Treatment and precautions for allergies

Be it to dust, pollen, sea food or perfumes all of us are allergic to something or the other these days. What is an allergy? Well, to put it simply, allergies are reactions produced by certain materials (called allergens) on our immune system.

When someone allergic to a certain substance, say peanuts for instance, comes in some sort of contact with it his body immediately breaks out in a reaction. Of course, these reactions differ from person to person and from allergen to allergen, however, hives, itchy red blisterish eruptions or trouble with breathing, constant bouts of sneezing, running nose etc. are the most common reactions produced by allergens. Although most of us tend to take allergic reactions lightly they have been known to cause death occasionally and are therefore hardly as innocuous as we consider them to be.

Allergic reactions can be of various types and can affect various parts of the body. Here we list some of the most common allergic reactions which affect us along with the parts of the body it tends to affect;

Eyes - any redness, itchiness, burning sensations and constant watering of the eyes can be a sure shot symptom of an allergy.

Nose - in case of an allergy the mucous membranes in this organ tends to swell causing bouts of sneezing, or flow of water from the nose.

Lungs - Choking sensation, tell-tale signs of asthma.

Ears - inflammation, pain, temporary lack of the capacity to hear etc.

Skin - reddish blister or bumps, hives etc.

Methods of Treatment
Following we list a few common methods of treating allergies
1) For air borne Allergens - medications like nasal sprays, decongestants and antihistamines have known to be effective. Also, eye drops can be used in case of itchiness of the eye.
2) For ingested Allergens - in case of a resultant skin reaction use easily available skin ointments which can be procured over the counter. In case of wheezing, choking etc. antihistamines might come in hand. If ingested material is some sort of food then avoiding it altogether might help.
3) Allergy to insect bites or certain types of drug - Injections of Epinephrine (adrenaline) are known to be helpful.

When using a certain method as a cure however make sure to consult a doctor and obtain some sort of an approval since administering any inappropriate medication might prove fatal for the victim.

Preventing It
Unfortunately allergies cannot be completely prevented, however they can be cured by the administration of the right sort of medication. It is also important for the sufferer to be aware of what material might prove to be a potential allergen for him/her. Keeping away from any such allergen might be the first step towards a healthier life.