FEATURE Stop Spring Allergies before they start by ANDREW PESCOE, M.D. S niffling, sneezing, watery eyes, and congestion are just a few issues that allergy sufferers expect to deal with all season long. And if you don't get a head start on addressing your symptoms, you could be in for a long battle. and releases antibodies to neutralize the threat. These antibodies attach themselves to mast cells which release histamine, a chemical neurotransmitter that triggers allergy symptoms. Controlling seasonal allergies often Seasonal allergies are caused by an over- requires a multifaceted approach, and reaction in the immune system. When you pre-treatment is a crucial step in this process. inhale allergy triggers, such as pollen or mold Pre-treating seasonal allergies turns on your spores, your immune system mistakenly iden- body's defenses so it is already prepared to tifies these particles as harmful substances handle allergens. Pre-treatment also helps 8 Lehigh County Health & Medicine | SPRING 2020