: Why do allergic reactions specifically swell up the throat?
In: 22
Allergic reactions cause the body to release histamines. Histamines are chemicals that are released by the body in response to a foreign substance, like pollen. One of the effects of histamines is to cause the blood vessels to dilate. This dilation causes fluid to leak out of the blood vessels and into the tissues. The fluid accumulates in the tissues and causes swelling. The swelling can occur in any area that has been exposed to the allergen, but it is most common in the throat because that is where most allergens enter the body.
>Why do allergic reactions specifically swell up the throat?
They don’t. That swelling might happen in many different [parts of the body](https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/painful-swollen-right-hand-adult-female-burmese-patient-caused-exercise-injury-trauma-tight-bandaging-nerve-182437796.jpg). It’s just the swelling in your throat that’s a problem because, unlike a swollen hand, it will *kill*.
They… Don’t.
Generally, the allergic reaction takes place where there is contact with the allergen. Obviously, all alimentary allergies swell up the throat because that is where the allergen is entering.
If you get stung by a bee in your hand, there will generally be a local reaction there, and your hand (not your throat) will swell up.
When you have very very very bad allergies (anaphylaxis) reaction switches from local to general, so your whole body will swell up (including throat)
You also have to take into account that almost any little inflamation in your throat is detected because of its possibility of being fatal if it keeps on going, whereas a swollen hand is really not a problem so your body will basically ignore it.
These answers talking about global body inflammation sound pretty accurate. It is more concentrated where the allergen is introduced, but histamine does effect the whole body.
I have mild allergies and will feel pressure in my lungs, and or a throat tickle, and or mild coughing until I can get away and the allergen has cleared out of my system. So allergy doesn’t always cause extreme swelling to the point of blocking airway completely, but if that happens that when you’d take an epi pen. I have an allergy inhaler that delivers the meds to the lungs directly as a powder. It dilates the bronchioles to allow air to pass through, while the body continues to metabolize the allergens and clear it away.
I feel the swelling in my face and a tickle in my ears as well, and notice that I will get indents on my body from seems or waistband or just setting my arms somewhere, because of (mild) swelling.
The bronchioles are small air passages, and even small amounts of swelling can be very uncomfortable and life threatening.
Latest Answers