For me an allergy means a stuffed, yet runny, nose which sneezes interminably and uncontrollably during the summer months, has associated pounding headaches and makes me feel very cranky. That's my allergy and it's more commonly known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Rhinitis in plain English is inflammation of the nose.

Hay fever is a the term for the signs and symptoms that a person shows when within sniffing distance of pollen, grass seeds or whatever that person is allergic to.

So what is an allergy?

When someone is allergic to a substance their body in effect tries to fight it off. Their body is just super sensitive to that substance. The substance will usually be totally harmless but for some reason, in this person, it will provoke a reaction by the bodies defence mechanism, which is usually reserved for dangerous substances. The body becomes over sensitive to the substance.

The allergic reaction can take many forms and may be a rash, shortness of breath, sneezing or in a worse case scenario anaphylactic shock. This last one can kill if not treat immediately. It can involve swelling of the throat, lips, tongue, severe shortness of breath, swelling of the face and more. It can arise in a person because of an allergy to a bee sting or certain food. As with all allergies each person may differ slightly in their symptoms and in what they are allergic to. In the case of grass allergies there are many different types of grass and you may only be allergic to one.

Testing to see what you are actually allergic to is fairly accurate these days . However if a product has a new ingredient added you may suddenly find that you are allergic to something which you have used for years with no problems. I found this with a washing machine powder. Once the ingredients had been changed I found that I was itching and scratching constantly when I came into contact with my clean washing. It was only by trial and error that I realised what the problem was.

Allergic reactions these days can be treat with antihistamine tablets, exclusion from the substance and immunotherapy. Immunotherapy aims to desensitise you but is usually only used in severe cases and when other options have failed. So much depends on how severe your symptoms are and how you cope with them. I have found that finally at 55 years old I seem to growing out of my Hay fever. The short period of time, these days, when it is troublesome I take an antihistamine. Most of these pills today are very safe and do not cause drowsiness.

Sometimes it just might pay you to find out exactly what you are allergic or hypersensitive to. After all if it's just peanuts you can avoid them, cant you?. Wrong. That statement was written with irony because, as most of us know, it is not that simple. If we take peanuts as an example, a person who is allergic to them must avoid any foods or products which have been anywhere near them. This could even include you partners lips after they have eaten a peanut related product. So minute is the size of peanut contact that can cause problems.

Overall though if you have an allergy, which may cause anaphylactic shock, you should really find out what you are allergic to. You can then try your hardest to avoid it whilst carrying a life saving antidote at all times.

Learn more about this author, Ethel Smith.
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