Boddities | Why do we get seasonal allergies?

There's nothing better than a beautiful spring day after a long, cold winter. But there's nothing worse than having that day ruined by the sneezing, sniffling, and itching that come with seasonal allergies.

Scientists don't actually completely understand why we get seasonal allergies. The best estimation is that they're an immune response to toxins in the natural environment that pollen also happens to trigger. That immune response begins with the production of IgE antibodies to combat the pollen. The antibodies link up with mast cells, and together they're a ticking time bomb. When more allergens come along, they activate all those horrible symptoms.

In the new episode of "Boddities" with our new host Theresa Gaffney, we dive into how this response happens, and what you can do about it to ease the symptoms and enjoy the season.

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ABOUT STAT:
Founded in 2015, STAT is a global digital media brand that focuses on delivering fast, deep, and tough-minded journalism about the life sciences industries to over six million monthly site visitors and an additional 20 million readers on the Apple News app. STAT takes you inside academic labs, biotech boardrooms, and political backrooms, casting a critical eye on scientific discoveries, scrutinizing corporate strategies, and chronicling the roiling battles for talent, money, and market share. With an award-winning newsroom, STAT provides indispensable insights and exclusive stories on the technologies, personalities, power brokers, and political forces driving massive changes in the life sciences industry — and a revolution in human health.More from STAT:
Watch Full Episodes:

/ @statnews

ABOUT STAT:
Founded in 2015, STAT is a global digital media brand that focuses on delivering fast, deep, and tough-minded journalism about the life sciences industries to over six million monthly site visitors and an additional 20 million readers on the Apple News app. STAT takes you inside academic labs, biotech boardrooms, and political backrooms, casting a critical eye on scientific discoveries, scrutinizing corporate strategies, and chronicling the roiling battles for talent, money, and market share. With an award-winning newsroom, STAT provides indispensable insights and exclusive stories on the technologies, personalities, power brokers, and political forces driving massive changes in the life sciences industry — and a revolution in human health.