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| Allergy types and Symptoms |
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Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with various allergies, and millions more suffer from the signs and symptoms of allergies without ever knowing the cause. Reactions to the numerous potential allergens at play in our environment are so common that it behooves anyone who suffers from any form of reaction to avail themselves of the available information about allergies, their symptoms, and treatment options.
An allergy is easily defined as a negative immune response to environmental factors, food, or other substances. Where an allergy is present, the symptoms are most commonly experienced in the eyes, nose, skin, lungs, throat, and stomach, and can manifest in a number of ways that include a runny nose, sneezing, sore and itchy throat, and digestive problems. Severe allergic reactions can have dramatic effects on the body, including shortness of breath, chest tightening, and even shock.
Of the common allergic disorders, allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is the most prevalent. Caused by pollens released by various plants, allergic rhinitis is typically seen during the warm weather months of the year. Its counterpart, perennial allergic rhinitis, is an affliction that affects its victims year-round due to an allergic reaction to the numerous dust mites, mold, and animal dander present within most homes. Both disorders have among their symptoms the propensity for a runny or stuffy nose, itchy ears, throat, and nose, sneezing, and the buildup of phlegm in the throat.
Asthma is commonly related to allergies as well, and is a breathing disorder that is caused by an inflammation of the bronchial tubes which narrow the air passages to the lungs and reduce breathing capacity. Allergy sufferers frequently experience wheezing, tightening of the chest, severe coughing, and shortness of breath.
Allergic Eczema is an allergic reaction of the skin that is often associated with allergic rhinitis or asthma, and not any type of skin contact to allergens. It is signified by dry, reddened skin, severe itching, facial rashes, and rashes behind the knees, around the elbow creases, and sometimes on the torso. Hives are another skin reaction - sometimes in reaction to food or medicines, and sometimes occurring in people who demonstrate no other signs of allergy. Where hives occur, itchy bumps and welts are found on the body, with an accompanying redness of the skin.
The most life-threatening allergic condition involves allergic shock, sometimes referred to as anaphylactic shock. Allergic shock can affect multiple organs and bodily systems at once, and most commonly occurs as the result of ingesting or injecting allergens. Eating foods to which you are allergic, or getting stung by a bee or other insect with venom you cannot tolerate can cause an allergic shock reaction that, if not treated promptly, can result in serious illness and even death. Symptoms of allergic shock include hives, throat swelling, wheezing, and a sudden drop in blood pressure.
For anyone who suffers from any of the symptoms of these common allergic varieties, it is important to obtain a proper diagnosis so that the appropriate treatment plan can be devised and administered. It is not only a matter of living a healthier life - in the case of the more severe allergic reactions it may also be a matter of life and death.
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