So I know that in an anaphylaxis response we give Adrenaline or epinephrine for USA friends. My understanding is that we do this to counteract the body’s response to an allergen.
So we’re stopping our body overreacting and killing us.
So what’s actually dangerous about the allergen? Either now or way back when this response was ingrained into our DNA… like is it to avoid an upset stomach of a peanut? To stop nausea following a shellfish?
In: Biology
Nearly all allergens are proteins or substances that bind with proteins when they enter the body and that’s what triggers the immune response. It’s still not clear why certain allergens cause different people to have reactions but are harmless to most other people.
Unfortunately it’s an incredibly complicated question, hundreds of substances have been identified as allergens and there is no clear or definitive single factor that links all or even most of them.
Meanwhile there are a number of theories as to why allergies exist, and they include to try and avoid or protect against dangerous substances, but the sheer volume and variety of reactions makes it hard to pin down any one theory. It’s more than likely a combination of many factors.
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