| By :
John Markus
Are you one of the millions of people who dread the flowers blooming in spring? Do you wish you could understand why people think scented candles are great? Does the sight of a puppy make you want to run toward it and away from it all at the same time? If any of these sounds like you, then you are probably one of the many people living with air borne allergies. The symptoms of allergy sufferers can range from annoying to truly incapacitating depending on the severity of the persons reaction. Most people can tell you that runny noses, itchy eyes, and rashes are all signs a person is suffering from an allergy attack, but few people are aware of the exact reason these symptoms occur. Here you will find the answers for why your nose runs, your eyes water, and just what histamine is. Every person is exposed to levels of allergens. Our bodies are set up to deal with exposure to outside elements. The first line of defense our respiratory system has against air particulates that could harm us are the tiny hairs inside our nose. That's right; the small hairs that are a bother for some people actually have a very important job. When you breathe in through your nose the hairs act as a filter to remove pollen and other contaminates while still allowing oxygen to enter our system. For most people that's all there is to it, their bodies are satisfied that the hairs have done their job. Studies have shown that allergy sufferers' bodies have a different reaction. If you suffer from allergies, your immune system is hypersensitive to the presence of allergens and thinks it needs to take further action to prevent the foreign matter from entering your body. Basically, allergy attacks occur when your immune system overreacts to an outside element coming in contact with your body. One of the most common symptoms to air borne allergens is a stuffy nose. When your immune system detects the allergen it is not convinced that the hairs in your nose are effectively keeping the allergens at bay. Your body's next defense is to cause your nasal passages to swell and produce mucus to block entry into your respiratory system. Itchy, watery eyes are the result of the same reaction. Your body is producing tears to help flush out the allergens that your immune system believes can harm your body. The chemical that is released by your body that causes your airways to swell and sometimes causes hives is called histamine. Histamine is your immune systems main weapon. It is a very important chemical that protects your body from infections and other harmful diseases. Your bodies over reaction to the introduction of allergens can be suppressed by a drug containing an antihistamine. Medicine that contains antihistamine will send a message to your body not to produce histamine and slow or stop the symptoms. Another way to decrease you allergy symptoms is to avoid contact with the allergens that trigger histamine release in your body. Installing an air filtration system in your home will improve the quality of the air you breathe and limit the number of allergens in your immediate environment.
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