Medical Resources: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Online

The body’s immune system is possibly the primary deciding factor in one’s overall health. Issues with the immune system can cause everything from minor health issues to life threatening attacks. The most common recurring issues with the immune system are allergies and asthma. However, immunology (the study of the immune system) covers a vast array of health issues and diseases. The following will provide information on these topics with additional resources.

Allergy

An allergy is a reaction by the immune system to a foreign substance, such as food, pollen, insect venom or dander. The immune system naturally produces antibodies to protect the body from things that could make it sick or infected. Sometimes, the immune system recognizes things that are not harmful (such as the above mentioned substances) and creates those antibodies when it shouldn’t, causing an allergic reaction. This can affect the skin, sinuses, digestive system or breathing and can cause only minor irritation or could be life threatening. Although they cannot be cured, there are many treatments to eliminate or reduce reactions. Allergies can be treated with antihistamines, as well as other medications, allergy shots for severe allergies, and a shot of epinephrine in cases where anaphylactic shock may occur.

  • Overview This site provides a general idea of what allergies are and their cause.
  • Allergies This article provides detailed information on what allergies are, the reactions they cause, how they are diagnosed and how they are treated.
  • Symptoms and Types This article provides an overview of the types of allergies and their symptoms.
  • Allergy Causes Provides an overview of the many different causes of allergies.
  • Diagnosing Allergies This site provides detailed information on how allergies are typically diagnosed.
  • Food Allergies This site provides detailed information on food allergies.
  • Epidemiology This article details the epidemiology of peanut allergies.
  • Allergy Statistics This article provides an overview of how many people are affected by allergies and what kinds.
  • Recognized Allergens This site provides a list of the recognized sources of allergens, whether animal, food or plant-based.
  • The History of Allergies This article provides a comprehensive overview of the history of allergies and its study.

Asthma

Asthma causes the airways to narrow and/or swell, producing extra mucus that makes breathing either difficult or impossible. It usually occurs in reaction to an allergic trigger, though one type of asthma is not the result of an allergic reaction. Symptoms of this health issue are usually coughing, wheezing and difficulty catching one’s breath, and asthma can either be minor or life threatening. While it cannot be cured, it can be controlled. This usually involves several lifestyle changes, including avoiding asthma triggers, and medication that prevents flare-ups. It is also common for those suffering from asthma to use an inhaler to relieve an oncoming attack. Asthma has a tendency to change over time, making it important to work closely with a doctor to control it.

Immunology

Immunology is the part of medical science that studies the immune system. This includes disorders such as autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivity, asthma and allergies. Due to the vast range of immunology, it is broken down into several secondary branches. These can include classical immunology, clinical immunology, developmental immunology, immunotherapy, diagnostic immunology, evolutionary immunology and reproductive immunology.