Ever find out how one individual can pet a feline all afternoon and another a single night in the room begins sneezing? So much for the strange, a little unfair world of allergies, where your immune system thinks that a harmless object is a threat, and strikes out at it.

Why Your Immune System Mistakes Harmless Substances for Threats

An allergy isn't a reaction to the pollen, peanut or pet dander per se. But it depends on how your immune system reads it! These are harmless and pass through in an individual who is not allergic. An allergic person's immune system reacts to them as an intruder that's dangerous, and starts releasing a large amount of chemicals, such as histamine, to fight it.

All the misery is due to the release of histamine: swelling, itching, sneezing, watery eyes, and, in the more severe cases, difficulty breathing. Your body actually feels that it is protecting you. It's just wrong in terms of threat.

Common Allergy Triggers: Pollen, Food, Pets, and Medications

There are more types of allergies than one might think:

  • Rhinitis — caused by pollen from trees, grass or weeds (usually worse in spring and fall)
  • Sometimes food allergies (such as peanuts, shellfish, eggs, and dairy products) are culprits.
  • Pet allergies, typically due to proteins in pet dander, pet saliva or pet urine, not the fur itself
  • Dust mite allergies, a year round problem that loves to hide in bedding and carpets.
  • Bees and wasps can cause a reaction as severe as an emergency and as mild as swelling, so insects can cause allergies to the sting.
  • Medications — such as penicillin, which is one of the most common allergies
  • Some people carry just one of these. Some people appear to gather them as trading cards.

In some individuals, allergies occur and in others they do not.Some people develop allergies, others do not.

Why Some People Get Allergies and Others Don't

It has a very strong genetic component, if your parents are allergic, have asthma or eczema, then the chances that you'll have any of these conditions are higher. There is also a theory that the immune system has had limited exposure to real threats in today's “hygienic” environments and begins to go to war with harmless threats. It's not all of it, but it's a piece of it.

Signs of Anaphylaxis: When Allergies Turn Into a Medical Emergency

Most allergic reactions aren't life-threatening, itchy eyes and nose, perhaps a rash. However, be alert for signs of anaphylaxis, a severe and quick response which may involve:

  • Shortness of breath or trouble breathing; tightness of the throat.
  • An increase in the size of the face, lips, or tongue
  • A dramatic decrease in blood pressure.
  • Dizziness or fainting

This is a medical emergency and should not be left at home to wait.

How to Manage and Treat Allergy Symptoms

The first step will be avoidance, so it's important to know what your triggers are and avoid them at all costs.

In addition, antihistamines are effective at treating mild symptoms, nasal sprays are effective at clearing congestion, and in more chronic situations, allergists can conduct tests to identify specific triggers and even provide you with allergen shots to help your immune system get used to the triggers so it doesn't react so strongly to them.

The Takeaway: Allergies Are a Case of Mistaken Identity, Not a Life Sentence

Allergies are just a case of "misidentification" in your body. These are not typically deadly, but can take a significant toll on your daily comfort if not managed properly.

The positive is that most people can successfully manage their symptoms with modern tests, treatments, and just avoiding triggers.