ЯЗВА ДВЕНАДЦАТИПЕРСТНОЙ КИШКИ – DUODENAL ULCER

‘Not only will men of science have to grapple with the sciences that deal with man, hut—and this is a Jar more difficult matter— they will have to persuade the world to listen to what they have discovered. If they cannot succeed in this difficult enterprise, man will destroy himself by his halfway cleverness.’

Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970

An allergy is an over-reaction of the body’s immune system in its efforts to protect the body against what it (the immune system) perceives to be a threat. When resistance is down, sensitivities are up and allergies easily develop.

The immune system is the body’s main line of defense against invading foreign substances that can damage it. It is made up of the white blood cells, known as lymphocytes. These are clumped together in lymphoid tissue, which is found in the spleen, the lining of the small and large intestines and the lymph nodes of the neck, armpits and groin. The lymph nodes are well evident during periods of infection when they swell up arid are frequently referred to as ‘swollen glands’.

When a foreign substance enters the body, the lymphocytes become sensitised by its presence and produce special proteins, called antibodies, which circulate in the blood until they make contact with and destroy the foreign substance.

Collectively, these foreign substances are known as antigens and may come in many different shapes and forms—viruses, bacteria, fungi, toxic chemicals from polluted water and air, and the preservatives and colourings in artificial foods. Evidence suggests that the major toxin (acetaldehyde) released into the blood by the yeast Candida albicans is a potent antigen.

In rendering the antigen harmless to the body, the antibodies have given us an immunity to that antigen. Once sensitised by an antigen, the lymphocytes remember that antigen and, in some cases, are able to successfully produce antibodies against it for the rest of our lives. In this way we enjoy lifelong immune protection from that substance. The diseases measles and chicken pox are good examples. Once contracted in childhood, our resistance to them usually becomes so great that they seldom bother us again through life.

Unfortunately, not all immune systems function perfectly all of the time. Sometimes there are imbalances in the immune system (resulting from imbalances in the body’s metabolism) that give rise to excesses in the immune reaction. These excesses cause side effects and these side effects are known as allergic reactions.

Allergic reactions occur when there is an excess of histamine released into the blood and tissues.

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