Allergy

Allergies are caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. Among the reactions are red, itchy and watery eyes, drippy or stuffy nose and sneezing (hay fever), wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath (asthma), upset stomach (food allergy), a rash called hives. or a swollen face. 

The word "allergy" was first used by Clemens von Pirquet in 1906. The term arose from the German 'Allergie,' in turn from Greek 'ailos' (different) and 'ergon' (action). it was not until about the 1950s that the word allergy became generally familiar in English.

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ALLERGIES IN HISTORY

Melville Bissell had a china shop in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was allergic to the dusty straw scattered on the floor after unpacking china from crates. So, he invented the first carpet sweeper in 1876 to clean up the mess and protect his sinuses.

William Halsted, the professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, introduced rubber surgical gloves for use in the operating theater in 1890. They were not for the patient's sake but to protect the operating-room nurse, his fiancée, whose hands were allergic to antiseptics.

FAMOUS PEOPLE'S ALLERGIES

Harrison Schmitt, the last man to walk on the moon, had an allergic reaction to moondust.

Bill Clinton is allergic to many things including cat dander, dairy products, pollen and Christmas

trees.

Pollen

Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe, the most successful athlete at the 2000 Summer Olympics, is allergic to chlorine. 

Despite spending half his career in the saddle, Clint Eastwood is allergic to horses.

Lee Pearson, winner of ten Paralympic gold medals for dressage, is allergic to horses.

Beyoncé's six editions of Heat are the world's best-selling celebrity fragrance line. Despite, this Beyoncé is allergic to perfumes and wears special ordered perfumes which are chemically altered to protect her from bad reactions.

FOOD ALLERGIES

In the developed world, about 6% of people have at least one food allergy,

Just eight foods account for 90% of all food allergies—tree nuts, eggs, soy, peanuts, fish, shellfish, milk, and wheat.

More people are allergic to cow's milk than any other food.

North Carolina had the highest number of newly diagnosed food allergy patients in 2016. In contrast, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Vermont ranked as the best states for food allergies.

Bone marrow and solid organ transplant recipients can develop the same food allergies as the transplant donor.

People with fish allergy are unlikely to be allergic to shellfish, because fish and shellfish do not have the same allergenic protein.

Most people with chocolate allergies are actually allergic to the roaches present in them and not the chocolate itself . FDA deems up to 60 insect parts in 100 gm of chocolates as safe for consumption as anything less than that would require more expensive processing and pesticide use.

FUN ALLERGY FACTS

Worldwide, the most common environmental allergy is dust.

A 2018 NCBI research found a significant correlation between marijuana use and sensitivity rates to common allergens such as dust mites, molds, pollen, and cat dander.

Americans spend an estimated $500 million each year on allergy treatments.

People with allergies can lower their allergic reactions by laughing.

Some cats are allergic to humans.

Flies are thought to be allergic to fennel. In powdered form it is sometimes used to keep flies away from horses.