Even if you’re not, you must have had a friend around you who is allergic to something. There are people who are allergic to milk, eggs, many nuts and even wheat.. In addition, these are among the most common allergenic foods.

One of the most salient issues about allergies is the number of people with allergies and allergies The ever-increasing variety of foods that cause allergies.

The allergy rate is constantly increasing, both in our country and in the world.

The proportion of people with allergies in the world’s population is approx. There are studies showing that it has doubled in 50 years; In addition, the number of people with allergies is believed to be 3-4 times the known number.

The situation is no different in Turkey. President of the Turkish National Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Prof. Dr. Bulent Sekerel, He says the incidence of allergies in Turkey has doubled in the past 10 years.

Many different studies are being conducted on the subject and why we have more allergies than before we try to understand. However, it is not possible to pinpoint one reason. Different studies reveal different causes of allergies.

Let’s briefly understand allergy: what is it, why does it happen?

A patient who has undergone an allergy test

Allergy is actually a ‘misunderstanding’ of our immune system. Suppose you have a milk allergy. When milk enters your body, your immune system treats milk as a harmful invader. and that’s how it defines it.

Then, every time this “invader” enters the body, the immune system quickly and actually recognizes it what we can call ‘extraction effort’ It causes some reactions. However, in some cases, anaphylaxis, known as allergic shock, may be experienced in addition to these reactions.

During anaphylaxis, the immune system suddenly releases chemicals, causing a series of changes in the body. Blood pressure drops, the airways constrict and at the same time reactions such as swelling and redness occur on the skin. Breathing becomes difficult, oxygen circulation in the body becomes difficult. This situation, which is quite dangerous, can lead to death.

More common in people who consume allergenic foods redness of the skin, swelling, shortness of breath, sneezing, effects such as runny nose, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, bloating in the stomach, indigestion, watery eyes, eczema on the skin, hives, asthma.

These effects can be formed according to the way the allergen enters the body. While food allergies cause more intense stomach and intestinal problems Allergies such as pollen allergy are more effective in the nose, eyes and throat.

What are we most allergic to?

The most common food allergies worldwide are as follows;

• Cow’s milk
• Egg
• The fish
• Peanut
• Nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, etc.)
• shellfish
• Soy
• Wheat
• Legumes
• Sesame

We have finally come to our most important question: Why is allergy on the rise?

Of course, the researchers, determining the continuous increase with the available data, asked this question and searched profusely for answers. unfortunately “This is the reason 100%” There is not one answer we can say.

However, the results obtained from the studies allow us to arrive at general information. Graham Rook, a professor of medical microbiology at University College London, believes food allergy does ‘undoubtedly’ increased; He says one of the reasons is our new lifestyle. urban modern manhave more allergies…

According to Rook, our microbiota is changing as people are no longer as intertwined with nature as they used to be. This too our body can meet fewer microorganisms, It means that he does not recognize many microorganisms that he can even recognize in nature and develop reflexes.

This situation regarding the link between microbiota and allergy is also supported by some data. for example Allergy in babies born by cesarean section It is more common in babies born by normal delivery. It is thought that this situation may be due to the fact that the baby has never encountered some of the beneficial bacteria that he will get into his body when he leaves the birth canal due to a cesarean section.

Similarly, a relationship between the amount of antibiotic use and the incidence of allergies points to the same situation. More Allergy rates are higher in children taking antibiotics get out. The use of antibiotics destroys the beneficial bacteria by damaging the bacterial flora in the intestines. It is often said that unconscious antibiotics should not be used for such reasons.

Another reason is the emphasis on vitamin D. Spending less and less time outdoors and Start taking less vitamin D There is some research to support the view that modern humans’ immune systems may have been compromised and become more receptive to allergens.

However, there is no agreement on one point. Because some studies show that the rate of vitamin D is higher after birth. It also shows that allergy rates in infants are on the rise. Experts say that too little or too much vitamin D can be linked to allergies.

Scientists are drawing attention to the need for a better understanding of allergies, which can even have fatal consequences. It is emphasized that the investigation into the causes will continue.

• Sources: Turkish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy/Dr. Robert H. Oliver, Johns Hopkins Medicine, National Health Service UK, Scientific American, The Epidemiology of Food Allergy in the Global Context, Global Trends in Anaphylaxis Epidemiology and Clinical Implications, Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, BBC Future