Similarly to asthma, allergy is something that has increased among the population during the last 25 years. One in three persons has some kind of allergy. It is not known why some people are affected by allergies and some are not. Allergies can arise at any time during our lifetime but are most common among children and people in their youth. It is known that the risk of becoming allergic is much greater if one of the parents already suffers from some kind of allergy and even more so if both of the parents have the same type of allergy or asthma.

What does allergy mean?

Allergy means that the body reacts differently to substances which are in our surroundings. It is the immune system that is reacting. All humans have an immune system which protects us from substances which can be harmful to our bodies, for example bacteria and viruses. The immune system in other words keeps us healthy. When you have an allergic reaction the immune system is not working as it should. It is not only trying to protect you from harmful substances but is also reacting towards substances which are not harmful for you such as pollens and pet hair. The body is forming antibodies against these different substances. The substance or substances to which you become allergic are called allergens. The most common allergens which can be airborne for a very long time are grass and tree pollens, mites and pet hairs.

How does an allergic reaction feel?

When the immune system is protecting us from for example pollens it can be difficult to breathe, the nose can be clogged or runny and the eyes can itch. The body has responded with an allergic reaction which causes inflammation in for example your air pipes (bronchus), nose or eyes. The most common symptom is a runny nose and sneezing attacks which can cause you to have headaches and give you a feeling of fatigue. If you only feel the allergy symptoms in the spring or in the summer this can be related to pollen and mold spores in the outdoor air but if it is more or less all year round then it can be something in your surroundings that you are sensitive towards for example pet hairs, mites, birds or something in the food.

It can, however, also be that you are sensitive towards different things without necessarily being allergic. You can get a sensitive reaction to tobacco smoke or cold air and react in a similar way as if you were allergic. The reason for this can be hyperactive mucus membranes.

Why are allergies getting more common?

Allergies are becoming more common and a possible reason for this is that more people live in cities instead of in the country-side. This means that people living in cities will be exposed to higher levels of pollution and other substances in the air and in the water since more people are using cars, detergents, chemicals and so on in these areas and there is not a natural dilution of these harmful substances which was the case when the population was more scattered. Another factor is that we are living differently compared to before, our home environment is different, our houses are built differently. We also eat differently and use different substances and preservatives in our foods. Furthermore, we are exposing ourselves to chemicals to a larger extent when it comes to cleaning, washing, using makeup and so on. The infections we are having today are also different. All of these factors among many more are causing us to become more allergic.

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