Your Body On…Allergies  Easy tips to head off an allergy attack
early April 3, 2012  In the first minute It all begins with a
mating game. Male pollen grains drift off in search of female
plant parts to fertilize. Cute, except that the powdery stuff is
so pervasive that you'll undoubtedly breathe it in or rub it
into your eyes. If you're allergic, your body makes antibodies
called IgE. Pollen launches them into action.  IgE antibodies
coat the outside of mast cells, which are part of the immune
system and are abundant in the nose, throat, eyes, skin, and
lungs. As pollen binds to IgE, mast cells release a trove of
chemicals, the most famous of which is histamine, the marine
corps of allergy warfare.   Mast cells continue to fire off,
releasing more and more histamine. Problem is, the tricky
chemical can be tough on your body.  After five minutes
Histamine has set your mucous membranes into overdrive—by now
you've said hello to sneezing, a runny nose, and watery eyes.
Your airways may begin to constrict, leav