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Allergies are an inappropriate response by the body's immune system
to a substance that is not normally harmful.
The immune
system is the body's complex system of controlling infection
by identifying foreign invaders and mobilizing the body's
white blood cells to fight them. In people with allergies,
the immune system incorrectly identifies a nontoxic substance
as an injurious one and the white blood cells end up doing
more harm to the body than to the invader.
The substances
which provoke allergic reactions are called allergens, and
can include almost anything you can think of from food to
mold, dust, pollen, drugs, food additives, chemicals and
more.
Whatever
the cause, the response to the allergen is commonly coughing,
headache, hives, fatigue, itching, nasal congestion, skin
rashes and wheezing.
The reason
that some people are prone to allergies and others are not,
is unknown. However, heredity and emotional factors such
as anger, stress and depressed immune system function are
often contributing factors.
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