Many of us suffer from allergies, and they certainly aren’t pleasant to deal with. But what exactly is an allergy and why do they happen in the first place? Cellular Health Institute, who specializes in natural medicine in Orlando, explains.

Allergies and the Immune System

The immune system is continually receiving input from the environment and, when it recognizes invaders such as bacteria and parasites, it attacks them to minimize the threat of harm to the body. The immune system also functions to identify and get rid of defective internal cells in order to prevent the spread of disease throughout the body.

Allergies arise when a person’s immune system identifies something that isn’t actually harmful as being harmful, and produces a reaction to it. In other words, an allergy is your body’s reaction to environmental proteins that your body considers foreign – known as allergens.

The proteins in pollen are an example of allergens the immune system defends itself against, resulting in the seasonal allergies, with which so many of us are familiar.

The Immune Response

When the immune system responds to an allergen, it calls upon immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to fight the “invaders”. The body’s mast cells become injured in the process, releasing various chemicals into the tissues and bloodstream, one of which is histamine. Histamine and the other chemicals irritate the body, causing an allergic reaction that typically includes itchiness and inflammation.

Once an initial allergic reaction occurs, the immune system establishes a pattern, reacting the same way whenever it comes into contact with those proteins, or similar ones, again. Essentially, the immune system gets conditioned to respond to harmless environmental proteins, such as pollen.

If inflammation from an allergic reaction is left unchecked, it can lead to a weakened immune system and make us more susceptible to illness over time.

Are you tired of suffering from allergies? We have helped many in the Central Florida area get a handle on their allergy problems. Please call natural medicine in Orlando Dr. Faria at (407) 862-2287, or contact us online to find out how Cellular Health can help you.