So I have never really been all that sick. But as of this winter, I have been very sick. Off and on now for maybe three months I have been experiencing common cold symptoms. Now the odd thing is that, though I have runny noses and sore throats, maybe even a headache... I don't actually feel all that "sick". You know when you get sick, you become clammy and tired and sluggish--can't think etc. But now, I have all the symptoms but those! Everyone in my household has had the same problem for about the same amount of time... so my mom went in to the doctor. The doctor said within seconds of diagnosis, that she wasn't sick at all! He accredited it to allergies... Allergies? I have never had any allergies all my life... nor has my brother. Now my mom has allergies, but to things like pollen or ragweed where she breaks out in hives and has to blow here nose. NEVER has she had lung issues and throat issues from those plants, let alone in the winter... So I got to thinking... why allergies and why now? Maybe I was crazy, but now I am not sure if I am...

At school, I see many people "developing" allergies. Not to anything specific mind you, just to "winter". My mom works at both a nursing home and hospital and she says she sees the same thing there, and now I am beginning to be confused, as well as a little bit scared... So...

Allergies. What are they?

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Allergies are pretty common. Both genes and environmental factors play a role.

The immune system normally protects the body against harmful substances, such as bacteria and viruses. It also reacts to foreign substances called allergens, which are generally harmless and in most people do not cause a problem.

But in a person with allergies, the immune response is oversensitive. When it recognizes an allergen, it releases chemicals such as histamines. which fight off the allergen. This causes allergy symptoms.

Common allergens include:
Drugs
Dust
Food
Insect bites
Mold
Pet dander
Pollen

Some people have allergy-like reactions to hot or cold temperatures, sunlight, or other environmental triggers. Sometimes, friction (rubbing or roughly stroking the skin) will cause symptoms.

A specific allergy is not usually passed down through families (inherited). However, if both your parents have allergies, you are likely to have allergies. The chance is greater if your mother has allergies.

Allergies may make certain medical conditions such as sinus problems, eczema, and asthma worse.

Late-Onset Allergies

Another reason why patients can develop allergies later in life is that they were not exposed to the item producing the allergy symptoms, and then they become exposed later in life. A great example of this is when people move, especially from one country to another and are exposed to new types of plants, trees, grasses or even indoor allergens like dust mites. It usually takes a few years after moving to the new location that these patients will develop the allergic antibody (IgE) to these new items and then develop the common allergic symptoms.

Allergies are a significant health risk reaching epidemic proportions. One in four people suffer from allergies and as many as one in two in urban areas. It is estimated that greater than 60 million Americans are affected. The financial toll on patients, employers, and the healthcare system is greater than $18 billion per year. It is among the country's most common, yet overlooked diseases. Despite the clinical and financial impact, few seek proper diagnosis and disease management.

Allergies are more than just a seasonal inconvenience. Fifty six percent of allergy sufferers experience symptoms throughout the year. Of those with perennial allergies, 71% experience worsening symptoms during certain times of year. Without proper diagnosis and treatment allergies lead to asthma and other co-morbidities. In fact allergies represent the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the USA. They are becoming an increasingly serious concern for children. Employers should look not just at the impact of allergies on their employees but also on the impacts on their family members.

Costs due to allergic rhinitis can be divided into two categories: direct costs that are related to monies spent on the course of managing the disease and indirect costs that are due to missing work and decreased productivity due to the illness. There are also the costs associated with the co morbidities of allergic rhinitis, such as sinusitis and asthma, which are classified as “hidden” direct costs.