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Allergies
An allergy is when your body reacts against certain substances.
These substances are called allergens and can range from different foods to grass and tree pollen and pets. There are a very large number of allergens that affect different people.
Your body thinks that these, often very ordinary substances, are bad for you and fights against them causing all sorts of symptoms including:
- Sneezing
- Wheezing
- Rashes
- Vomiting
- Darrhoea
Very severe allergies can cause anaphylaxis, which is a severe and sudden allergic reaction that affects the whole body and puts huge pressures on the heart and circulation system. If anaphylaxis is not treated quickly it can be fatal.
Hayfever
Hayfever is the allergy caused by pollen and affects people mainly during the summer months. The pollen when breathed in causes the body to produce histamines and these make you sneeze, have itchy eyes and a runny nose.
There are a number of products available that ease Hayfever symptoms that can be bought in a chemist shop.
Stings and Bites
Some creatures particularly insects can sting or bite if they come into contact with your skin. The sting that is left behind, or the spit they leave in your blood stream when they bite, can cause an allergic reaction.
The symptoms can be itching, pain, redness and swelling and sometimes a severe allergic reaction – anaphylactic shock. It is important to treat these allergies and to seek medical advice if the reaction is severe.
