Airborne allergies result when the body comes in contact with allergens in the air, then over reacts to what it considers as a threat to its well being. The body tries a number of ways to get rid of the perceived threat.

Watering eyes, a runny nose, and additional mucous are attempts to wash it out. It tries to force it out with sneezing and coughing. The following 5 pieces of information will hopefully help you reduce the number of flare ups and their severity.

What are the most common outdoor airborne allergens? Pollen is the most common source of irritation. Most people think of spring as the predominant time when pollen covers the world, but that is only part of the story.

While it's true that tree and flower pollen are abundant in the spring, this is followed closely by grass pollen in the summer. Fall weeds begin their pollination in mid-August and can continue until the first frost.

Plants like ragweed are estimated to produce over a billion granules of pollen in a season. And in many areas that can mean until the first couple of weeks in November.

What are the most common indoor allergy triggers? Dust mites, dust, mold spores, and pet dander are found in great numbers in most normal households. And the high count is only slightly connected to how clean you keep your home.

These irritants are constantly being generated by every day activities, and unless you are taking steps to actively remove them from the air, they continue to accumulate.

How is it possible to only be allergic during a certain time of year? There is an up and a down side to to symptoms that are seasonal. The good news is that you are susceptible to an allergen that is only present during part of the year.

The bad news is that this probably means it is an outdoor allergen such as a particular type of pollen or mold over which you have very little control.

Why are my symptoms chronic rather than acute? Chronic or ongoing symptoms are generally an indication that the trigger is constantly available for you to inhale or ingest. This suggests something indoors is the culprit.

Is there a cure? There is no known cure at this time. There are shots that can be given by allergists to desensitize you to various triggers once they have been determined. This is often a long and expensive process with degrees of success that vary greatly from one person to the next. Sometimes it is even possible that once you body is desensitized to one trigger, it becomes allergic to another.

What's the best way to manage symptoms? The best to deal with allergies effectively is to develop a plan that deals with minimizing your exposure to the triggers as well as successfully managing the symptoms. And whether you are allergic to indoor or outdoor irritants, removing them from your indoor air is the best way to reduce the cause of flare ups.

Symptoms can be managed with the help of over the counter medications and a drug store pharmacist if they are not severe. In more severe cases an allergist and prescribed medication may be in order.