What You Need To Know About Allergies ? (1)

What are allergies?

Pollen, mold, peanuts, pets -- Seemingly harmless things can trigger your body's immune system to overreact. This can mean days of sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose or more severe problems, such as rashes, breathing difficulties, asthma attacks or even death.

About 50 million Americans suffer from some kind of allergy, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Allergens, or triggers to allergies, can be foods, insects or particles in the air such as mold and pollen.

When someone with an allergy is exposed to a trigger, his or her immune system produces antibodies and chemicals to fight what the body perceives as an invader. This battle is what produces the symptoms.

Sources: National Institutes of Health, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology