Allergies are a common problem with symptoms ranging from the occasional sniffle to severe, life-threatening reactions.
According to WebMD, 55 percent of the U.S. population tests positive to one or more allergens. So, if allergies are this common, what exactly are they?
Allergies happen when your immune system has a reaction to something it considers harmful (even if it isn’t) and in response produces antibodies.
Normally these antibodies help protect us from from infection and illness, but with an allergic reaction, the antibodies can cause many unpleasant symptoms, including inflammation of the sinuses, airway, skin, and digestive tract. People can be allergic to many things, including certain foods, pet dander, medications, pollen, mold, and insect bites.
