Allergies are a common problem affecting millions of people in America and globally. Allergies can vary from mild allergies causing simple reactions like sneezing to life-threatening reactions triggering asthma and shutting the body down. If you have allergies or are caring for someone with an allergy, it’s crucial to understand the effects of allergies on the body. This knowledge will help you respond correctly and manage an allergic reaction. Here are six body systems that are affected by allergies.
Respiratory System
Common allergens such as pollens, mold, dust, and pet dander can trigger an allergic reaction, resulting in airway inflammation. This can lead to difficulty breathing resulting from sinus pressure, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing.
More severe conditions, such as bronchitis and asthma, can result from irritants from allergies that stick to the lining of the lungs and cause chronic inflammation. To keep your respiratory system healthy, it is essential to know what potential allergens may affect you and take preventative measures such as wearing face masks or staying inside when pollen counts are high.
The Ears
One of the most noticeable effects of allergy on the ear is excessive itching inside or around the ear canal, causing discomfort. Allergies can also lead to increased mucus production, which can accumulate in the ears, blocking them and creating feelings of fullness or pressure.
Additionally, allergies can increase inflammation in the ear, leading to hearing problems such as tinnitus. In some rare cases, the long-term effects of allergies may even cause hearing loss due to complications like eustachian tube dysfunction.
Cardiovascular Systems
When the body is trying to fight off allergies, it releases histamine and other chemicals, which cause inflammation in the respiratory system and throughout different parts of the body, including areas of the cardiovascular system.
This inflammatory response can lead to increased risks for patients with allergies, such as pressure overload, high blood pressure, oxidative stress, and abnormal heart rhythms. People with long-term or severe allergies may also experience an increased risk of stroke and other cardiovascular-related issues due to these effects on their cardiovascular systems.
Digestive System
Allergies can cause inflammation and irritation in your stomach, small intestine, and colon. This can present as bloating, cramps, and pain in the abdomen. Common triggers for allergy-related digestive issues include food intolerances or sensitivities like dairy intolerance, gluten allergies, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). If you have any of these allergies, it’s crucial to work closely with your doctor to manage your diet and ensure that you get the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy.
Skin
Pimples, hives, rashes, and other irritations can occur on the skin as reactions to allergens like pollens or animals, household products like laundry detergents, medicines, insect bites, or food.
Allergic reactions on the skin are characterized by itching, redness, and swelling that range from mild to severe. While some treatments are simple such as creams and lotions to reduce irritation or antihistamines to ease symptoms, more severe cases may require consultation with a doctor for a proper diagnosis and course of treatment.
Immune System
Allergies can significantly impact the body’s immune system, making it more susceptible to, sneezing, rashes, and hives. The presence of an allergen causes the immune system to go into overdrive to protect itself, resulting in a wide range of symptoms like swollen lymph nodes to prolonged illness..
However, when exposed to allergens continually, the body’s immune system can become weakened from over-response and exhaustion. This increased sensitivity to allergens can cause extreme distress for those affected by allergies, leaving them tired and with diminished resistance to other potential illnesses.
Allergies can cause several different symptoms depending on which body system is affected. It’s essential to be aware of the various systems that can be impacted by allergies and to know what kind of symptoms to look out for. Some common systems include the respiratory, cardiovascular, ears, skin, and immune systems. If you suspect you have an allergy, you should avoid exposure to any potential allergens and seek medical help to get a proper diagnosis.
