Allergic Reactions

Most people will have some problem with allergies or allergic reactions at some point in their lives.

Allergic reactions can range from mild and annoying to sudden and life-threatening.

Allergies are an overreaction of the body's natural defense system that helps fight infections (immune system). The immune system normally protects the body from viruses and bacteria by producing antibodies to fight them.

In an allergic reaction, the immune system starts fighting substances that are usually harmless (such as dust mites, pollen, or a medicine) as though these substances were trying to attack the body.

This overreaction can cause a rash, itchy eyes, a runny nose, difficulty breathing, nausea, and diarrhea

Nothing can ruin your day like allergic reactions, and as a longtime allergy sufferer, I should know. The discomfort of this condition is rather difficult to describe.

For me, my allergic reactions are almost always caused by pollen and such things in the air. I will be walking down the street, feeling just about fine, and all of the sudden, allergic reactions will strike.

I don’t know if most people are the same, but my nose will get stuffy and itchy, my eyes will get watery, and I will suddenly have difficulty breathing. Alternately, sometimes my allergic reaction is more subtle than that.

Occasionally, I will wake up, already fully congested and just absolutely miserable. As the day goes on, my throat will continue to itch, and the more time I spend outside, the worse things get until the allergic reactions are just too much and I have to lie down.

My allergic reactions are unusually very strong, and I generally have to undergo more allergy treatment than most sufferers. Many people use antihistamines to treat allergic reactions and just end it there, but for me it is not all so simple.

Not only do I have to use an antihistamine, but I actually have to use two of them. I also have to use a decongestant. On top of it all – as if that were not enough already – I have to get shots for my allergic reactions. These shots make my arms swell up for hours some time, in which case I have to get adrenaline shots just to make the allergic reactions calm down. Lets face it; I'm a wreck.

What I've been doing recently has gone some ways towards making my allergic reaction not so severe as it was before. I have been finally following my doctors tips.

First of all, I have been enthusiastically cleaning out my house, making sure that dust and mold have no place to hide out and make me sick.

At first, this stirs up my allergic reactions, but eventually it causes them to subside once all of that junk is out of the air. Besides this, I have been eating right. This means cutting out fatty food, and all things caffeinated or processed. Also, allergic reactions can be decreased according to some experts, by eating more vegetables and simple whole grains. All of this has done fabulous things towards making me feel healthier than ever, and that is the most important thing!

Some children may outgrow an allergy as the immune system becomes less sensitive to the allergen. This is particularly true of food allergies. However, as a general rule, once substances have provoked allergic reactions, they continue to affect the person.