Allergies

Common Symptoms:

• Sneezing and Runny nose (Rhinitis)

• Frequent sinus or airway infections

• Hives and Rashes

• Stomach pain or Diarrhea

• Nasal Congestion

• Shortness of Breath

• Itchy Throat

What causes Allergies? 

Allergies occur when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance — such as pollen, bee venom or pet dander. 

Your immune system produces “tags” known as antibodies to identify a particular substance as harmful, even though it may not be harmful. There are different types of Antibodies that result in different reactions. IgE antibodies tend to cause a more immediate reaction whereas IgG antibodies tend to cause slower reactions that may not appear for 2-3 days.

When you come into contact with the allergen, your immune system produces cytokines and histamine to get rid of that substance. Cytokines and histamine result in inflammation to skin, sinuses, airways or digestive system and symptoms in those areas.