WHEN SNEEZIN'S IN SEASON - A PRIMER.

Allergies---Fast Facts

Why me? It's a beautiful day, the flowers are in full bloom and while everyone else is smelling the roses, you're blowing your nose - again and again. If you have allergies, you may feel alone among all those lucky nature lovers out there who are breezing while you're sneezing. But, you have a lot of company. As many as 40 million adults and kids in the United States suffer from seasonal allergies.

Pollen Problem? Pollens are natural plant spores. These pollens may drift through the air to help flower our world. However, these microscopic particles also can trigger seasonal allergic reactions. And when they're in season, a breath of fresh air can cause sniffles and sneezes.

Your "pollen police." If you're allergic to pollen, your immune system identifies it as an intruder. Your body responds by producing IgE antibodies, which bind to your "mast cells" (in your tissue) and "basophils" (in your blood stream). In turn, the mast cells and basophils release histamines, which spark your allergic reaction - sneezing, runny nose and red itchy eyes. A doctor may prescribe an antihistamine to relieve the symptoms caused by histamine.

What's your IgE count? Allergy sufferers may have higher levels of the antibody IgE in their system. It may cause your immune system to overreact to what it perceives as threatening invaders entering your respiratory system, like pollen.