What is an Allergy?
Many people struggle with allergies. But where does the term "allergy" come from and how is it properly defined? But also what is the difference between an allergy and a response to a stimulus? Is the term allergy over used?
When I was first diagnosed with an allergy these were just some of the millions upon millions of questions that came to mind. I was very surprised that many things people consider to be an allergy really aren't at all. To better understand what an allergy really is, a person should first take the time to know were the term comes from.
Allergy was first described at the beginning of the 20th century by a pediatrician named Clemens von Pirquet. The term allergy meant "changed activity" and described changes that occurred after contacting a foreign substance. Two types of change were noticed, one that was beneficial. The benefit occurred from the development of protection against a foreign substance after being exposed to it. This response prevents us from developing many infectious diseases for a second time and provides the scientific basis for most immunizations. The other type of response generally not seen as beneficial was known as a hypersensitivity response, and it is the response for which the term "allergy" is most commonly used today.
Allergy is now known to be possible even without previous exposure to a substance. Everyone is capable of having an allergic response. A basic example; everyone would have an allergic response if they were give the wrong blood type during a blood transfusion.
The term "allergy" is over used. When your eyes bother you when you drive through a congested city with smog, they are not allergic to the air but are experiencing a direct chemical irritation from the pollutants. Similarly, skin coming in contact with some plants or chemicals experiences direct damage and not an allergic response. In infants, physicians often blame milk or food allergy for vomiting, colic, crying, irritability, diarrhea or sneezing. An allergy can absolutely cause these reactions but there are countless other reasons for these symptoms also.
If you do you feel you have an allergy from a simple rash to being gluten intolerant, you should consultant your physician right away. There is no reason to suffer. There are many tests available that can accurately diagnosis whether you have an allergy or not and take the proper medical course. :
When I was first diagnosed with an allergy these were just some of the millions upon millions of questions that came to mind. I was very surprised that many things people consider to be an allergy really aren't at all. To better understand what an allergy really is, a person should first take the time to know were the term comes from.
Allergy was first described at the beginning of the 20th century by a pediatrician named Clemens von Pirquet. The term allergy meant "changed activity" and described changes that occurred after contacting a foreign substance. Two types of change were noticed, one that was beneficial. The benefit occurred from the development of protection against a foreign substance after being exposed to it. This response prevents us from developing many infectious diseases for a second time and provides the scientific basis for most immunizations. The other type of response generally not seen as beneficial was known as a hypersensitivity response, and it is the response for which the term "allergy" is most commonly used today.
Allergy is now known to be possible even without previous exposure to a substance. Everyone is capable of having an allergic response. A basic example; everyone would have an allergic response if they were give the wrong blood type during a blood transfusion.
The term "allergy" is over used. When your eyes bother you when you drive through a congested city with smog, they are not allergic to the air but are experiencing a direct chemical irritation from the pollutants. Similarly, skin coming in contact with some plants or chemicals experiences direct damage and not an allergic response. In infants, physicians often blame milk or food allergy for vomiting, colic, crying, irritability, diarrhea or sneezing. An allergy can absolutely cause these reactions but there are countless other reasons for these symptoms also.
If you do you feel you have an allergy from a simple rash to being gluten intolerant, you should consultant your physician right away. There is no reason to suffer. There are many tests available that can accurately diagnosis whether you have an allergy or not and take the proper medical course. :