ORLANDO, Fla. – Coughing, sneezing, and difficulty breathing are all signs and symptoms of allergies. More than 100 million Americans have them, making allergies the sixth leading cause of sickness in the U.S.
Allergies are the body’s response to foreign items in your system.
Traditional ways to treat it include antihistamines, dietary changes, or herbal remedies, but a researcher at the University of Central Florida has discovered a new approach to treating allergies that could possibly eliminate them.
“We are exposed to allergens, we mount a specific kind of immune response – it’s called a Type 2 response,” explained Justine Tigno-Aranjuez, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Burnett School of Biomedical Science at the University of Central Florida.
Tigno-Aranjuez and her team at UCF are looking into redefining allergy treatment with a technique called LRC TriCeps, which identifies a cell receptor for common allergens. The research demonstrated the allergen and a common receptor, LMAN1, binding together to inhibit the allergic reaction.
It was a groundbreaking discovery.
“We have the potential to, potentially, you know, modify the disease course, or there’s a potential for it to have a greater effect than just trying to, basically, suppress the symptoms,” Tigno-Aranjuez said.
Currently, the best way to prevent your allergies from flaring up is by avoiding those allergens. Also, vacuum and dust often, and change out your air filters at least every two to three months.