Allergies and Asthma

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Allergies and Asthma

• A.k.a. My bodys gone crazy!

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Allergies
Allergies happen when your immune system is
overly sensitive to certain substances that are
not harmful to most people.
Something that causes an allergy is an allergen.
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Many allergens are proteins.
Pollen (hay fever)
House dust (mites)
Insect stings
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More allergens...
Mold
Antibiotics
Animal dander
Certain food proteins
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What happens?
When exposed to an allergen, tissues become
sensitized. They produce antibodies. The next
time the allergen comes around, there is an
antibody reaction.
Some types of antibodies produce histamines which
cause most of the physical effects.
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Runny nose/sneezing
Watery eyes
Itching
Drop in blood pressure
Joint pain
Swelling of mucous membranes--this can be life
threatening
Rash/hives
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What to do?
Avoidance--stay away from things you know you are
allergic to
Testing--know what you are allergic to
Antihistamines--these medicines stop the
histamines
Allergy shots--small amounts of allergen given
often to desensitize the body
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Asthma
1 in 20 adults 1 in 10 children
wheezing coughing shortness of breath
chest tightness
Spasm of the muscles of the bronchi so the victim
cant exhale easily.
This may cause a feeling of suffocation.
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Triggers of asthma
Exercise
Allergies
Stress
Changes in air temperature
Pollutants including cigarette smoke