Your body's immune system helps keep you healthy by producing disease-fighting antibodies. These antibodies can destroy harmful foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria that cause disease. But if you have an allergy, certain types of antibodies get over stimulated and your body reacts when it comes into contact with a normally harmless substance. The air we breathe. The food we eat. The things we touch. They can all trigger an allergic reaction.
The culprit is an over-reacting antibody called immunoglobulin E or IgE. Generally found in miniscule amounts in the body IgE is much more prevalent in people with allergies. The IgE antibody is the key that allows normally harmless pollen to attach to our nasal linings causing histamine and other mediators to be released resulting in allergy symptoms.
When we think of allergy we usually think of upper respiratory irritations such as sniffling, sneezing, an itchy runny nose and itchy watery eyes. However, allergies can have a more serious impact. Allergies can affect the skin (atopic dermatitis), the gastrointestinal tract and the lungs. When allergies affect our lungs in the same way they affect our nasal passages this is called allergic asthma. Allergic asthma can be potentially life threatening. If you or a loved one suspect allergies are affecting your life, talk with one of our allergists. They can determine the best diagnostic approach and treatment therapy.
Some diseases that affect the upper respiratory system are not allergy-related. The only way to be sure is to get tested. Even if it turn out that you don't have an allergy, your doctor will have a valuable piece of evidence to help diagnose your condition accurately.
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