Fight Allergies With Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is the only way to truly change the way your immune system and allergy response to allergens like pollen and ragweed, explained Michael Mardiney, Jr., MD, an allergist at MD Mercy Hospital in Baltimore. People who are treated with immunotherapy receive injections containing the substances they are allergic to, in increasing amounts once or twice a week. This desensitizes the immune system over time. Immunotherapy is usually the best treatment when your seasonal allergy symptoms occur year-round or when you don’t have enough success with allergy medication.
How To Get Tested
A food allergy will usually cause some sort of reaction every time the trigger food is eaten. Symptoms can vary from person to person, and you may not always experience the same symptoms during every reaction. Allergic reactions to food can affect the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. It is impossible to predict how severe the next reaction might be, and all patients with food allergies should be carefully counseled about the risk of anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction that is treated with epinephrine .
While food allergies may develop at any age, most appear in early childhood. If you suspect a food allergy, see an allergist, who will take your family and medical history, decide which tests to perform and use this information to determine if a food allergy exists.
To make a diagnosis, allergists ask detailed questions about your medical history and your symptoms. Be prepared to answer questions about:
- What and how much you ate
- How long it took for symptoms to develop
- What symptoms you experienced and how long they lasted.
After taking your history, your allergist may order skin tests and/or blood tests, which indicate whether food-specific immunoglobulin E antibodies are present in your body:
Your allergist will use the results of these tests in making a diagnosis. A positive result does not necessarily indicate that there is an allergy, though a negative result is useful in ruling one out.
What Happens In An Allergy Attack
When an allergic person is exposed to an allergen, IgE is produced to fight off the specific allergen. For example, if someone is allergic to cats and is exposed to a cat, then an anti-cat IgE antibody is produced. If the same person is also allergic to pollen and comes in contact with pollen grains, then an anti-pollen IgE antibody will also be produced and so on. Each allergen will have a specific IgE antibody to fight off that specific trigger.
Each time IgE is produced, the IgE molecules attach themselves to mast cells that are found in large numbers in the eyes, nose, lungs, intestines, and immediately beneath the skin. These mast cells contain many chemicals, including a substance called histamine which, when released into the body, can cause a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, itching, hives, and wheezing. These effects are recognized as allergy symptoms.
In some cases, reactions can occur in several places throughout the body. Welts or hives may appear, spasm in the lungs may cause coughing or wheezing, the throat, and tongue may swell even anaphylaxis may occur.
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You Have Frequent Infections Of Other Kinds Too
If you have other infections like ear or sinus infections more frequently than normal, or if mild illnesses develop into more severe issues, you may have a weakened immune system. Some signs that your immune function is compromised include needing antibiotics more than twice a year , having more than four ear infections a year after age four, or having more than three episodes of sinusitis in a year.
Allergies And Immune System
Your immune system is your body’s defense system against invading agents, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These agents are called antigens. White blood cells are our main defense against these antigens. Your body makes many different types of white blood cells that work 24 hours a day to keep you healthy.
One important type of white blood cell is a lymphocyte. These are made in the marrow of your bones. You may have as many as 2 trillion lymphocytes in your bloodstream at any one time. Two major types of lymphocytes involved in protecting the body against invaders are T lymphocyte cells and B lymphocyte cells. T lymphocyte cells destroy cells that have been infected or damaged by the antigens. B lymphocytes are found in immunity-related organs such as the lymph nodes. They direct the making of immunoglobulin E, called IgE. IgE is a special disease-fighting protein known as an antibody. It binds to an antigen in your body, such as bacteria, rendering it harmless.
Antibodies such as IgE are very specific. Much like a lock-and-key system, they only work on particular antigens. If, for instance, a flu virus enters your body, special flu antibodies attack it. Each time you’re exposed to a new invading agent, or antigen, your body creates different antibodies to fight it.
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Fight Allergies With Meditation
Research has shown that high levels of stress can worsen existing allergies, possibly by upsetting the balance of substances in your body that control immune response. “If you’re under stress, allergies are going to be a bigger problem,” said Joseph Leija, MD, an allergist with Loyola University Health System in Chicago. Some studies have found that meditation has a positive effect on stress levels and can even reduce anxiety and pain. So go ahead and give it a try even if it doesn’t improve your allergy symptoms much, you’ll probably feel more relaxed, and that’s never a bad thing.
