Are there different types of allergies?
Many people have seasonal allergies, which is commonly referred to as 'hay fever'. The reason that it has this name is because about 150 years ago, the hay-harvesting season was in the spring and people thought that these symptoms were a response to the hay. But in actuality the symptoms are caused by grass and trees. There are other seasonal allergies, like the fall allergies, which are the result of ragweed and weed.
The other type of allergy is called a chronic, or 'perennial' allergy, which means it can occur all year. Allergies to dust mites, molds and pet allergies are all perennial allergies, because the sufferer can be exposed all year long.
Some people have both perennial and seasonal allergies. So they inch through the year with their perennial allergy, and then get hit with the seasonal allergy, and the symptoms compound each other.
Is there a tendency for allergies to run in families?
If you have one parent who has allergy, you have a 30% chance of having allergy yourself. If you have two parents, then the odds go up. And then there are some people who have allergies but there is no family history.
