Understanding Allergies: A Comprehensive Guide to Causes, Symptoms, and Management
Introduction An allergy is a chronic condition where the immune system reacts abnormally to a substance, called an allergen, that is typically safe for most people. Instead of ignoring the harmless substance, the immune system launches a defense, producing special antibodies and releasing chemicals like histamine. These chemicals cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from mild annoyances like sneezing and itchy eyes to a severe, life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. Allergies are incredibly common, affecting millions of people worldwide. We encounter allergens everywhere: in the foods we eat, the air we breathe, the medicines we take, and the insects around us. An allergen is a substance that is otherwise harmless to most people but causes an exaggerated, abnormal immune response (an allergic reaction) in a susceptible person. When an allergic individual encounters an allergen, their immune system mistakenly identifies the substance as a threat. It then produces a ...