An allergy is a troublesome reaction by your immune system when you come in contact with certain materials called allergens. These substances may be foods, medications, pollens, or microorganisms that are commonplace and harmless to people without allergies. If you are allergic, your immune system overreacts to specific substances. Ordinarily the immune network protects you from disease, but when you are allergic, it becomes misguided, causing you to have symptoms that range from annoying to very dangerous.
Anatomy of the Immune System
One of a dozen systems that compose a human body, the immune system includes organs such as the thymus, spleen and lymphatic glands, molecules like antibodies, stem cells and white blood cells, and secretions such as interferon. Immune networks intricately interact with all the other body networks: the skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems.
A Military Analogy
Under the rubric of the best defense is a good offense, an immune reaction deploys its network of cells and secretions that ordinarily kill and remove bacteria, viruses, cell debris, malignancies and other foreigner invaders. As with the fighting forces of countries, immune systems may blunder, causing collateral damage. Instead of defending against infection, or healing a wound, it can attack other systems when it mistakes certain invaders -- pollen or peanuts or penicillin -- for enemy combatants. It approaches the enemy via the blood stream and another river-like system that circulates a watery fluid called lymph which transports disease fighters.
Familar Allergic Symptoms
According the MedlinePlus website, common allergy systems are itchy or buzzing ears, red, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, congestion and runny nose, itchy or sore throat, post-nasal drip, cough, swelling, increased mucus production, hives and rashes, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Severity varies from one person to another and different allergens can stimulate the immune system to cause similar symptoms. Health-care providers can test your skin or blood to determine what is causing the allergy.
Dangerous Symptoms
Untreated overreactions by the immune system trigger more overreactions, making symptoms grow worse. For example, a cough leads to irritation of your respiratory tract. This sets off a signal for help to cells, cell products, and cell-forming tissues. They ratchet up to fight off the rawness and congestion. But in the process, your windpipe and bronchial tubes constrict, making it hard to breathe. The immune system may continue to increase swelling and inflammation of your airways. This can eventually result in asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Other untreated allergies can develop into diseases over time. It is best, therefore, to control the early symptoms.
Life-Threatening Symptoms
The most dangerous escalation of allergic responses takes the form of anaphylactic shock, a dire emergency requiring immediate first aid. Nerve endings stimulate increased itching in inaccessible places like the throat. Lips swell and an accumulation of fluids appear on and under under the skin. Breathing is compromised. The cardiovascular system begins to fail, causing a severe drop in blood pressure, rapid, irregular heartbeat and, if not treated, death. Management involves maintaining open airways and administration of medicines that calm the immune system, open constricted blood vessels and improve respiration.
Importance of Diagnosis for Treatment
The takeaway message, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, is to identify the allergens that trigger your allergies. Treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis. Once you know the causes, the academy says, your health care provider will help you work out a plan to avoid them and you can get treatment to help you protect yourself. It's worthwhile to get your symptoms identified. You will feel better and experience a better quality of life.
References
- Dictionary.com: Immune System
- "The Human Body (An Illustrated Guide to Its Structure, Function, and Disorders)"; Charles Klayman; 1995
- MedlinePlus: Allergies
- MedlinePlus: Allergy Symptoms
