You have a friend who gets a little dust on his body and starts itching and scratching. But you don't have any problems. There's another person who gets red welts all over his body after eating a few nettles and has difficulty breathing. Why do each of these people develop allergies to different things? Why don't we all develop these things? In fact, anyone can develop an allergy at any age. You may have developed an allergy when you were a child, or you may have had no symptoms until you were an adult and then suddenly developed an allergy. Today, we'll talk about this in depth.
Okay, what exactly is this 'allegory'?
Before we look for the answer to this question, let's simply understand what an allergy is. Imagine that our body is a fortress. To protect this fortress, there is an army called the 'Immune System'. The job of this army is to fight against enemies like harmful germs and viruses that enter the body and save us from diseases.
However, in the body of someone with an allergy, this army is a little more active than it should be. This means that things that are actually harmless, for example, dust, pollen, and certain foods (like milk, eggs, and peanuts), are mistaken for a big enemy. Having misunderstood it, a big fight begins against it. As a result of that fight, symptoms such as itching, hives, sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, and difficulty breathing appear.
The main reason: Your genes
Why do some people's immune systems overreact in this way? The main reason for this is genes . Simply put, allergies are something that can be passed down from generation to generation .
Just think, if both your mother and father have diabetes, you're more likely to develop it too, right? That's how it is, Alajit.
Let's see how far this will affect us.
| Parental status | You are at risk of developing allergies. |
|---|---|
| If both parents have allergies | The risk is more than double . |
| If only one parent has an allergy | The risk increases significantly . |
| Unless both parents have allergies | There is still a slight risk . |
But here's something very important to understand. You only get the tendency to develop an allergy from your parents. That means, just because your mother is allergic to dust doesn't mean you'll be allergic to dust. You may not develop any allergies at all. Or you may develop an allergy to a food or something else. You only get the 'pre-preparation' from your genes.
Genes alone are not enough, the environment also has an effect!
This is like a seed. Even if it's the best kind of seed, it needs good soil, water, and sunlight to germinate, right? Similarly, even if you have a genetic predisposition to develop allergies, for it to actually become an allergy, you have to be exposed to the thing that causes that allergy, which is what we medically call an 'allergen.'
Simply put: genetic predisposition + exposure to an allergen = allergy.
This exposure also affects whether or not an allergy develops.
- Intensity of exposure: How much of the allergen you are exposed to. For example, a child who grows up in a household with a lot of cats is more likely to be allergic to cat dander than a child who sees a cat occasionally.
- Frequency of exposure: How often you are exposed to the substance. Someone who works with chemicals every day is more likely to be allergic to them.
- Exposure at an early age: Exposure to these types of allergens, especially in the early years of life, greatly increases the risk of developing an allergy in the future.
What are other causes of allergies?
In addition to genes and environment, several other factors related to our lifestyle can contribute to the development of allergies or the worsening of existing allergies.
1. Smoking
A smoker's lungs and respiratory tract are often weakened and damaged. This makes their body more susceptible to airborne allergens like dust and pollen. Importantly, this risk is the same whether you are a non-smoker or just being around people who smoke (passive smoking) .
2. Pollution
The pollution around us, especially the smoke from vehicles and the chemicals from factories, all of these things disrupt our immune system. They stimulate our airways and pave the way for allergies. This is one reason why people who live in cities are more likely to suffer from asthma and dust allergies.
3. Infections
Sometimes, especially during childhood, viral infections can alter the way our immune system works. This change can make the body more susceptible to allergies in the future.
4. Hormones
Changes in your body's hormone levels can also cause allergies or change the nature of an existing allergy. For example:
- Puberty
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
Since the hormonal changes that occur during these times directly affect the functioning of the immune system, it is possible for previously non-existent allergies to emerge and existing allergies to disappear.
If you suspect you have an allergy to something, the best thing to do is to see your family doctor (doctor) and talk about it, rather than just guessing.
Take-Home Message
- Allergies can occur to anyone, at any age.
- The main factor that causes allergies is genes , that is, hereditary predisposition.
- You get the 'tendency' to develop an allergy from your parents, not the specific allergy itself.
- Even if there is a genetic predisposition, exposure to the relevant allergen is also necessary for an allergy to develop.
- Things like smoking, environmental pollution, some infections, and hormonal changes can trigger allergies or change their nature.
- If you suspect you have an allergy, always consult your doctor for proper advice and treatment.
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