How Does A Person Become Allergic
Allergens can be inhaled, ingested, or enter through the skin. Common allergic reactions, such as hay fever, certain types of asthma, and hives are linked to an antibody produced by the body called immunoglobulin E . Each IgE antibody can be very specific, reacting against certain pollens and other allergens. In other words, a person can be allergic to one type of pollen, but not another. When a susceptible person is exposed to an allergen, the body starts producing a large quantity of similar IgE antibodies. The next exposure to the same allergen may result in an allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction will vary depending on the type and amount of allergen encountered and the manner in which the body’s immune system reacts to that allergen.
Allergies can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. Generally, allergies are more common in children. However, a first-time occurrence can happen at any age, or recur after many years of remission. Hormones, stress, smoke, perfume, or environmental irritants may also play a role in the development or severity of allergies.
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Food Allergy And Intolerance Are Different
Food allergy and food intolerance are commonly confused, as symptoms of food intolerance occasionally resemble those of food allergy. However, food intolerance does not involve the immune system and does not cause severe allergic reactions . Food intolerance also does not show on allergy testing, and the Australiasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy advises against non evidence-based allergy tests.
Food intolerance can be a difficult concept to understand. Sometimes, substances within foods can increase the frequency and severity of migraine headaches, rashes or the stomach upset of irritable bowel.
For more information watch the animated video How Allergies Work
Professional diagnosis of food allergy by a clinical immunology/allergy specialist is important.
Weak Immune System Statistics
Researchers have reported that almost 3% of people in America have weak immune systems and suffer from multiple health issues.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that people with weakened or suppressed immune systems could be at risk for Listeria infection, which is the third leading cause for death in the USA.
Many underlying health conditions, such as liver or kidney disease, AIDS, and diabetes, can increase the chances of developing listeria infection. According to the CDC, 1600 people get sick due to listeria every year in the USA.
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Allergies And The Immune System
Allergic disease is one of the most common chronic health conditions in the world. People with a family history of allergies have an increased risk of developing allergic disease. Hay fever, eczema, hives, asthma, and food allergy are some types of allergic diseases. Allergy symptoms can range from mild to a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction .
Allergic reactions begin in your immune system. 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 overreact. It may produce antibodies that attack the allergen. These can cause wheezing, itching, runny nose, watery or itchy eyes, and other symptoms.
Allergies And Your Immune System: What Is The Link
If you know anything about the human immune system its probably that if yours is weaker than it should be, you could be more susceptible to infections. But the immune system can also be overactive and react strongly to something thats completely harmless in other words, an allergic reaction. So if you have one or more allergies, its not a sign your immune system is weak. In fact, you could argue its quite the opposite.Your immune system is a complex network of cells, proteins and organs that work together to protect you against infection by viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and other harmful micro-organisms . Normally its a highly efficient system immune cells recognise a pathogen, and that triggers a response from the rest of the immune system to hunt and destroy the pathogen.If you have an allergy, however, your immune system mistakenly recognises something non-infectious as a pathogen pollen, in the case of hay fever for instance. It overreacts, believing youre under threat, and the result is an immune system attack that was never necessary in the first place.Besides pollen, some of the common substances that confuse your immune system in this way include dust mites, some medicines, moulds, pet dander , insect venom and certain foods, all of which are classed as allergens.
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Are Allergies A Sign Of A Strong Immune System + 4 Immune
Pollen allergies, or hay fever, are amongst the most common types of allergies experienced worldwide. With summer in full swing and pollen drenching the air, millions around the globe begin to suffer from the unpleasant symptoms – itchy eyes and throat, a stuffy nose, constant sneezes, you name it.
But this is just one example. People can develop allergies to pretty much anything. Once the immune system decides it doesnt like a substance, you will experience an allergic reaction each time you come into contact with it. It can sometimes even be life-threatening, such as with nut allergies.
But what causes allergies in the first place? And are they a sign of a strong immune system? Find out the answers to these questions in this article and read our top immune-boosting tips!
Signs You Have A Weakened Immune System
Recurrent, prolonged infections: The immune system’s job is to identify, target, and destroy viruses, bacteria, and cells that do not belong in the body. If a person is routinely getting sick, their immune system probably isn’t doing its job. Other causes of recurrent infections may include severe stress or a history of tobacco use.
Persistent fatigue: Research has shown an intricate relationship between the nervous and immune systems. When the immune system is not operating properly, those other systems experience an imbalance which can contribute to chronic fatigue. Other contributors to fatigue may include hormone issues, mental health problems, and heightened stress levels.
