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Showing posts with the label immune system running wild

What Is an Allergic Reaction?

Some people sneeze like crazy. Others get itchy hives or watery eyes. But whatever the reaction, it boils down to one thing: allergies.If you have allergies, you have lots of company. As many as 30% of U.S. adults and 40% of children are in the same boat as you.While your problem may seem to start in the nose or the eyes, allergies actually come from an immune system running wild.Learning why these reactions happen can help you keep things under control and feel better. Why Allergic Reactions Happen Your immune system has an important job: to defend your body from invaders such as bacteria and viruses that mean you harm. But when it makes war on substances it shouldn’t, that’s an allergy. Peanuts, eggs, or pollen, for example, can trigger reactions. They are called allergens. During a reaction, your immune system releases antibodies. These are proteins that deliver a message to cells: Stop that substance! The cells then send out histamine, which causes blood vessels to expand, and...