Show r MEDICALLY x 1 S i lIy I hr Jr David v t-v Evans ns Vernal Family Health Center J FI f t t w. w r f Allergy More than one in every six Americans suffer from allergy Some allergies are mild hardly even an Many people however have allergies which are disturbing enough to need the attention of a physician Although allergies often cannot be cured people suffering from them can almost always be helped to feel leel better belter An understanding of what allergy is what causes it and can it be treated will make the control of your allergy easier for you and your physician Understanding Allergy All allergen may be inhaled touched injected or swallowed Or the allergen may be a condition such as cold or wind Even anger fear and anxiety can be causes of allergic reactions Usually however emotions do not cause allergies although they may make them worse When the foreign substance that is an allergen enters or touches the body of a allergic person the body tries to defend itself The way in which it defends itself causes the symptoms of an allergy The Allergic Response When an allergen comes in contact with or enters the body certain cells produce antibodies The antibodies remain active in the body even after the allergen has become inactive The allergens then combine with the antibodies an an- s and release chemical substances substances substances sub sub- stances which are harmful to the body tissue The most common substance produced by the combination of antibody antibody antibody an an- and allergen is histamine Histamine usually causes tissue swelling but the allergic symptoms which result from the swelling depend on of the body in which the allergic response takes place An allergic reaction never occurs the first time a person comes in contact with an allergen The next time a a allergen enters the body it combines with the already existing antibodies to produce an allergic reaction The Symptoms of Allergy An allergic reaction C can n involve almost l pat t idy Th an antibodies antibodies can attach themselves to cells wherever there are small blood vessels Most often oCten affected however are the respiratory system nose throat lungs the digestive system stomach bowels and the skin Neither the type of allergen nor the way in which the allergen enters the body determines determines' what the allergic symptoms will be Different people can respond to the same allergen in different different different dif dif- ferent ways One person may get hives from eating a certain food Another person eating the same food may get diarrhea and yet a third may have an asthma attack Each person however will almost always respond to the same allergen in the same way The Allergic Person Allergies or rather the tendency to have allergies often run in families It Itis Itis Itis is likely that if parents have allergies their children will also Of course the children of non non allergic allergic patients can also develop allergies Most people have their first allergic attack when they are under age 15 But an attack can take place at any time in life The first attack only depends on when the person comes in n contact at least twice with the allergen Age sex race wealth or wisdom have little to do with who develops an allergy The pattern of allergy development differs from person to person Few people go through life allergic to only one thing most allergic people develop additional sensitivities Treating Allergy One of the first things a physician does when treating an allergic patient is to try to find out what is causing the allergy Often that is not easy because of the wide range of allergens Among the most frequent are pollen dander the skin or hair of animals mold spores dust rind find foods Plants and insects are also common allergens And as the number of chemical products we use each day increases so sodo sodo sodo do the possible causes of allergy Careful questioning may help determine determine deter deter- mine the allergen any new foods Changes in co cosmetic use New household cleaners A new pillow Finding the allergen is not usually so simple For example when inhaled allergens are tt the e problem skin testing is a basic part of the diagnosis Offending Of fending allergens will make the skin react innocent substances will not If a common food is suspected of or causing the allergy your physician will want you to keep a very careful diary of foods eaten and of allergic responses Or if chemicals are suspected cosmetics or common cleaners may be eliminated from use until the offender is found Eliminating the Allergen Once the al allergen ergen is known it should be eliminated from the patients diet and surroundings or orr avoided as much muchas as possible There are free allergy-free cosmetics and free allergy-free bedding Desensitizing by Injection A small amount of the allergen Injected injected injected in in- over a period of weeks or months into the allergic person sometimes protects against f future ture allergic attacks by that allergen the process is called It is most successful when there is a respiratory allergy caused by pollen mold or dust Symptomatic Relief Symptomatic medications cannot cure an allergy but they can give prompt and welcomed relief The most common medication used to relieve the symptoms of an allergic attack are antihistamines As the name suggests antihistamines work against hist histamines amines to block their harmful action in body tissues They may cause a bit of drowsiness which can be annoying annoying annoying an an- but is certainly better than itching hives or a clogged nose and throat t. t Helping the Physician Take the medications prescribed by your physician and no other The medicines you decide to take on your own may not mix with the ones your physician has prescribed Some seemingly harmless medicines may even prove harmful Nose drops may relieve the symptoms of allergy but some can cause slow damage to the tissues in the nose And inhalers that have been prescribed for the asthmatic pat patient ent next door may by just the wrong thing for hay fever i Keep a note about medication and drug allergies in your wallet or purse Check with your physician to be sure that its it's correct And if you see another doctor or dentist for any reason be sure to report any medication allergies even if you arent aren't asked |