What are allergies? Allergies can be seasonal like pollens and molds causing itchy eyes and stuffy noses, they can be caused by smoke or foods like peanuts, or they can be caused by your immune system like with diabetes.
Allergies, in the broadest sense of the word, are the things that people are adversely affected by. A more narrow definition, having to do with allergens like pollen and mold in the air, are seasonal allergies. This affects the vast majority of Americans. The classic allergy patient has trouble with eye, ear, nose or throat irritation. The most common allergy symptoms include drainage or stuffy nose, itchy red eyes and infection. Literature states that 1 in 4 people have allergies. I would imagine 3 out of 4 are affected at some time or another by a stuffy nose or irritated eyes.
Most people just have mild seasonal allergies but allergies run the whole range. Some people have severe reactions to everything. In fact, people can even have reactions to themselves. I have patients who are literally allergic to their husbands. Some kids can eat peanuts and die from the reaction. Cigarette smoke makes my nose stop and I can't breathe.
