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Allergies
Allergies pose a significant and serious health
problem in this country. According to conservative estimates, nearly
15 million Americans are plagued by hay fever and 10 million have
asthma. Twelve million more Americans suffer from such allergies as
eczema and hives, not to mention allergic reactions to food, drugs,
and insect stings. Most of these disorders have a hereditary
component and tend to run in families
What Is An Allergic Reaction?
Basically, an allergic reaction
occurs whenever the immune system overreacts to a seemingly harmless
substance. Known as allergens, these substances include pollen,
mold, house dust, mites, animal saliva and dander (skin shed by
cats, dogs, or rabbits), feathers (such as those used in feather
pillows), certain foods and drugs, and insect stings.
Allergens are usually absorbed into
the body by way of the skin, nasal passages, lungs, or digestive
tract. Once inside the body, allergens stimulate the lymphocytes
(small white blood cells) to produce what are known as allergic
antibodies. The reaction between the allergen and these antibodies,
which are attached to certain special cells (mast cells), leads to
inflammation of the nose, eyes, lungs, and the digestive tract. A
stuffy nose, sneezing, wheezing, skin rash, watery eyes, abdominal
cramps, and nausea are some of the most common results.
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Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) can be
brought on at certain seasons by the airborne pollens of trees,
grass, and weeds. Other allergens cause hay fever all year. These
year-round troublemakers include molds, dust mites, and animal
dander.
Hay fever symptoms include sneezing,
watery eyes, runny nose, nasal congestion, and an itchy palate and
throat. Hay fever can also be accompanied by conjunctivitis (itchy,
swollen eyes), malaise, headache, and sinus pain.
Asthma
(From
the PDR Family Guide to Prescription Drugs
Chapter 14)
Although asthma is a common condition that affects all age groups,
one-third of all cases occur in children under 10 years old. This
means that approximately three million children in the fifth grade
and below suffer from this disorder. Not surprisingly, asthma
accounts for more school absences than any other chronic childhood
illness.
The chief symptoms of asthma include
coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. An asthma attack may be
brought on by any of the previously mentioned allergens or by
infections in the sinuses or bronchial tubes. Emotional stress,
hormonal changes, irritants such as cigarette smoke, changes in
temperature and humidity, and exercise also may trigger an asthmatic
episode.
Asthma attacks may begin suddenly
with the onset of severe symptoms, or start slowly with a gradually
increasing difficulty in breathing. A typical acute asthmatic attack
is marked by wheezing, labored breathing, tightness in the chest,
and a dry cough. Asthma attacks may produce a feeling of suffocation
and an inability to speak without frequent pauses to catch the
breath. The victim may also have a rapid pulse, sweat profusely, and
turn blue.
[more]
See Also:
Asthma
(From the PDRŽ Family
Guide Encyclopedia of Medical Care)
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