Everything About Allergy

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Dust, cats, peanuts, cockroaches. An odd grouping, but one with a common thread: allergies — a major cause of illness in the United States. Up to 50 million Americans, including millions of kids, have some type of allergy. In fact, allergies account for the loss of an estimated 2 million schooldays per year.

What Are Allergies?
An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a substance that’s harmless to most people. But in someone with an allergy, the body’s immune system treats the substance (called an allergen) as an invader and reacts inappropriately, resulting in symptoms that can be anywhere from annoying to possibly harmful to the person.

In an attempt to protect the body, the immune system of the allergic person produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Those antibodies then cause mast cells (allergy cells in the body) to release chemicals, including histamine, into the bloodstream to defend against the allergen “invader.”

Though hay fever is rarely ever fatal, its accompanying symptoms cause great discomfort. Here are some useful tips on coping with hay fever during ragweed season, which usually starts around August and ends in mid-October.

1. Difficult as it may sound, it is best for hay fever sufferers to stay indoors away from pollen, with windows shut and airconditioning on. If it cannot be helped to go outdoors, change your clothes and shower as soon as you come in from outdoors.

2. Avoid eating fruits and vegetables that may trigger an OAS. Otherwise, cook them thoroughly.

3. Start taking your allergy medications about two weeks before ragweed season starts.

Hay fever is an allergic reaction caused by the pollens of ragweed, grasses and other plants whose pollen is spread by the wind.

Usually, rag weed season starts around August until around mid-October.
These months are probably the most dreaded for people suffering from hay fever. During these times, they experience severe allergic symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, red, itchy eyes and even fatigue.

Sometimes, they develop Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), where the mouth becomes extremely itchy and swollen when eating certain foods. The explanation for this phenomenon is that certain proteins present in these foods are similar to those in ragweed. Fruits and vegetables that may trigger an OAS are melon, banana, potato, cucumber and zucchini.

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