An allergic reaction can stop a person in their tracks. The symptoms that accompany a reaction can vary depending on the allergies of that person. However, if one is aware of what is going on, then they can better understand and treat it as soon as possible. Allergic reactions that go untreated can lead to an emergency room visit if one is not careful.

When an allergic reaction occurs, the body undergoes a complex set of events, but to better understand one’s body, the events may be a crucial element to understanding what is happening. The first reaction that the body has is to produce an antibody called IgE. According to Web MD, this antibody will then attach to “a form of blood cell called a mast cell.

Mast cells can be found in the airways, in the GI tract, and elsewhere.” Web MD also states that when the allergens attach to the IgE, this will cause the mast cells to trigger a reaction that will then activate the body to produce a variety of chemicals including histamine. This histamine release is what causes the bad reaction that many face, such as itchy eyes and a runny nose.

If the discomfort is severe, one can experience loss of consciousness or one’s airways may close up, resulting in difficulty breathing. In severe cases, a negative reaction can be bad enough to even cause death.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 at 9:04 pm and is filed under Allergies & Allergens. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.