💊Daily Pill: How do Allergies Work?
From Sneezing to Full Blown Anaphylaxis
The Daily Pill is a series of very short daily posts where I share the definition of a medical term I think we should all know. Read it every morning and build up your medical vocabulary.
😷 Allergies
My friends, allergies suck for sure... At least that’s what people tell me because I don’t have any. 😉👉🏽👉🏽 I believe this is one of the benefits of having been raised in the third world - where people grow up being exposed to plenty of antigens and pathogens, and as a result, our immune system pretty much has to get on with the program and get its shit together rather quickly.
Generally speaking, allergies happen when the immune system overreacts to a foreign substance, such as pollen, bee venom, pet dander, or certain foods, as if it were a real threat. In other words, the immune system is being overly dramatic 🙄. My immune system, in contrast, has seen some serious shit already, so I don’t have to worry about it overreacting.
When exposure to any of these foreign substances happens… lets say you are allergic to peanuts, parts of the immune system including cells and antibodies get activated and cause the tissue changes you perceive as allergy symptoms. These symptoms can range from mild (sneezing, itching) to severe (anaphylaxis and full blown anaphylactic shock), which constitute medical emergencies. Allergies can be diagnosed through skin tests, blood tests, and an assessment of symptoms and medical history.
More on peanut allergies:
🤔Why you need to know:
Allergies can impact daily life and overall health. They can affect sleep, productivity, sports performance, and social activities. Effective management includes avoiding known allergens, using over the counter medications, and in some severe cases, undergoing immunotherapy. Pro tip: If your over the counter allergy medication stops working, it MAY be because your body has gotten used to it: swap it for a different kind of allergy medication and keep alternating them every 2-3 months. Also, if you have serious allergies go talk to your doctor and get tested. This Susbtack is on medical education, not medical advice, and remember kids, I’m not your doctor.
🧠Trivia:
The proposed explanation of allergies being more common in developed countries is known as the "hygiene hypothesis", - which suggests that growing up in overly clean environments can lead to an underdeveloped immune system… that becomes overly dramatic because it doesn’t know how to act in public. Look it up if you don’t believe me.
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