Allergies. It seems that everyone has them and everyone has an opinion about how to live with them. What are people allergic to? Everything. Dogs, cats, pollen, insects, peanuts, dairy products, even cockroaches. Allergies are caused by an overreaction of the body's immune system to something that is harmless to most people but not to that person with an allergy. Whatever they're allergic to:(called an allergen), is considered an invader by their body. The body reacts to the invader by attacking it.

The tendency to develop allergies is often hereditary. But that doesn't mean that everyone in your family or every one of your children will get allergies. And there are some children that have allergies even if NO family member is allergic.

Airborne Allergies

Some of the signs and symptoms of airborne allergens are:

itching eyes, nose, and throat
allergic Shiners (dark circles under the eyes)
crease mark on the nose caused by continual upward rubbing of
the nose
watering eyes
coughing
postnasal drip
sneezing that is often accompanied by a runny or clogged nose

Dust Mites: These microscopic insects live all around us. They are the most common cause of allergies. They feed on the millions of dead skin cells that fall off our bodies. Dust mites live in your beds, the upholstery, and the carpet.

Pet Allergies (dog allergies / cat allergies): Pet allergies are caused when warm-blooded animals lick themselves. Their saliva gets on their fur. When the saliva dries, the protein particles from the saliva become airborne. These airborne particles work themselves into the different fabrics of the home.

Food Allergies

Some signs and symptoms of food allergies are:

itchy mouth and throat when food is swallowed
hives (raised, red, itchy bumps)
rash
runny, itchy nose
abdominal cramps accompanied by nausea and vomiting or diarrhea (this is caused by the body trying to flush out the
food)
difficulty breathing
shock

Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies are often caused by pollen. Pollen allergies are often called "hay fever" or "rose fever". Pollen comes from trees, grasses, and weeds. These plants release tiny particles into the air to fertilize other plants. They are called "seasonal allergies" because pollen only falls during specific seasons of the year.

Asthma

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. The signs and symptoms of asthma are:

wheezing
breathlessness
chest

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