How Our Allergic Response Evolved

Have you ever felt like your immune system is a bully who doesn't keep your best interests at heart? Have you ever sneezed, gotten a rash, or had asthma at the worst possible time? It really gets you thinking— Why DO we have allergies in the first place? In this episode, Dr. Tina Lasisi walks us through how our immune system evolved, what affects our allergies, and things we can do to improve our immune responses.

"Why am I like this?" is a show hosted by biological anthropologist Tina Lasisi, and produced by STEMedia, that dives deep into evolutionary biology to explain some of our existentialism or everyday questions about our body.

And keep up with PBS Terra on:

[Acceleronics]

I'm one of those unlucky people who has obvious allergy symptoms, but the three allergy tests I've had (the grid of needle sticks test twice and a blood test once) produced invalid results. The tests failed. In response to one of these failed tests, the allergy doctor told me, "You seem like a bright guy. You should be able to figure out what you're allergic to." Thanks, doc.

[marionnette]

Extremely underrated video. I love this channel so much.

[wangtoriojackson]

This video was hilarious! That was a really fun way to frame the explanation. Whoever wrote this should get some kind of award, seriously.

[UlexiteTVStoneLexite]

What perfect timing I am in the middle of a sinus attack feeling pretty miserable because of allergies

[RhythmJigoku]

There are more complaints about Immune System Girl in the Human Body Workplace! Bring in the rest of the organs for a talk about Autoimmune Disorders, please!
As someone with such disorders, I'm curious how/why they happen.

[williandalsoto]

"Why am like this?" and "Far Out" have quickly became two of my favorite shows on YouTube, keep it up!

[laggyy]

If my skin is personified, it would be exactly like this😂

[DenizenoftheAges]

This is ludicrous. Somehow I came out of this with RESPECT FOR MY ALLERGIC REACTIONS instead of my lifetime prior of disdain. PPTHHHH THANKS SCIENCE now I have to live with the fact that I spent my life hating my immune system for being awesome. #ThanksPBS

[stacylitwin]

PBS Terra is SO GOOD (both weathered AND this series). And I watch a lot of the PBS stuff lol, such creative context and breaking things down in an understandable way that doesn't feel like an instructional video you saw in your 90's health class which a lot of things devolve into when trying to seem "cool and understandable"

[DrewNorthup]

Possible future directions:
(1) Post-antibiotic syndromes
(2) Science exploring the unexpected side-effects of excessive cleanliness.

[ershaizmi]

I danced a little when I saw PBS Terra uploaded Why am I like this series. I just love it sooo much. It's informative yet so entertaining to watch. I learned a lot from this series. Thanks for making these amazing videos!

[xenias]

My allergy test resulted, that I am allergic to 17 of 20 Allergy types, especially Pollen. After 8 years of hyposensitization it has not changes anything. So yes I am really annoyed. But maybe it saved me from Getting Covid19, because although I have been on Parties, going to university with up to 530 people in one room, I had nothing.

[contemplive]

😂 I identify with skin. Having allergies is really starting to make me mental

[rebasack]

I developed an allergy to something in cured pork in my late teens. Ham and hot dogs are the worst offenders and some brands of bacon i left behind in another state.
The one that had the most potential to kill me was when i landed in the ER 3 times in about 2 weeks and i had no idea what was making me so sick and dehydrated and the doctors treated me like i was being stupid. I literally cut my diet down to bread and water slowly adding back one thing at a time until the culprit was found, caffeine.
Though i wouldnt learn about a kidney disorder i have for several years essentially my body just started reacting to the dehydration effect of the caffeine like i was drinking 100x more than i was. Drinking 1 12 ounce soda within a couple hours could dehydrate me to dangerous levels.
I later learned that radishes arent supposed to taste spicy and mouth tingly/numby. at least thats a mild one and as long as i avoid them i dont risk it turning into throat swelling terror.

[erinrising]

Would be interested in why some people have the weird allergies. Like people who are allergic to raw tomatoes, but not cooked. Or avocados, or like my dad people allergic to gold

[skybluskyblueify]

So these kinds of allergies are like a phobia the immune system has i.e. arachnophobia an illogical fear of any spider no matter how inoffensive it is [like jumping spider with their big puppy-dog eyes]. Therapy for arachnophobia might be exposure to safe spiders or just pictures of spiders introduced by a therapist in the right environment and when the patient is ready to treat it [never force exposure therapy on anyone!]. Therapy for the immune system could be "exposure therapy" too, starting off with tiny amounts.

[Caterfree]

Allergies are the worst and if it were possible to fight my own immune system every season change, I #%^*ing would.

[Andrew.Schlei]

What about severe allergic reactions that can lead to death without emergency medical intervention? Are these caused by a similar mechanism?

[Angelus_Ex_Umbra]

Missed a perfect joke when you said "lets take a breath" and not have Nose take a deep breath!

[utkarshsinghal]

Why is this show like this!??
So entertaining and yet so educational!!❤