By: Krysten C.

It’s April. That means one thing for many people across the country: Allergy Season. And with an abnormally mild winter, allergy season is already well on its way. Prepare yourself and get the information you need to survive this year’s allergies with DiscountFilters.com’s April Allergy Kit. This week, we’ll be covering the basics so that the battle can begin against your immune system’s worst spring enemy.

What is an allergy?

According to WebMD, “Allergies are an abnormal response of the immune system.”¹ This means that people who have and suffer from allergies react to particles in the air and environment that are otherwise harmless. These particles are called allergens.

What is an allergen?

There are an endless amount of allergens in our environment that are capable of causing reactions. These allergens can be broken into groups: general food allergens, vegetarian food allergens, herbs and spice allergens, and inhalant (airborne) allergens.

While food allergens are certainly something to pay attention to and be aware of year-round, we will focus on airborne allergens for protection against spring allergies.

Common airborne allergens include²:

• Dust mites
• Indoor mold
• Pet dander
• Pollen

For an allergens list: http://www.rmalab.com/assets/files/pdf/collection-instructions/allergens-list.pdf

Why do you get allergies?

Allergies are typically contributed to family history. If one parent has allergies, it is possible for children to inherit a tendency towards allergies. If both parents have allergies, this tendency is doubled.¹

Allergies can also heighten before, during, and after a person is sick due to a lower immunity, as well as when you are in a high allergen environment frequently.³

What are some allergy symptoms?³

• Coughing
• Fatigue
• Hives or rash
• Itchy, red, watery eyes
• Itchy, runny nose
• Itchy throat
• Sinus pressure
• Dark circles under the eyes

With this, we hope to clear some of your questions about allergies. Have more questions? Ask us! You can send any questions right here on our blog, as well as on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Don’t forget to tune in for April Allergy Kit Week 2: Allergy Prevention.

Sources:

1: http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/allergy-basics

2: http://www.purezoneallergyrelief.com

3: http://www.allergyactionplan.com/allergy101.html#