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Why Do People Get Allergies?

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Michael Lai Profile
Michael Lai answered
Allergies are usually caused by your body mounting an immune response against something that is usually innocuous to the body, such as animal hair, pollen and dust. Not everyone has the same allergies, because each individual has subtle differences in their immune system that allows them to recognize different foreign things that come in contact with their body. Usually the treatment for allergies is to take something that reduces the immune system's response to these allergic substances, they fall into a class of drugs known as anti-histamines.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
The reasons for developing food allergies later in life are not well understood. It is theorized that it is a similar porcess to developing other allergies later in life like hay-fever or allergies to certain pollens. That is, the body is hypersensitive to these foreign bodies at birth, but the immune system suppresses the allergy until it reaches its tolerance when we are older (and immune reaction has 'worn down'). This is when the allergy manifests in symptoms. Essentially, researchers theorize the allergy was present all along.

There is some evidence that allergies are genetic at least to some degree. Family history is a risk factor, and you're at increased risk of food allergies if other allergies, such as hay fever, asthma, hives or eczema, are common in your family. Apparently a child who has one parent with an allergy has about a 50 percent chance of developing an allergy (food or otherwise). If both parents suffer from allergies, the child has about a 70 percent chance of developing an allergy.

I know it's very frustrating. I have two very good friends who suddenly developed severe allergies to shellfish. Another developed a severe allergy to nuts, and nuts or nut oil are in a surprising number of foods. Of the food allergies that manifest later in life, soy, shellfish and nuts are among the most common.

I hope you are able to manage around this allergy for the time being. What a pain in the neck for you... I understand there are some therapies which are effective in treating allergies by introducing the substance in miniscule amounts and then increasing exposures over time. I wish you the best.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Allergies are things such as animal hair, pollen and dust that when they get into contact with our body, they trick our body inot thinking that we are fighting a nasty virus, such as a cold or infection.
Not everyone has allergies however, but if you do have one, you will certianly know you'ev got it! Symptoms include a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, itching rashes and a persistant cough.
An allergy occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance.
Allergies are widespread and aproximately one person in every four has some kind of allergy at some time in their lives. Each year the number of people with allergies increases at a rate of about fiev percent and as many as half of those affected are children. The most common allergies are grass cuttings, pollen, house dust mites, pets such as cats and dogs, insects such as wasps and bee stings, household chemicals, medicines and foods such as peanuts, milk and eggs.
Mac Welch Profile
Mac Welch answered
Allergies are a problem that many people have to face in their daily lives. This problem can range from a mild annoyance to a serious, possibly life threatening, reaction to the allergen. Almost any substance can be classified as an allergen for any particular person. This fact can make the process of identifying the allergy very difficult. An allergy is defined as the body's response by the immune system to a substance that is usually harmless to the general population. An allergy occurs due to the immune system's endeavors to protect the body from potentially dangerous foreign objects. The process is initiated by a harmless foreign object coming in contact with the body and the immune system mistaking this substance as a danger to the well-being of the body. The immune system will then attempt to fight off this substance by releasing white blood cells to attack the allergen. Antibodies can also be created that are used especially for fighting the specific substance that started this process in the first place. Any repeated exposure to the allergen that occurs can cause the body's reaction to become more severe with each contact with the substance. This increase in the severity of the body's reaction will result in a larger number of antibodies being released to combat the allergen. This increased number of antibodies is the primary cause of the development of the symptoms as a result of the allergy. The best treatment for an allergy is obviously eliminating exposure to the allergen. This solution may not always be possible as a result of the varied nature of the allergens. There are several other treatments in the case that elimination of contact with the allergen is not possible. These treatments range from over-the-counter antihistamine medications to allergy shots. The best course of action if you suspect that you may have an allergy is to speak to a doctor to develop a plan for treating the allergy.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
People can also get allergies from the flowers, hay, and many other air pollutants
Amy Nancy Profile
Amy Nancy answered
They get allergies if they sniff, taste, or touch something that their bodies can't handle. For example, my body can't handle dairy, so I have a runny nose every time I eat something with dairy in it!

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