Everything You Need to Know About Allergies

Wiki Article

What is an Allergy?
Allergies occur when a person’s immune system overreacts to substances that are normally harmless.

The first time a person is exposed to an allergen, they usually do not experience a reaction. It often takes time for the immune system to develop sensitivity to a substance.

Over time, the immune system learns to recognize and remember the allergen. As it does this, it starts making antibodies to attack it when exposed. This construct is called sensitivity.

Some allergies are seasonal. For example, hay fever symptoms may peak between April and May, when tree and grass pollen counts are high in the air. A person may experience more severe reactions as the pollen count increases.