What is an Allergy?

An allergy is the body's abnormal response or increased sensitivity to a normally harmless substance, such as pollen, molds, certain foods, a bee sting, dust mites, animal dander, or even latex. These "allergens" cause your immune system to react as if the substance is harmful to your body, triggering common allergic responses such as sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes, itching, or swelling.