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What is Allergy?
Allergy is a hypersensitivity to a specific substances that does not cause symptoms in most people. Allergies reflect an overreaction of the immune system to
substances that usually cause no reaction in most individuals.
These substances can trigger sneezing, wheezing, coughing and itching. Allergies are not only bothersome, but many have been linked to a variety of
common and serious chronic respiratory illnesses (such as sinusitis and asthma). Additionally, allergic reactions can be severe and even fatal. However, with proper management and patient education, allergic diseases
can be controlled, and people with allergies can lead normal and productive lives.
Still, it's interesting to note some of the ways allergies can affect you. How many of the following have you experienced when your allergy symptoms are present?
- Embarrassment.
You're constantly reaching for
tissues ... or sneezing ... or trying to hide a runny nose.
- Sleep difficulties.
Nasal stuffiness, headache and general discomfort make it hard for you to fall asleep or stay asleep. This fatigue accounts for a lot of your difficulties.
- Distraction.
Things and facts just don't
"stick" when your mind is on your eyes, nose, and throat.
- Not yourself.
Your allergies make you feel terrible, so you act poorly.
- Difficulty socializing.
You can't seem to get up the energy to go out with friends.
- Absentmindedness.
Sometimes your symptoms make it hard to focus, and you find yourself going over and over the same ground.
- Lethargy.
You just don't seem to care. You have a general sense of discomfort because of your allergy symptoms. You can't concentrate on work when you feel badly, and when you can't concentrate on work, you feel guilty. You feel caught in a vicious cycle.
- Getting along.
A general feeling of discontent. When allergies kick in, it doesn't take much to set you off. You feel disconnected with no apparent cause, which in reality may be due to allergic rhinitis.
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