Troublesome allergies

The environment we live in is not entirely friendly to humans. Such conclusions can be drawn not only based on sometimes gloomy forecasts and assessments by ecologists - sometimes a simple observation of our immediate surroundings is enough for such an assessment. People are getting sick more and more often, and the diseases they contract were not long ago part of the daily list of ailments. Allergies come to the forefront of any potential list. At the beginning of the century, allergies were a problem for only about one percent of society. At that time, antibiotics were not known, there were no vaccinations, and cleaning agents were not used. There were a lot of bacteria on the surface of the skin and mucous membranes of every human being, which could not be eradicated. They caused plagues that decimated entire populations. Eventually, medicine began to gradually, but increasingly effectively, combat bacteria residing on mucous membranes and skin. It turned out then that when the immune system is not occupied with fighting viruses and bacteria, it starts to react against pollen, mites, and molds. Currently, allergic diseases are among the most common ailments of modern civilization. It is estimated that depending on the form of the disease, 10-30% of the population suffers from an allergy. Most allergic diseases are chronic in nature, and patients must be treated systematically, sometimes for their entire lives (as is the case with bronchial asthma). Allergy is caused by an abnormal immune system reaction to certain factors. It protects humans from processes of disintegration caused by various internal and external factors. This includes defense against microbial aggression, serving as the body's defense system against infections. Allergy has a genetic basis and often occurs in families. The allergy gene controlling the production of immunoglobulin IgE is located on the fifth chromosome. However, for an allergy to manifest, a person predisposed genetically (familially) to it must come into contact with an allergen, in an appropriately high concentration, at a very early age, even in infancy. Basically, any substance that the body comes into contact with (inhaled, touched, swallowed, or injected) can be an allergen. Upon first contact with a particular substance, the body's immune system reacts by producing antibodies specific to that substance. There are no reactions at that time. Upon subsequent encounters, allergens can trigger pathological allergic reactions. Identifying such a substance that leads to allergy symptoms is not easy, but it is a prerequisite for starting treatment. Determining what the allergen is possible through laboratory tests and allergy tests. Environmental factors play a significant role in the development of allergies. A very characteristic trend is the increasing incidence of various allergies among residents of Central and Eastern Europe, who have rapidly adopted a Western lifestyle in the last decade. Contemporary pollution, especially atmospheric pollution, plays a huge role. Emissions from power plants, engines, especially diesel engines, undoubtedly exacerbate symptoms in asthma patients and hay fever sufferers, both seasonal and year-round. Particularly dangerous is a mixture consisting of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particles emitted by diesel engines. Household pollutants also play a non-negligible role in exacerbating allergies: dust, cleaning products, solvents, aerosols, cosmetics, kitchen fumes, and cigarette smoke. Allergy is easy to recognize if symptoms occur shortly after exposure to a known allergen. Sneezing attacks, runny nose, watery eyes, and itchy eyes on a sunny day - undoubtedly hay fever. Nighttime coughing attacks, shortness of breath, wheezing in a young person are almost certainly asthma. Skin redness, itching, and blisters after eating strawberries or peanuts - nothing but food allergies. Painful skin swelling, intensified hives after a wasp sting is also undoubtedly an allergy. In food allergies, elimination diets are used to detect the allergen, involving the exclusion of suspected foods from the diet. This allows determining with the patient which of the subsequent eliminated products was the culprit of allergy symptoms. Spirometric tests are sufficient to diagnose asthma, consisting of quantitative measurements of inhaled and exhaled air, both static and dynamic, taking into account the airflow rate in the airways. Allergy treatment is multidirectional. The most important thing is to recognize the allergen and, if possible, avoid it. In the case of food allergies or insect venom allergies, this is fully possible. If someone is allergic to plant pollen, there is little they can do, although they should, of course, avoid places with high pollen concentrations in the air. Small children, especially infants from allergic families, should be protected from known allergens, especially house dust mites and pet allergens. Upholstered furniture should not be kept in allergy sufferers' homes, carpets should be changed very frequently, apartments should be ventilated, smoking should not be allowed, kitchens should be well-lit with exhaust vents. Air conditioning should not be used. Air exchange should be as frequent as possible. Pets should not be kept at home. For the treatment of hay fever, decongestant medications such as xylometazoline or antihistamines such as cetirizine or loratadine are excellent. In asthma, these drugs are not effective. Bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs such as cromones and corticosteroids should be administered. In the case of rapidly developing skin erythema accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness - adrenaline should be injected under the skin as quickly as possible. Individuals with serious allergic reactions to food should carry adrenaline syringes with them. Children prone to allergies should have patches on their clothes informing about the disease. Regular exercise leads to better cardiovascular and respiratory fitness and optimal muscle preparation in everyone, especially those who struggle with bronchial asthma. Exercises strengthen not only respiratory muscles but also other muscle groups. Firstly, with stronger abdominal muscles, the diaphragm (the main inhalation muscle) is more efficient. Secondly, if postural muscles (responsible for proper posture) are better trained, better conditions for breathing are created by enlarging the dimensions of the chest. Thirdly, a trained muscle requires less energy (oxygen) to work than a weak muscle. Therefore, during asthma attacks when muscle tension increases, less oxygen is consumed.