Ask an allergist on how common allergies are. The answer you will get might be shocking. Allergic reactions are one of the most common things in this world. Every 4 out of 5 people have faced an allergic reaction once in their lifetime. Regardless of the part of the world, allergic reactions are common all over. This is mainly why allergist job at an allergy center is always high in demand! Well, jokes apart – how many times have we heard the term ‘allergy’? We probably use this term once every day but do we really know what an allergy is? Let’s find out.
What Is an Allergic Reaction?
An allergist will be best able to explain what an allergy is. An allergic reaction is when the body reacts to allergens i.e. stimulants or particles that are found in the external environment. Allergens is a specific term that is used for these components. Allergens could be anything and they are not harmful. The effect of allergens varies from person to person.
What Happens During an Allergic Reaction?
An allergic reaction takes place when a person comes in physical contact with the allergen. The allergen is subjective and varies from person to person. Whatever the allergen might be – it enters the body when it comes in contact with the person. Upon entering, it faces the antibodies that react and release histamines into the blood stream. This results in allergic symptoms to elevate in the human body. Hence, an allergic reaction is caused. If this happens, you should head to an allergy center.
Causes of Allergic Reactions
It is very interesting to find out that the actual cause of allergies is still unknown. It is definitely shocking that with such rapid development in the field of science and medicine, scientists are still unsure of what causes allergies. There are many obvious ‘causes’ such as pollens, various food items, changing weathers and even insects that are seen as possible reasons for allergic reactions. But the underlying cause of the allergies is still widely unknown.
Symptoms of Allergies
There is a long list of symptoms and signs that indicate towards an allergic reaction. Since allergies are so common, this also makes the symptoms very obvious and predictable. Let’s shed light on some of the most common symptoms associated with different types of allergies.
- Persistent Coughing
One of the most commonly associated allergy symptoms is coughing. A person who has any sort of allergy coughs persistently. It is easy to confuse coughing with a chest congestion but it is also a common symptom of allergic reaction.
- Sneezing, Runny Nose and Watery Eyes
Another very common yet ambiguous symptom of allergies is sneezing, watery eyes and runny nose. All these are also signs of common cold. So, it is easy to confuse both conditions.
- Swelling and Inflammation
Swelling in the food canal and thyroid glands is common due to allergies. If you doubt to have an allergy, the first thing you should check for is swelling on the neck or below the chin. This is a symptom that appears right away. You should not take it lightly and visit an allergy center Centreville VA.