Skin rashes and irritation: People often forget that the skin is an organ that interacts with, and relies on, the immune system as much as any other organ would. Weakened immune responses have been associated with a variety of skin conditions, including contact dermatitis and psoriasis . These conditions can also be linked to genetic predispositions.
Stomach issues: A growing body of research has found the immune and gastrointestinal systems to be intricately linked, with a weakened immune system potentially being associated with gut issues such as irritable bowel syndrome. Genetics, certain medications and illnesses, and even recurrent surgeries can all be potential causes of stomach issues as well.
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Are Allergies A Sign Of A Weak Immune System
Are allergies a sign of a weak immune system? originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.
Answer by Jai Padmakumar, Studied Microbiology at the University of Washing, Graduate Student at MIT, on Quora:
Are allergies a sign of a weak immune system? God, no. If anything, its the opposite. Allergies are caused by your immune system responding too strongly to something innocuous. In reality, misguided is probably a much better word. This is a good question that I think hits on a lot of subtle misconceptions so let me try to help address some of those.
Fundamentally, an allergic reaction occurs when your body mistakenly recognizes something that really isnt bad for you as a pathogen and attacks it . The symptoms you feel are actually due to this immune response. This is actually true in a lot of cases. Oftentimes, the symptoms you associate with an infection or wound, like a fever or swelling, are actually caused by your own immune system trying to fix you. For example, inflammation is a side effect of your own immune system sending teams of special cells to a site of distress. When doctors prescribe things like anti-inflammatories, theyre really trying to dampen your bodys immunological response.*
Source:
*Im not a doctor. This probably isnt actually true in all cases.
Natural Support For Allergies
If you have an overactive immune system that is causing an allergy or allergies, there are treatments that may help control your symptoms including antihistamine medicines and drugs that help manage inflammation. In the meantime there are several things you could do to help yourself live with your allergy symptoms:
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Fight Allergies With A Pro
Logging hours at the gym and eating your vegetables aren’t going to cure or completely prevent seasonal allergies. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can certainly minimize the effects of allergy symptoms though, as well as a host of other conditions. “If someone is in great shape, exercises, and does all these great things, they can withstand the impact of allergies better than someone who’s got all kinds of other problems,” Dr. Mardiney noted. One word of caution, though: If you are sensitive to outdoor allergens like pollen, you may want to take your exercise routine indoors when levels are at their highest, or take your allergy medication before you start out.
What Weakens The Immune System
Beyond age, there are many other factors that can lead to a weakened immune system.
“Inadequate sleep is another incredibly common cause of a weakened immune system and even a single terrible night’s sleep impairs immunity,” he says.
However, if you’re young and getting enough sleep but still think you may have a weakened immune system, then here are some other potential reasons:
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Allergies Weakening My Immune System
Growing up I didnt know I had allergies. My body was resilient so I persevered through my symptoms. In hindsight I had obvious signs of allergy. My symptoms were:
-
Extreme Fatigue
Like any kid who was thinking positive I just assumed I was born that way and Id be fine. When I hit my 20s my symptoms began to take a turn for the worse.
I slept all the time. Although I attributed it to my active lifestyle I could sense something wasnt right. Why werent other people as tired as I was?
Sadly, it wasnt until 10 years later and a gradual decline in my health would I final visit an allergist to be tested.
Once I discovered what I was allergic to I realized why I was always exhausted. My immune system had been working overtime fighting substances that were always in the air.
My immune system was taxed. I knew it was still working, but it was starting to limp along because it couldnt keep up with all the allergens in the air.
I still remember how I felt before I began treating my allergies with allergy shots. In order to get through a day Id sleep 12 hours at night. During the workday I always came home for a short nap at lunch I desperately needed the naps to make it through the afternoon.
I was sick more because I didnt have energy and my blood pressure went up because I was stressed out due to fatigue .
Severe Food Allergy In Children
Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, are common, although deaths from anaphylaxis are rare. All schools and childcare services across Australia are required to have an anaphylaxis management policy in place. Teachers in every state are trained to recognise and react to an allergic reaction by completing ASCIA Anaphylaxis e-training. They should also practise using an adrenaline injector training device.Banning particular foods in schools and early childcare is not recommended as it can create a sense of complacency and is difficult to monitor and enforce. A better approach is to educate staff, students and the community about the risks associated with anaphylaxis and put strategies in place to minimise exposure to known allergens. The Allergy Aware website has many resources available.
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