Although about two out of every ten Americans have allergies of one kind or the other, most of them are ill equipped as far as allergy information is concerned. As a first step to acquiring a bit of allergy information, you should know what allergies are really all about.

Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to substances in the environment called  allergens. Exposure to an apparently harmless substance, such as pollen causes the immune system of an allergy sufferer to react as if the substance is harmful. Allergies can be of various types: indoor and outdoor allergies (also known as "hay fever," "seasonal," "perennial" or "nasal" allergies), food and drug allergies, latex allergies, insect allergies, skin allergies and eye allergies. Here is a vital, reassuring piece of allergy information: people that have allergies can live healthy and active lives like everyone else.

The next lesson in allergy information is to understand what happens when an allergic reaction takes place. If a person with a hyper-alert immune system is exposed to an allergen, his/her body starts producing an antibody, called IgE, to fight the allergen. The antibodies attach to a form of blood cell called a mast cell.

There are numerous mast cells in the airways and in the GI tract where allergens tend to enter the body. The mast cells explode and release a variety of chemicals including histamine, causing most of the symptoms of an allergy.

If the allergens are airborne, the reaction is likely to occur in the eyes, nose and lungs.

If the allergens are ingested, the reaction mostly occurs in the mouth, stomach and intestines. Sometimes the mast cells release sufficient chemicals causing a reaction throughout the body, such as hives, decreased blood pressure, shock, or loss of consciousness.

Next lesson in allergy information is to be familiar with the nature and categories of the symptoms. Allergy symptoms can be classified into mild, moderate, or severe (anaphylactic) categories. Mild symptoms are those that affect a specific area of the body such as rash, itchy, watery eyes, and some congestion.

They do not spread to other parts of the body. Moderate symptoms that spread to other parts of the body may include itchiness or difficulty in breathing. A severe reaction, called anaphylaxis, is a rare but life-threatening emergency in which the response to the allergen is intense and affects the whole body.

From a sudden onset of itching of the eyes or face, it may take the form of abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, as well as varying degrees of swellings that can make breathing and swallowing difficult.

As an important part of allergy information, you should be aware of different allergy-causing substances, the most common among them being pollen, dust mites, mold, animal dander, insect stings, latex and certain foods and medications.

Your allergy information will remain incomplete if don t have any idea of how to tackle allergies. Once the allergen causing the allergy is identified through tests, you can choose self-care treatment or use medications depending on the nature of the problem. Remember, the best remedy is avoidance, which means avoiding the substance causing your allergic reaction.

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