What is an Allergy?

Most people are familiar with the phrase “I have allergies.” Either they’ve heard it used in passing by friends and family, or they’ve become frequent users of it themselves. But what exactly does that mean? What is an allergy? Contrary to some beliefs, allergies themselves are not tangible. Instead, they are merely a reaction to something that is—otherwise known as allergens.

Allergens can be found in several places—food, drinks, pets, and the environment. To most people, they are completely harmless. Yet to some, they cause changes and sensitivity to the body’s immune system, or allergies.

What causes an allergy?

While some may be quick to assume that the allergen is the direct cause of the allergy, that’s not exactly true. The allergens themselves are not harmful. Remember, the vast majority of people are not affected by the allergens, so we cannot be so quick to blame them directly. Instead, the problem lies within the immune system. For reasons that still are not completely clear to science and doctors alike, we know that some people have immune systems that are more sensitive than others. For these individuals, their immune systems may perceive allergens as harmful foreign invaders to the body when they come in contact with them. In an attempt to protect the body from harm, their immune system reacts and attacks, thus resulting in the allergy symptoms we have come to know.

These allergic reactions and allergies are not created overnight, however. The immune system takes time to become familiar with the specific allergens in order to build up antibodies to attack it. This process is known otherwise known as sensitization and can take anywhere from days to years. This is the precise reason why some people don’t develop allergies until later in life. New exposure to allergens after a change in an environment (i.e. a move to a new home, job transfer, relocation out of state) and/or the potential years of sensitization are just some of the reasons why allergies can first develop far into adulthood.

Where do my allergy symptoms come from?

When the immune system reacts to an allergen, it releases antibodies to attack the invasion. These antibodies are called immunoglobulin E, or IgE for short. IgE is responsible for telling the body to release chemicals in preparation of attack. One of the main chemicals involved in the fight is known as histamine, directly causing the thickening of mucus in nasal passages and the tightening of blood vessel walls, airways, and other muscles. In short, histamine is what causes the typical allergy symptoms—runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, cough, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis. The symptoms created are the histamine’s way of trying to flush and rid the body of the allergen, often doing more harm than good since we already know the allergen is not truly harmful to begin with.

Now that I know where they come from, how do I treat my allergies?

There are three ways to treat allergies:

Avoidance: Get allergy tested and make all attempts to avoid known allergens. However, in people with allergies, the immune system is generally hypersensitive, meaning that it will react to several different allergens. Avoidance of multiple environmental allergens is difficult, if not impossible.
Medication: Over-the-counter antihistamines like Zyrtec, Claritin, and Allegra, work to block the histamine chemical in the body. By doing this, histamine fails to produce the symptoms we mentioned previously. The problem? These only provide temporary relief of symptoms. They will never completely rid the body of the allergies themselves and as soon as they wear off, symptoms will return.
Immunotherapy: The only proven way to rid the body of the allergies completely is through immunotherapy. This process works by exposing the immune system to the very allergens it is sensitive to on a daily, consistent, and controlled basis. The continued exposure overtime allows the immune system to re-evaluate the perceived dangers of the allergens. By realizing that the individual is still living and functioning despite the direct exposure to the allergen, the immune system becomes desensitized to the point that the patient can be exposed to the allergens in the environment with little-to-no reactions. Immunotherapy is available with Atlantic Ear, Nose & Throat in the form of sublingual (under the tongue) drops that the patient self-administers at home. The treatment is safe, convenient, and highly effective.

Allergies can be life-long and debilitating without the proper treatment. We are eager to help you on your road to recovery sooner than later. Contact our allergy staff for a complimentary telephone consultation. Our dedicated nurses will guide you in the right direction and answer any questions you may have. Our office can be reached at (386) 774-9880 option #5 for the Allergy Department.

What is an Allergy?