What are Allergies and Asthma?

An allergy is when your immune system reacts to something as if it would do your body harm. Common allergens include pollens, foods, mold, dust, feathers, pet dander, insect stings, and certain medicines. Allergies can cause symptoms such as a runny nose and/or nasal congestion, sneezing, itching, rashes, swelling or asthma. Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your lungs. With asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed. Your airways may react to allergens or other irritants. When they do, the airways get narrower and you get less air. Asthma causes symptoms such as wheezing, breathlessness, tightness in the chest and early morning or nighttime coughing. You can control asthma by taking medicine and avoiding known irritants. Watch more videos about asthma or share your story or experience on video with icyou.