Roughly thirty million people are victims of hay fever. Another twelve million or so suffer reactions to allergens such as cat dander, dust mites, mildew and mold spores, grass pollen, sulfites and latex. Some allergies are a mere inconvenience for some producing symptoms such as sneezing, sniffling or itching. For others it can be life-threatening.
What is an allergy?
Allergies are overreactions of your immune system to allergens. The immune system is alerted when foreign substances, such as bacteria, viruses and toxins enter the body or make contact with the skin. Most of the time the body can adapt to allergens, but if it tries to reject them, the immune system works overtime and may cause an allergic influx of toxins and the body becomes chronically sensitive. The body fights the invasion by releasing and excess of histamine that is responsible for several forms of discomfort, such as skin rashes, runny nose, congestion and itchy eyes, as well as more severe, life-threatening reactions.
Spring is traditionally a time of rebirth, filled with blooming flowers and warm, sunny days, but the season also marks the beginning of months of sneezing, wheezing and sinus congestion for many individuals. The warm weather and bursting blooms mean the release of countless airborne pollens and molds. It's the beginning of the spring allergy season. From February or March through October, microscopic pollen grains from the trees, grasses, weeds, and mold spores take flight and eventually find their way into our airways. While these tiny "invaders" are needed for the plant regeneration that occurs each spring, they mean nothing but trouble for millions of people.
Pollens and mold can trigger seasonal allergic rhinitis, commonly called hay fever. In fact, nearly 36 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis, which causes more than eight million physician visits yearly for various symptoms. An allergy is an abnormal reaction to an ordinarily harmless substance, such as pollen or mold. Simply, it is an overreaction to something the body views as an "invader." When an allergen such as pollen enters the body and comes in contact with the lining of the nose, the immune system of an allergic individual initiates a chain reaction to protect itself. White blood cells, known as lymphocytes, produce antibodies which cause the release of chemical mediators such as histamine. Histamine and other chemicals cause the classic allergy symptoms, including runny nose, water eyes and sneezing.