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Everything to Know About Allergies

Sometimes the immune system attacks itself, causing a dizzying set of symptoms that can leave us incapacitated.

By Sara Novak
Oct 6, 2022 3:10 PMOct 6, 2022 3:11 PM
Allergies
(Credit: Damir Khabirov/Shutterstock)

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The minute you step outside or open the windows, you feel it: First, your throat gets scratchy and your eyes begin to water. A few minutes later, you’re sneezing. The next day, you wake up to a full set of symptoms — a runny nose, itchy eyes and a sinus headache.

For some, allergies occur in the spring, when the pollen count ticks up. Others are plagued in the fall, when ragweed begins blooming. Still others suffer year-round. But what exactly causes allergies? What’s happening in the body’s immune system to cause such an overwhelming reaction?

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