Allergies, what is it?
Allergies occur when your immune system mistakes a usually harmless substance (allergen) for an intruder, then produces antibodies to defend the body against it. At the same time, cells in the affected areas produce histamine and other chemicals that rapidly cause sneezing, itching, hives, and other allergic reactions. These reactions almost always appear in or on the part of the body that had contact with the allergen. They are seldom life-threatening, though they can be dangerous, and are often very uncomfortable for the sufferer. Adults rarely outgrow allergies entirely, but symptoms occasionally become less severe with time. On the other hand, some people develop allergies in midlife.
Over 67 million Americans are allergic to one or more and the 10 worst allergy cities for spring allergies are: Knoxville, TN, Louisville, KY, Chattanooga, TN, Dayton, OH, Philadelphia, PA, Greensboro, NC, Jackson, MS, St. Louis, Wichita, KS according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's 2010 ranking of 100 U.S. cities in Washington, DC. If one of your parents had allergies, you have a 30-50% chance of having them to. In addition, if both your parents had allergies your percentage increases to 60-80% but not necessarily that it would be of the same things. If you were exposed in your childhood to high levels of cigarette smoke, mold, or other allergens or lived in a geographical area with high levels of pollen or air pollution (road dust, diesel exhaust, coal, gas or wood smoke) your risk of developing an allergy to one of these substances is high.
Statistics
Allergic rhinitis
Affects about one in seven Americans.
Allergic asthma
Five to 10% of Americans have asthma and 80% of a asthmatics also have some type of allergy.
Food allergies
Kills about 100 Americans each year. A true food allergy the kind that's life threatening occurs in only 1 to 2% of adults. Peanuts and tree nuts are the number one cause of food allergy deaths. About 3 million Americans are allergic to them.
Drug allergies
Penicillin and similar antibiotics are the most frequent triggers of reactions. They affect about 10% of the population and cause 2 to 3% of all hospital admissions..
Insect stings
Provoke allergic reactions in about 15% of Americans. Both drug and insect allergies (like mosquitoes) can lead to life-threatening reaction's. Insect sting allergies account for at least 40 deaths a year in the United States.
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