Fall is a big time for allergies. But then again, allergies are a nuisance for many people all of the time. Here are some facts and help about allergies.

1. Allergies are inherited, but not to any specific items. People with allergy have an immunoglobulin called IgE. Folks with IgE tend to react to foreign proteins in their system in a way that produces the common respiratory responses. Sometimes the response can be quite dramatic, causing serious respiratory and blood pressure crisis called anaphylaxis. IgE build up usually takes recurrent exposure to the foreign protein, and so sometimes the first signs of allergy don't show up until late childhood or even adulthood.

2. You never outgrow the tendency to allergy. Over time some people can desensitize to a particular allergen but they can come back again years later. If you had eczema as a child or if there is a strong family history of allergy, you can develop first time allergies at any point in your life.

3. Some allergens cross react to each other because the foreign proteins are very similar. So, if you are allergic to ragweed there is a good chance that over time you will also develop allergy to melon or even bananas and cucumbers. If  tou are allergic to birch tree over time you can also become allergic to apples and pears and almonds. Peeling the fruit or cooking them does help reduce the chance of cross reactions.

4. Taking allergy medication works best as prevention. If you have the antihistamine in your system before major exposure then it helps reduce the amount of chemicals that your body releases. So if you know you get sneezy a certain time of the year, start taking the medication a week or two prior to that season.

5. Allergy shots really do work and in the long run are less expensive than medication. They reduce symptoms of hay fever, for example, by as much as 85% in many studies. It does take real commitment to get the shots but they do work and can last a long time.