For many people, allergies are an all-too-familiar annoyance. The constant sneezing, itching, and watery eyes are just a few clear signs of allergies, which is a surprisingly common condition affecting millions worldwide. But what exactly triggers these reactions, and how can we cope with them?
Allergies arise from a misunderstanding between our immune system and seemingly harmless substances. Under normal circumstances, the immune system acts as our body’s personal bodyguard, diligently identifying and eliminating threats like viruses and bacteria. However, in individuals with allergies, the immune system mistakenly identifies certain substances, called allergens, as invaders. This triggers a reaction, leading to the familiar symptoms we associate with allergies.
These allergens can be anything from pollen and dust mites to certain foods and pet fur. Food allergies often present as hives, nausea, or difficulty breathing, while inhalant allergens like pollen can cause hay fever symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose. While allergies themselves are not contagious, the discomfort they cause can significantly impact daily life or even be life-threatening.
Photo: Pexels / 照片：Pexels
Fortunately, there are ways to manage and even prevent allergic reactions. Allergy medications help block the release of histamines, the chemicals responsible for triggering allergic symptoms. In severe cases, allergy testing is advised to determine the allergens, after which allergy shots can be given to gradually make the immune system less sensitive to specific allergens. Additionally, practicing preventive measures like keeping windows closed during high pollen seasons can significantly reduce symptoms.
Understanding allergies helps individuals take control of their health. With the right approach, it’s possible to minimize the impact of allergies and enjoy life with fewer allergic interruptions.
對許多人來說，過敏是一種再熟悉不過的困擾。持續的打噴嚏、癢感和流眼淚只是過敏的幾個明顯徵兆，過敏是一種意外地影響全球數百萬人的常見狀況。但究竟是什麼引發這些反應，我們又該如何應對呢？
過敏源自我們的免疫系統與看似無害的物質之間的一種「誤會」。在正常情況下，免疫系統就像我們身體的私人保鑣，努力地辨別並消滅像病毒和細菌等威脅。然而，對於過敏體質的人來說，免疫系統錯誤地將某些稱作過敏原的物質視為入侵者。進而引發反應，導致我們所熟知的過敏症狀。
這些過敏原可能包括花粉、塵?、某些食物和寵物毛髮等。食物過敏通常表現為蕁麻疹、噁心或呼吸困難，而吸入性過敏原如花粉則可能引起像花粉熱的症狀，例如打噴嚏、眼睛癢和流鼻水。雖然過敏本身並不具傳染性，但它帶來的不適感可能嚴重影響日常生活，甚至危及生命。
幸運的是，有一些方法可以控制甚至預防過敏反應。抗過敏藥物有助於阻止組織胺的釋放，組織胺是引發過敏症狀的化學物質。在嚴重的情況下，建議進行過敏測試以確定過敏原，之後可以注射過敏針，以逐漸降低免疫系統對特定過敏原的敏感性。此外，採取預防措施，例如在花粉高峰期關閉窗戶可以顯著減輕症狀。
了解過敏能幫助人們掌握自己的健康。透過正確的方法，可以將過敏的影響降至最低，享受不再頻繁受到過敏症狀干擾的生活。
MORE INFORMATION
all-too-familiar 過於熟悉的（通常帶有負面的情緒或語氣）
pollen n. 花粉
dust mite 塵?
hives n. 疹子
nausea n. 噁心
inhalant adj. 吸入的
hay fever 花粉熱，又稱乾草熱（一種由花粉引起的疾病）
histamine n. 組織胺（身體受傷或過敏時釋放的一種物質）
KEY VOCABULARY
1. trigger v. 觸發；引起
The sound of breaking glass triggered a memory of last year’s big storm.
玻璃破碎的聲音讓人回想起去年嚴重的風雨。
2. allergy n. 過敏
allergic adj. 過敏的
allergen n. 過敏原
Connie has a severe allergy to peanuts, so she always checks food labels carefully.
康妮對花生過敏非常嚴重，所以她總是仔細檢查食品標籤。
3. itch vi. 發癢
The boy’s mosquito bites were itching, so he used a special cream for relief.
那個男孩的蚊子叮咬處在發癢，所以他使用了一種特殊的藥膏來緩解。
4. misunderstanding n. 誤解；誤會
Before visiting another country, learn about the local culture in advance to avoid misunderstandings.
造訪另一個國家之前，提前了解當地文化以避免誤解。
5. circumstance n. 情況；環境
Due to circumstances beyond its control, the company had to cancel several deliveries.
由於無法控制的情況，該公司不得不取消了幾次交貨。
6. eliminate vt. 消除；排除
The peace treaty eliminated any immediate threat of war between the two countries.
這條和平協議排除了這兩國之間所有立即性的戰爭威脅。
7. virus n. 病毒
The computer technician scanned the system to detect and remove any viruses.
那位電腦技術人員掃描系統以偵測和移除任何病毒。
8. discomfort n. 不適；不舒服
The hard and uncomfortable seats caused discomfort to the passengers on the long flight.
長途飛行時，堅硬又不舒適的座椅讓乘客們感到不適。
9. minimize vt. 減少；使……最小化
The company implemented new safety measures to minimize accidents in the workplace.
該公司實施了新的安全措施，來盡量減少工作場所的事故。
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