Can you imagine an army being fooled into attacking its own country? It's what pretty much happens during an allergic reaction.
The immune system goes berserk under false pretenses and starts damaging specific parts of the body or interfering with particular processes.
Allergy is a immunologic disorder that affects 7 million Americans and which occurs after exposure to seemingly harmless environmental substances called "allergens".
What happens next usually takes place rapidly and can become aggravated depending on the severity of the exposure.
The symptoms can be as tolerable as rashes or sneezing or it can be as alarming as a complete respiratory collapse.
What usually happens during an allergic reaction can be attributed to a group of antibodies called, IgE, in coordination with mast cells and basophils.
Upon realization of contact with allergens, the IgE goes into overdrive and hyperactivates the immunologic capacity of the body's white blood cells.
This then causes an extreme inflammatory response which may manifest as redness (rubor), hyperthermia (calor), swelling (tumor) and pain (dolor).
The condition usually starts when freely roaming T-2 lymphocytes are triggered by an allergen to overproduce IgE antibodies.
These antibodies travel the circulatory system in search for mast cells and basophils, which are the first line of protection against foreign substances.
They attach to as many mast cells and basophils they find and trigger their defense.
Post stimulation, these white blood cells release inflammatory chemicals such as histamines, cytokines, leukotreines, prostaglandins and interleukins to influence the body to fight the supposedly harmful materials.
Vasodilation, smooth muscle contraction, mucous secretion and nerve stimulation then occur which bring about redness, fever, rhinitis, itching, and asthma.
During late cases, other white blood cells begin to intervene and migrate to the site of stimulation.
Neutrophils, macrophages, and eosinophils begin to attack locally thereby causing tissue damage and a potentially critical anaphylactic reaction.
Anaphylactic reaction can cause circulatory and respiratory system shutdowns and it brings about 400 deaths in America yearly.
White blood cells were meant to protect the body from antigens - usually viruses, bacteria and toxins.
These antigens are predisposing factors of illnesses and should rightfully be destroyed.
However, in the case of an allergic reaction, the white blood cells do the opposite and blindly attack the body because of substances presumed to be hazardous.
Dust, pollen, medications, insects, plants and certain food groups unintentionally activate hypersensitivity and make the body overreact.
I guess this makes the body's defense mechanism as potentially life-threatening as it is life-saving.
And as much as the body is run a smart system, it too, can fall victim to misapprehensions.
The immune system goes berserk under false pretenses and starts damaging specific parts of the body or interfering with particular processes.
Allergy is a immunologic disorder that affects 7 million Americans and which occurs after exposure to seemingly harmless environmental substances called "allergens".
What happens next usually takes place rapidly and can become aggravated depending on the severity of the exposure.
The symptoms can be as tolerable as rashes or sneezing or it can be as alarming as a complete respiratory collapse.
What usually happens during an allergic reaction can be attributed to a group of antibodies called, IgE, in coordination with mast cells and basophils.
Upon realization of contact with allergens, the IgE goes into overdrive and hyperactivates the immunologic capacity of the body's white blood cells.
This then causes an extreme inflammatory response which may manifest as redness (rubor), hyperthermia (calor), swelling (tumor) and pain (dolor).
The condition usually starts when freely roaming T-2 lymphocytes are triggered by an allergen to overproduce IgE antibodies.
These antibodies travel the circulatory system in search for mast cells and basophils, which are the first line of protection against foreign substances.
They attach to as many mast cells and basophils they find and trigger their defense.
Post stimulation, these white blood cells release inflammatory chemicals such as histamines, cytokines, leukotreines, prostaglandins and interleukins to influence the body to fight the supposedly harmful materials.
Vasodilation, smooth muscle contraction, mucous secretion and nerve stimulation then occur which bring about redness, fever, rhinitis, itching, and asthma.
During late cases, other white blood cells begin to intervene and migrate to the site of stimulation.
Neutrophils, macrophages, and eosinophils begin to attack locally thereby causing tissue damage and a potentially critical anaphylactic reaction.
Anaphylactic reaction can cause circulatory and respiratory system shutdowns and it brings about 400 deaths in America yearly.
White blood cells were meant to protect the body from antigens - usually viruses, bacteria and toxins.
These antigens are predisposing factors of illnesses and should rightfully be destroyed.
However, in the case of an allergic reaction, the white blood cells do the opposite and blindly attack the body because of substances presumed to be hazardous.
Dust, pollen, medications, insects, plants and certain food groups unintentionally activate hypersensitivity and make the body overreact.
I guess this makes the body's defense mechanism as potentially life-threatening as it is life-saving.
And as much as the body is run a smart system, it too, can fall victim to misapprehensions.