Health & Fitness ALLERGIES. FRANKLIN ATHLETIC CLUB Our Immunity Is Going Overboard 0 Pay No Dues 'til July! with the mention of this ad 24 •3 2448000 EXT. 43 5 New members only! Some restrictions apply. Expires 5/18/2010 29350 Northwestern Highway I Southfield, Michigan 48034 WWW.FRANKLINCLUB.COM 1594120 48 ne of the most wondrous adaptations of the human body is its ability to protect itself from foreign invaders, such as toxins and infectious agents. This is accomplished by a very well-coordi- nated process called the immune system. When suspicious mate- rial enters our body, many chemicals and cells mobi- lize in order to isolate, destroy and eliminate the potentially harmful agent. This system is generally quite successful in prevent- ing the ravages of infec- tions, poisons and many other substances that we are exposed to daily. Unfortunately, our response can overzealously attack harmless substances as well. This excessive reaction is termed hypersen- sitivity. A commonly known example of this is allergy. At least one-in-five people have some form of allergy. Michigan's repu- tation for promoting allergies is due, in part, to the extremes seen in our four seasons. Currently upon us, pollens will last until the first frost in the fall. In May, tree pollens populate our air. This is fol- lowed by grass pollens in June and rag- weed pollens (which cause hay fever) in August and September. Dusts and molds build up in our homes in the winter. Add to this pets, bees, foods and drugs, and the problem is pervasive. Allergic symptoms depend on many factors, such as the type of provoking substance (allergens), the system of the body where the agent enters, and the patient's individual response to the offending material. Commonly known types of allergies are: • Allergic rhinitis — this often causes nasal and sinus congestion. It is probably the most common form of allergy. • Allergic conjunctivitis — this is due to a non-infectious form of pink eye. It causes watery, itchy eyes. • Asthma — caused by inhalation of allergens into the lungs, which pro- vokes wheezing, cough and shortness of breath. • Eczema — this is also known as atopic dermatitis. This causes skin irritation and rash, especially in the inner folds of the elbows and knees. • Hives (urticaria) and plant aller- gies — these are other types of skin reactions to either topical or ingested agents. • Drug allergies — almost any medication has the potential to cause a wide-ranging constella- tion of symptoms, ranging from a mild skin rash to life-threatening swelling of the throat. • Food allergies — many foods can cause reactions. Common ones are milk, nuts and fruit. Treating allergies is challenging because continuous expo- sure to the allergen does not allow our hypersensitivity to settle down. "Avoidance which is the most impor- tant anti-allergy strategy, is difficult in many cases. Medication, the second line of treat- ment for allergies, aims at blocking the chemicals that are over-reacting to the provoking agent. These include anti- histamines (the substance histamine is an important component of most allergic responses), decongestants (they prevent excessive mucous at the sites of allergies, such as the nose and eyes), and steroids (one of the most potent anti-inflammatory medications. It can be inhaled, taken as pills, given intrave- nously or put on the skin). The third method of treating aller- gies is shots. They work by injecting progressively increasing doses of allergens into our skin, to build up a tolerance to the allergic materials (our body gets used to them). Thus, a vital part of our human sur- vival, the immune response also can cause common, life-altering difficul- ties. Keeping this system of our body in balance is a continuous struggle, often requiring various strategies to keep it in check. ❑ Dr. Lewis is a primary-care internal medicine physician at Premier Internists/ Millennium Medical Group PC in Southfield.