Allergic Response

An allergic response is a direct result of a person’s immune system to what it sees as an immediate threat to the welfare of the body. There are a vast number of things that can cause a response if they are introduced into the body. The immune system will act as the first line of defence by alerting certain cells they are under attack. These cells, in turn, will release chemicals into the circulatory system and cause other cells (called mast cells) to release large amounts of histamines. In hay fever, histamines localise in the nose, eyes, throat and ears and are responsible for the typical symptoms associated with hay fever such as the running eyes and nose, sneezing, coughing, redness and swelling. In a more serious allergic response, such as an anaphylactic response, the airways will tend to close off, blood pressure drops, dizziness and even death can occur if immediate medical attention is not provided.

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