Why do some people get allergies while others don't? Why are some people seemingly more adept at dealing with them while others suffer daily? A group of immunologists led by Yuxia Zhang recently sought to answer these questions by studying more than 1,000 babies.
Zhang specifically studied food allergies. While we normally don't cover these types of allergies, we thought the study was particularly interesting because it pointed out how complex all allergies are. By figuring out why some people develop food allergies more than other sufferers, scientists may be able to solve mysteries relating to seasonal allergies.
After studying the babies, Zhang's team discovered that people who develop hyperactive immune cells at birth were more likely to develop allergies later in life. "We found a link between children who had hyperactive immune cells at birth and the development of allergies to milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat and other common foods their first years of life," said Zhang. Signals from these cells "encouraged the development of immune responses by specialized immune cells called T cells that were predisposed to cause allergic reactions to some foods."
Zhang's study also mirrors previous research which indicates that as people get older they are more likely to develop seasonal allergies. Could there be a link between the two?
As research continues, there's plenty of ways you can manage your allergies this winter. Protect yourself from mold, mold spores and dust by cleaning your home regularly.
For more information on proper allergy management techniques and allergy control products, visit Allergy Be Gone today.
