Nobody knows exactly why we develop allergies. In fact, I like to refer to allergies as an “immunological mistake.” The same substances that are allergens for people with allergies typically don’t cause problems for people without allergies. Non-allergic people can breathe in the same microscopic bits of organic matter and eat the same foods to which allergic people react and have no problems. It certainly seems that people with allergies would be better off if their immune systems would just ignore the substances to which they are allergic.

Allergy is our country’s single most common health problem and is responsible for more time lost from work and school than any other medical condition. It also limits social and athletic activities above all else—including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer, etc.

Most kinds of allergy are hereditary. If there are allergies on both sides of your family, you have about an 80% chance of having sensitivities yourself. But the particular pattern of allergic responses and the substances responsible can vary a great deal from one family member to the next. For example, mom might have nasal allergy while son has skin or lung problems. And dad might be allergic to tree and weed pollens while daughter is allergic only to mold spores or particular foods.

If you have inherited the tendency to develop allergies, you can experience their initial onset at any age. It isn’t necessary to have had allergies during childhood to have them as an adult. But even if you are predisposed toward developing allergies, you might never experience their onset. Although there is a lot of speculation, the reasoning behind why susceptible people can develop allergy problems later in life is still unknown.