Watch: Why do we get seasonal allergies?
Why do we get seasonal allergies? And why do they make us so miserable? STAT explains the science of sneezing during springtime in a new video.
There’s nothing better than a beautiful spring day after a long, cold winter. But there’s nothing worse than having that day ruined by the sneezing, sniffling, and itching that come with seasonal allergies.
Scientists don’t actually completely understand why we get seasonal allergies. The best estimation is that they’re an immune response to toxins in the natural environment that pollen also happens to trigger. That immune response begins with the production of IgE antibodies to combat the pollen. The antibodies link up with mast cells, and together they’re a ticking time bomb. When more allergens come along, they activate all those horrible symptoms.
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