Allergies

Almost everyone has allergies but of course no one wants them. Allergies run the gamut from minor annoyances to life threatening emergencies. But allergies all have one thing in common - they are the body's immune system overreacting to allergens - things that aren't a problem to most people most of the time.

Our immune system detects irritants, toxins and potentially infectious agents and works to protect us from them. With allergies, something the body has been exposed to triggers an inflammatory response. What happens within the body when sensitivity to an allergen has developed is quite complex. The bone marrow releases eosinophils, and many other cell types from the immune system are thrown into overdrive, creating an inflammatory cascade. The treatment of allergies is geared toward the management of symptoms by mediating the inflammatory response triggered by exposure to an allergen. Scientific breakthroughs concerning the immune system and the inflammatory response have helped bring to market many new drugs, bringing relief to millions of people around the world.

Once the body has developed sensitivity to an allergen, an allergic response is initiated every time you're exposed to it again. Airborne allergens like pollen trigger responses such as hay fever or seasonal allergies. Mold, dust and pet dander can trigger asthma attacks. Irritants like poison ivy or chemicals can trigger skin allergies. Many people, especially kids, have food allergies which can create such a dangerous reaction - anaphylactic shock - a true medical emergency. Insect stings are another potentially life threatening allergy.

The prevention of symptoms is the key to allergy control, and that means controlling the environment through vigilance against whatever allergens trigger an allergic response for you. The Allergies Learning Center offers multimedia information - video, expert articles, quizzes and much more to help you understand and manage allergies. Scientific breakthroughs concerning the immune system and the inflammatory response have helped bring to market many new drugs, bringing relief to millions of people around the world.