The Allergy Center

Provided by the Allergies Health Channel on eMedTV.com

Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common chronic conditions. It affects 30% of adults and 40% of children. It can be a serious problem. Allergies contribute to ear infections, irritated eyes, nasal polyps, sinusitis, cough, voice changes, snoring, sleep disturbance, asthma and skin rashes. Allergies can have long-term effects on the quality of our lives.

What Are Allergies?

People with allergic rhinitis have an inflammation of the nasal membranes after exposure to certain particles from our surrounding environment. The purpose of the immune system is to recognize harmful infection-causing invaders and to get rid of them. However, for some people, the immune system overreacts to ordinarily harmless substances like indoor allergens (such as pet dander, cockroaches, dust mites, and mold) and outdoor allergens (such as pollen from grass, trees and weeds) and food allergens.

When one breathes in an allergen, such as the pollen from a ragweed plant, it often lands on the moist lining of the nose and encounters the hypersensitive immune system. The immune detects the allergen and mistakenly treats it as a danger and creates antibodies to fight the invader. These antibodies stay in your system, prepared for the next time they encounter that same allergen.

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The immune reaction involves several different types of cells and many chemical reactions. Some of the chemicals have a quick, or immediate, reaction. Histamine is the best known of these chemicals and is often responsible for making the nose stuffy, itchy, or runny. It also can causes sneezing and swelling. One’s eyes may become itchy, red, or watery. Leukotrienes are another group of mediators which cause these symptoms. Another group of cells, such as mast cells, and mediators results in slower, or delayed, reactions which are responsible for nasal congestion, sore throats and cough.

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