Allergy: An overview - Global Healthy Life

Allergy refers to unwanted reactions from the immune system while coming in contact with allergens. The allergens could be in the form of foods, non food proteins, skin soaps, detergents, laundry soap, bleach, rubber, metal, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, perfume etc. Allergy also occurs due to genetic causes, insect stings, over medications, hygiene proposition and other environmental factors. This article discusses the various causes of allergy in detail:

Foods

Intake of certain types of food could lead to allergy. Some people are allergic to certain kinds of food. Food items which act as allergens are:

Nuts: Allergy to nuts is one of the most widespread food allergies. Many young children around the world are allergic to peanuts. In extreme cases this ailment persists even after childhood. Some people are also sensitive to pecans, pistachios, pine nuts, and walnuts. The sufferers might be sensitive one or more than one types of nuts.

Seeds: Some people are also allergic to seeds like sesame seeds and poppy seeds which are rich in oil and protein content.

Egg: About 2 percent people around the world are allergic to egg. In most of the cases this ailment tends to subside once a child reaches the age of 5. Most of the children are generally allergic to egg white due to its protein content.

Dairy products: Some people mostly children are allergic to dairy products like milk and cheese.

Other foods: Many people around the world are allergic to protein rich foods like soy, wheat, maize, fish, shellfish, chicken etc. Some people are allergic to certain fruits and vegetables. Some people are also sensitive to chemical additives, spices, synthetic and natural colors etc. Many people are sensitive to food products like banana, avocado, kiwifruit, and chestnut which contain plant protein

Non-food proteins

About 1% people are believed to be allergic to latex. This ailment is mostly prevalent among people who work in hospitals. This is mainly due to constant exposure to airborne latex allergens in operating rooms, intensive care units and dental clinics. Constant inhalation of latex allergens could lead to contact dermatitis. The symptoms of this ailment are formation of dry and coated lesions on skin.

Heredity

Allergies are also linked with genes. Children of parents who have allergies are more likely to suffer from allergies. Scientific studies have proved that children of allergic parents suffer from more severe allergies than children of parents who have not suffered from allergies. Twins are also known to suffer from similar allergies.

Toxins interacting with proteins

Exposure to poison ivy, eastern poison oak, western poison oak could lead to redness, swelling, formation of pa pules, vesicles, blisters and streaking. This happens when the integral membrane proteins on exposed skin cells come in contact with the above mentioned allergens leading to a chemical reaction. Preventing exposure to toxins and use of revitol products for skin care can help in preventing this.

Hygiene proposition

Generally everyone is advised to maintain good hygiene. Good hygiene is considered to be the cornerstone of good health. But in terms of allergic diseases this is not true. Sometimes people living in too sterilized environment do not have a strong immune system. This happens because their immune system remains inactive due to lack of exposure to harmful pathogens. Such people fall ill or suffer from allergies after coming in contact with even slightly unhygienic conditions. Scientific studies have proved that people living in developed nations suffer from more allergy related ailments than people living in developing or third world nations.

Environmental factors

Rapid industrialization in the past century has lead to immense degradation of the environment. It has lead to air and water pollution. Coming in contact with contaminated air and drinking polluted water could also lead to various kinds of allergies.

Aydan Stacey is a freelance writer by profession and fitness enthusiast at heart. She mainly covers topics related to health, fitness, Business and Natural skincare. She prefers natural remedies over quick fixes and has a list ready with most practical methods.

Source: http://www.globalhealthylife.com/allergy-an-overview.html

2012 state of the union address jorge posada maurice sendak state of the union sotu boehner john boehner