What Are Allergies?

About 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. Everyone likely knows the symptoms of allergies, but how many people understand what causes the symptoms to occur? An allergy happens when the immune system reacts inappropriately to an otherwise harmless substance. For example, antibodies in the body detect proteins and bind themselves to the white blood cells. The antibodies activate the next time they sense the same protein and cause inflammation to protect the tissue where the protein was detected.

• The antibody response is why, for example, people often experience wheezing or nasal congestion during the pollen season. The immune system alerts when someone inhales pollen into their respiratory system, and it causes inflammation in the lungs and sinuses. As a result, people usually experience mild symptoms, but the immune system can overreact in people with allergies and cause severe inflammation in the tissue of the lungs, throat, or sinuses. The result is often extreme discomfort and breathing complications that can become life-threatening.

continued

Sign-up today and receive ta FREE Dry Brushing Guide written by Dr. Dana Cohen

Allergy treatments help to reduce the sensitivity people experience to allergens. The methods may address the inflammation the allergen causes or work to correct the immune system response.

Type of Allergies

Allergic reactions can occur in many ways. People may suffer from one type of allergy or a combination. The most common types are allergies are food, respiratory, and skin, but others also exist. Anything that repeatedly causes someone allergy symptoms after exposure is known as a trigger. Natural Allergy Remedies can help to improve the quality of life for people who regularly experience reactions from unavoidable allergens.

• Food Allergies: Peanuts are an example of a common trigger for a food allergy. Sometimes food allergies may only cause a mild tingling in the mouth or throat, but some people experience fatal reactions. Shellfish, eggs, milk, and soy are other frequent food allergy triggers.

• Respiratory Allergies: Airborne, or respiratory triggers, include a variety of particulates. Some allergy patients have an extreme sensitivity to mold, others to animal dander or dust mites. In some instances, a person may experience symptoms when exposed to any airborne allergen.

• Skin Allergies: Sometimes, airborne and food allergens affect the skin rather than the respiratory or digestive system. When a skin allergy occurs, the individual may have hives, itching, and skin redness. The complaints may occur on their own or accompany respiratory symptoms. Concerns for people with skin allergies can include any products that touch the skin. Lotions, body wash, perfume, and many other chemicals and natural products can cause an allergic reaction. Skin disorders, like eczema, are common problems for people with chronic allergies. Exposure to an allergen can cause eczema or psoriasis flare-ups that last long after exposure ends.

• Other Allergies: Sensitive individuals can also experience reactions to medication and insect stings. An insect sting will cause discomfort or a welt for anyone. Mild side effects from medication are also common. An allergic reaction is much more dangerous and can result in anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis can affect the heart, breathing, and more.
  

Contact Dr. Dana Cohen MD for Your Personalized Allergy Treatment

Dr. Cohen recognizes that allergies are a result of an immune system that is out of alignment, and believes that patients suffering from allergies can find relief through integrative treatments that seek to rebalance that system.

Using specialized diagnostic tests, Dr. Cohen will pinpoint the patient’s specific allergies and work to a develop a treatment plan that includes changes in diet and the addition of vitamins and supplements that help to support the immune system and bring it back to a balanced state.

Please contact Dr. Cohen today!