Allergy
If you have allergies, you're probably well aware that the sneezin' season is upon us. During the warm weather months, pollen from trees, weeds, and grasses fills the air and finds its way into the noses and throats of just about everyone. For most people, this is no problem. For many others, however, exposure to these tiny airborne particles brings on the sneezing and coughing, watering eyes and itchy throat characteristic of "hay fever," pollen allergy's more common nickname. More than just a seasonal nuisance, pollen allergy is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States, affecting about 10 percent of the population.
Other types of allergies, such as those to certain foods, molds, or pets, for example, cause much suffering too. Allergies also are a significant trigger of asthma. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), plays a leading role in the search for the causes of allergy, and for ways to diagnose, treat and prevent allergic diseases.
Other Allergy-Related Links
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