First Stage: Exposure to the Allergen Allergens can either be eaten, inhaled, or touched; they can also enter your body through a cavity via a bite of your flesh. A few examples of an allergen include pollen, dust, wheat, dairy, cleaning chemicals, pollution, and smoke. Once the allergen has entered the body, the reaction can happen in a matter of seconds, to a few hours. Second Stage: Early Allergic Reaction If you suffer from allergies, it is often due to your immune system misinterpreting the material as a foreign invader trying to attack the body. Your body will naturally respond by trying to eliminate or rid of the allergen; the immune cells will start to release histamines and other mediators which make the capillaries permeable for the white blood cells to attack the “invader”. However, this overreaction will oftentimes cause inflammation, which can lead to: • Allergic rhinitis • Asthma • Hives • Diarrhea • Vomiting • Swelling • Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis is one of the more serious symptoms that can be potentially life-threatening. If you suffer from anaphylactic shock – which is also known as an anaphylactic reaction – your blood pressure will immediately drop, the muscles within your lungs will start to become constricted, and the airways will become blocked due to swelling. If this starts to occur to you or someone you know, call 9-1-1 immediately, especially if they are having sudden breathing problems. Third Stage: Late Allergic Reaction Late allergic reaction is often preceded by an earlier allergic reaction to the body, which may not react at all until a few hours after the initial exposure to the allergen. This delayed reaction will generally reach its peak around six to nine hours after your body has been exposed to the allergen. These late symptoms will often include the skin appearing red, warm, look swollen, and you may experience pain and labored breathing. While a late reaction is due to the mast cells continuing to attract inflammatory cells, such as lymphocytes, and basophils, the symptoms from this subside within one to two days.