figure 17.6.3 This diagram shows how the adaptive immune system is activated by an otherwise harmless antigen on ragweed pollen, responding to the allergen as though it was a pathogen.