| The countless people who suffer from allergies know | | | | allergic while another is able to blissfully ignore |
| that they are a real inconvenience that can prevent | | | | allergens with nary a problem? It is still not completely |
| you from living your life. Maybe you're the person | | | | clear why some people have allergies and other do |
| who is miserably sneezing and wheezing at the dust | | | | not. |
| mites, while everyone around you feels just great. | | | | Heredity appears to play a big role in many cases, |
| For a person who suffers from allergies, small things | | | | however (Thanks so much, mom and dad!). If you |
| like dust, pollen, and food become the enemy. | | | | have parents or siblings with allergies, your own |
| Allergies can be tough to live with, but there is one | | | | chances for having them are much higher. In some |
| weapon that can do more to defeat them than | | | | cases, allergy sufferers have no hereditary link, and it |
| anything else: Knowledge. Knowing a few basic tips | | | | is just uncertain why the allergies happen. It is |
| and making some minor lifestyle changes can truly | | | | possible that air pollution, and the increasing use of |
| make a world of difference in your war on allergies. | | | | recycled indoors air may be contributing factors. It |
| Here are some of the basics on allergies, and how to | | | | has also been theorized that the widespread use of |
| battle them and emerge victorious. | | | | antibiotics may be a factor. Since the immune system |
| What Exactly Are Allergies? | | | | is not occupied with fighting off serious infections |
| An allergy is an abnormal reaction from a person's | | | | thanks to the antibiotics, it may be more susceptible |
| immune system. The substance that triggers the | | | | to less harmful substances like the typical allergens. |
| reaction is not typically a damaging one, but the body | | | | Allergy Prevention |
| reacts as if it were. The triggers of allergic reactions | | | | Allergy prevention has to begin with allergy |
| can be many different things: House dust, pet | | | | recognition. Once you have determined exactly what |
| dander, pollen, and various foods are some of the | | | | you are allergic to, you can practice prevention based |
| more common allergens. Allergies may change over | | | | on the problem. For environmental allergies such as |
| time, and new allergies may develop as well. | | | | pollen, simply avoiding exposure is one of the best |
| An allergic reaction is triggered when three factors | | | | preventative methods. This will require tracking of |
| combine: First, an allergy prone person is exposed to | | | | the pollen counts, and staying inside if they are |
| an allergen. This can be as simple as breathing in one | | | | unusually high. Keeping all windows closed and running |
| time, if the irritant is in the area. Second, the body's | | | | the air conditioner is also a helpful pollen allergy |
| natural defense against allergies, Immunoglobulin E, | | | | prevention. |
| starts trying to fight off the antigen by attaching to | | | | For those who suffer from dust allergies, there are |
| the body's mast cells. The third part of the process is | | | | several small changes you can make inside the home |
| what leaves you with watery itchy eyes, breathing | | | | that will help prevent attacks. Using airtight plastic |
| problems, and sneezing. | | | | covers that will encase your pillows, mattress, and |
| In an allergic reaction, the mast cells start releasing | | | | box spring will keep the dust mites away and allow |
| massive amount of chemical irritants. These irritants | | | | you to sleep far more peacefully. If you have |
| will bring on the allergies. Then, to compound the | | | | carpeting in your home, very frequent vacuuming |
| problem (as if the beginning of the allergy attack | | | | with high efficiency filters will help keep the dust |
| were not enough!) the chemical irritants in the body | | | | from building up. Changing furnace and air condition |
| start attracting white blood cells called eosinophils. | | | | filters frequently can help as well. |
| The function of the eosinophils is to bring even more | | | | Pet allergies can be prevented by isolating the pet if |
| fun (not!) to the party since they bring additional | | | | at all possible, bathing the pet very frequently |
| inflammatory chemicals along with them. | | | | (Nobody said this part would be fun!), and the use of |
| What Causes Allergies? | | | | HEPA filtration air cleaners. The best, and in fact the |
| We know how allergies happen, and we even know | | | | only, prevention for food allergies is avoidance of the |
| the steps involved in an allergy attack. The question | | | | food that causes the allergy. This takes a lot of |
| that most allergy sufferers want to know: Why me? | | | | diligence, and careful analysis of all foods you or your |
| What is it that causes one person to be severely | | | | child eats. |