Why does pollen make you miserable? Here’s why it triggers allergies — and some tips

Temperatures are getting warmer, cherry blossoms are blooming — in short, spring is here, and with it, so is allergy season. Allergies in general — whether it be to food, pets or pollen — occur when the body’s immune system “sees a substance as harmful and overreacts to it,” according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. And that is exactly what happens when pollen enters the body through the nose, eyes or mouth. The immune system mistakenly identifies it as a threat and triggers some of the well-known allergy symptoms: sneezing, runny nose and congestion, according to the Centers ...