I am one of those annoying people who never get allergies. But a couple of family members are allergic to various things. I got curious about this and decided to do a little research on allergies.

I found out that the correct medical term for plain old hay fever is "allergic rhinitis"a more elegant way to describe sneezing, watery eyes and a runny nose.

And we've all heard about being allergic to cats. Scientists say most allergic reactions are caused by a protein secreted by cats. Some people are just naturally sensitive to this.

An allergy is technically defined as a hypersensitivity to foreign substances which are normally harmless, but which produce a violent reaction in the allergy sufferer. It's your body's way of telling you that you are coming into contact with something that is not healthy for you.

Symptoms include a runny, stuffy nose, fits of sneezing, coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing. Sometimes you get itchy eyes, ears, nose and throat. Other symptoms are migraine, digestive problems and rashes and hives developing on your skin.

Allergies do not suddenly develop. A person becomes allergic to a substance following repeated exposures to it over a period of weeks, months or sometimes years. Doctors call this interval the period of sensitization (becoming allergic). Once this happens, allergy symptoms will develop each time you are exposed to the substance. And it takes only a small amount to trigger the symptoms.

The most common type of allergies are caused by exposure to pollen, plants, trees and dust in the air. Here in the Southwest grasses and weeds that cause allergies include Bermuda and Grama grass, Russian thistle, sagebrush and alfalfa. Trees and shrubs known to produce allergenic pollen include Chinese elm, cottonwood, juniper and sycamore. Some people are allergic to the pecan tree.

And then there's that unseen creature that some are allergic to, the house dust mite. These are microscopic creatures found in house dust. Maybe you've seen blown-up pictures of them. They look fierce, but they are so tiny that they live in mattresses, pillows, bed sheets and bedroom carpet as well as in living room upholstered furniture. They feed on human skin scales, and no matter how much you vacuum and change your bed linen, they are always with us.

Allergenic insects in the Southwest are also a problem. The sting of honey bees, yellow jackets, paper wasps, harvester ants and fire ants can cause

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