Tis' the Season for Allergies

Allergies can be quite irritating. From having to stay inside the house due to the pollen outside, to having an outbreak of itching hives on your face after getting exposed to peanut butter, allergies are a nuisance. However, the science behind them is actually quite interesting.

Being one of the most common chronic diseases, allergies are caused by by allergens, or substances found in the environment, that evoke an immune response. The allergic reaction is thus characterized by the type of immune response, when the body produces antibodies to bind to the allergens.

Although many of the common allergic reactions that students may face, including sneezing, watery eyes, colds, or swelling, may not be fatal, many allergies can be life threatening. According to the Mayo Clinic, a "severe, potentially life threatening allergic reaction", known as Anaphylaxis can take root within the body as quick as a few seconds after exposure to the allergen.

So why is it life threatening, you ask?

Because the allergic reaction is so intense, the immune system responds by secreting a massive amount of chemicals within the body. This causes the normal airways of the body to constrict, and the blood pressure to drop, creating an extremely painful and fatal experience.

Nonetheless, scientists have found an stop gap solution to the problem: the EpiPen. The EpiPen injection contains a drug known as epinephrine, which causes the airways to the lungs to expand, and the blood pressure to rise once more. Thus, there is hope for the thousands of people with severe allergies.

While we may never understand how it feels like to have severe allergies, at least we can understand the science behind them!