Common allergy: causes, symptoms and treatment

Allergies have been with mankind for thousands of years. Descriptions of diseases that we would describe as allergies according to current knowledge have been handed down from ancient Egypt. Today, allergies are on the rise worldwide and the incidence of allergies is steadily increasing, especially in industrialized countries.

According to the latest representative surveys, around 25 million people in Germany now suffer from allergies; this corresponds to almost a third of the total population. Allergies are therefore considered to be the most common chronic illness in Germany and rightly bear the title of widespread disease. But what is an allergy anyway? How are allergies triggered? And what can we do about them?

Contents

• What is an allergy?
• Which substances trigger allergies?
• Allergy treatment: what can be done?
• Dietary changes and food supplements for allergies
• The 7 best dietary supplements for allergies
• Allergies and food

What is an allergy?

Allergies are an overreaction of the human immune system to certain environmental substances that are harmless under normal circumstances - so-called allergens. There are a large number of allergens, with those affected suffering from a gluten allergy, a mite allergy, a house dust allergy or the widespread hay fever, for example.  

Allergies and the immune system are therefore closely linked. Normally, the human immune system is responsible for intercepting harmful germs and bacteria that enter the body via the skin, intestines and mucous membranes and rendering them harmless. However, if the immune system is hypersensitive or impaired, it reacts in the same way to harmless allergens. They are mistakenly perceived as a danger and the body begins to produce antibodies. These special antibodies, also known as immunoglobulin E, are then deposited on the body's own mast cells and trigger the release of histamine and other inflammatory substances to defend against the allergens.

 

➤ A llergies have been on the rise dramatically for several decades. In the USA, they are already the fifth most common chronic disease in all age groups and are considered the third most common chronic disease in children and adolescents under the age of 18.

 

Seasonal allergies are the main cause of concern. Scientists currently disagree on the cause of the increase in seasonal allergy symptoms over the last 30 years. However, there is agreement that pollen, house dust and some food allergies are occurring exponentially more frequently. According to the Quest Diagnostics allergy report, there has been a general increase in the incidence of allergies of six percent in just four years. In the case of ragweed allergies, the increase is as high as 15 percent.

Which substances trigger allergies?

Allergies can be triggered by a wide variety of substances, the best known and most prominent allergy triggers include

• Pollen, animal hair and house dust allergens
• Inhalation and food allergens
• Contact allergens of animal, plant and chemical origin

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The most common allergy symptoms include

• Itching on the skin and in the ears
• itchy, watery nose and eyes
• Frequent sneezing
• Difficulty breathing
• blocked nose
• Sinubronchial syndrome
• Increased mucus production
• scratchy neck
• Reduced ability to concentrate and attention
• Reduced willingness to make decisions
• Exhaustion and sleep disorders
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Low blood pressure
• Asthma
• Hives
• Eczema and skin rash
• Tiredness

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), allergies generally cannot be prevented, but allergic reactions can. The goal of treatment is to avoid contact with allergens as much as possible. With seasonal allergies, however, this is very difficult to almost impossible. That is why the big question "How long does it take for an allergy to subside?" cannot be answered in general terms, because someone who suffers from a gluten allergy can avoid the allergen better than someone with a hay fever allergy. 

The treatment of seasonal allergy symptoms therefore requires a comprehensive strategy that includes lifestyle and dietary changes as well as natural treatments.

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Allergy treatment: what can be done?

If an allergy or allergic reaction occurs, most sufferers want immediate relief from their symptoms and resort to the wide range of nasal sprays and eye drops, tablets, inhalation sprays or injections offered by conventional medicine. What all these products have in common is that they promise and provide rapid relief of symptoms. The main reason for this lies in the corresponding ingredients that these medications contain, usually a mix of antihistamines, adrenaline and immunosuppressants.

Unfortunately, what all these medications have in common is that they only treat the symptoms and completely disregard the cause of the allergic reaction. They can also have a number of side effects such as drowsiness, abdominal pain or palpitations and are not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women or people suffering from high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney or liver disease, glaucoma or thyroid problems.

