(Emily Henderson/ Medical Net) — Welcoming spring this year has been bittersweet for the millions of allergy sufferers already experiencing itchy eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing and runny noses.
What causes someone to be allergic to seasonal allergens and other irritants is unknown. The key to understanding allergies may lie in genetic and environmental triggers as well as a person’s lifestyle.
According to Dr. Timothy Craig, director of allergy, immunology and respiratory clinical research at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, many variables can cause a person to be predisposed to allergies.
Family history of allergies, atopic dermatitis and asthma can predispose people to suffer from allergies. A person’s overall health can contribute to susceptibility as well, as does lack of exercise, obesity and poor diet.
Environmental concerns like early exposure to second-hand smoke and air pollution can make a person vulnerable to allergies. Spending too much time indoors, not being exposed to pets and other animals early in life and not being exposed to enough bacteria and viruses can also can increase risk of developing allergies. (…)