Allergies are the result of your body overreacting. When your body encounters a typically harmless substance, such as certain foods, insects, dander, or pollen, and responds in ways it shouldn’t, you are having an allergic reaction. Allergies may be mild, with runny noses, red eyes, or hives. Other times, they can be severe and even cause life-threatening anaphylaxis. The importance of treating allergies of all severities can be explained by an allergist near you.
What Are Allergic Reactions?
Allergies happen when your body views a harmless substance as a harmful invader, causing the immune system to respond. The substances that you react to are known as allergens.
An allergic reaction refers to the way you respond to the particular allergens you are sensitive to, which then creates a domino effect leading to the allergic reaction. The first time you encounter an allergen you are sensitive to, your body then creates allergic antibodies. These antibodies are tasked with finding the allergens and removing them. This causes histamines, a specific chemical, to be released, causing your symptoms.
Treating Allergies
Allergies cause uncomfortable symptoms that can impact many different aspects of the body. For example, food allergies can cause many different reactions, ranging from rashes, itchiness, vomiting, and diarrhea to swelling of the mouth and throat, which can cause breathing difficulties. Pollen, mold, and dander often cause reactions in the eyes and respiratory tract.
Treating allergies varies greatly based on the type of allergy. Some allergies can be managed by avoiding contact with the allergen. Others may require immunotherapy, medication, or antihistamines. Talk to an allergy treatment doctor in Houston. At Allergy & ENT Associates, we are ready to work with you to ensure that your allergies are managed well.
The Importance of Treating Allergies
While avoiding allergens is certainly one way to prevent allergic reactions, it is practically impossible to avoid all allergens indefinitely. There is a very good chance that people will encounter their allergens at least some of the time. Even if you have a mild allergy that only causes some degree of discomfort, it is a good idea to have a treatment plan to keep you breathing easily.
Having a plan for treatment, whether by medication, immunotherapy, or other treatments, is a crucial way to protect yourself. Even if an allergy is mild now, it may become more severe or even life-threatening during repeated exposure to the allergen that does not occur under a doctor’s supervision. Learn the importance of treating allergies of all severities. Then, when an allergic reaction occurs, you will be ready to mitigate it to keep yourself healthier.
