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
The dangerous thing about an allergen is that it looks enough like something that’s actually dangerous – like a virus or a bacteria – for some people’s bodies to confuse it for one, and think it needs to go on high alert to defeat it.
That’s why many allergens have proteins in them – really what you’re reacting to is a particular protein that is in that thing.
But of course, the allergen isn’t actually dangerous. Only your body’s reaction to it is.
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