Dietary changes and food supplements for allergies

If you want to live allergy-free in the long term, you should consider changing your diet. This is particularly useful if the triggering allergen is found in food, if you have a pollen allergy, but also if you are allergic to animal hair, for example. The reason for this is the hypersensitive or impaired immune system of all allergy sufferers described above. A change in diet can rebalance and strengthen the immune system and thus combat the cause of allergic reactions, because as we heard at the beginning, allergies and the immune system are closely linked. 

A diet rich in fiber and a high intake of high-quality vitamins and minerals strengthens the intestinal flora and thus supports the immune system. Supplementing with calcium can also work wonders.

The 7 best dietary supplements for allergies

Food supplements can also help to strengthen your immune system and thus help you to get allergies and their symptoms under control. It is best to start taking the supplements one to two months before the onset of allergy symptoms. This is the only way the full effect can unfold.

The following natural substances are among the strongest helpers against allergies:

• Krill oil 

Krill oil contains many valuable omega-3 fatty acids that can alleviate the inflammatory symptoms of allergies such as hay fever, bronchial asthma, eczema etc.. They also reduce the risk of people at risk of developing allergies in the course of their lives. In other words, omega-3 fatty acids help to prevent allergies.

• Black cumin oil 

Black cumin oil helps you to reduce allergies. The oil contains valuable linolenic acids, which ensure that the body's own allergy readiness is reduced. This reduces the occurrence of asthmatic attacks caused by allergies or hay fever. 

• Spirulina

One teaspoon daily: According to the Medical Center of the University of Maryland, spirulina prevents the release of histamines that cause allergy symptoms. Symptoms such as nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal congestion or itching can be significantly alleviated by consuming spirulina.

• Probiotics

50 billion IU (2 - 6 capsules) daily: Probiotics change the intestinal flora and strengthen the immune system. They also show promising results in the treatment and prevention of allergies. 

• MSM

The anti-inflammatory MSM has the property of rapidly eliminating foreign substances from the body, thereby inhibiting allergic reactions. This makes organic sulphur an effective remedy for various allergies.

• Zinc

30 mg daily: Stress can worsen the symptoms of allergies. Zinc helps us to cope better with this stress and thus alleviate allergy symptoms.

• Calcium

Calcium causes our body to release less histamine and other inflammatory substances, which can reduce or even completely eliminate allergy symptoms.

Allergies and food

You should avoid some foods during the allergy season. In principle, you should no longer consume any foods to which you are allergic or sensitive. If you are unsure about the extent of your food allergies, you should try an exclusion diet. 

However, people who do not suffer from a food allergy can also benefit from a change in diet. 

Foods you should avoid during the allergy season:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Processed dairy products
• Chocolate
• Peanuts
• Sugar
• artificial sweeteners
• Highly processed foods
• Melons, bananas
• Sunflower seeds
• packaged lemon juice
• Wheat, soy

Other foods not only taste good, but also strengthen your immune system. 

Foods that help to alleviate your allergy symptoms:

• Raw honey from the region
• spicy food
• Bone broth
• probiotic foods
• Pineapple
• Apple cider vinegar
• fresh organic vegetables
• Meat from pasture farming
• Poultry from free-range farming
• Fish from wild catches

The choice of food depends on the type of allergy you suffer from. If you have an allergic reaction to a food, you should of course not eat it.

 

Sources (in English):

Man, L. X. (2009, June). Complementary and alternative medicine for allergic rhinitis. Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, 17(3):226-31, doi: 10.1097/MOO.0b013e3283295791

Cingi, C., Cnk-Dalay, M., Cakli, H. & Bal, C. (2008, October). The effects of spirulina on allergic rhinitis. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology : Official Journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS), 265(10):1219-23, doi: 10.1007/s00405-008-0642-8

Madonini, E. R. (2014, November). Probiotics and allergies: myth or reality?. European Annals of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 46(6):196-200 

Sharon, N., Eshdat, Y., Silverblatt, F. J. & Ofek, I. (1981). Bacterial adherence to cell surface sugars. Ciba Foundation Symposium, 80:119-41 

Mansueto, P., Seidita, A., D'Alcamo, A. & Carroccio, A. (2014). Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: Literature Review. Journal of theAmerican College of Nutrition, 33(1):39-54, doi: 10.1080/07315724.2014.869996