Are Allergies Hereditary?

Do you suffer from severe allergies? If so, you may be able to blame your parents (just this once). If just one of your parents has allergies, there’s a 50/50 chance yours were inherited. If both of your parents have the same allergy, those odds go up to about 75 percent.

Are Allergies Hereditary? 

Yes and no. Though allergies can be passed down from parent to child, they’re not always. And more amazingly, allergy-free parents can give birth to children who have severe allergies. So if allergies aren’t always inherited, how do you “get” them?

Scientists think a few other factors come into play when it comes to why someone has an allergy. In addition to genetics, your environment, air pollution levels, and diet all play a role in whether or not you’ll have allergies.

Most Common Allergies 

An allergy is really just your body’s immune system mistaking a harmless substance for a dangerous pathogen. When you eat, drink, smell, or touch something you’re allergic to, your body responds by attacking it, rather than letting it pass through (which is what it really should do).

The most common allergies are:

• Drug allergy 
• Food allergy
• Contact dermatitis
• Seasonal allergies 

Signs and Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction 

What makes allergies so interesting is that their severity ranges a lot from person to person. Two people who are allergic to the same thing, like almonds, could have completely different reactions once they come in contact with one. For example, one person could experience nothing more than itchy hands, while the other person’s throat could begin to close.

Most often, signs of an allergic reaction are:

• Trouble breathing 
• Wheezing 
• Sneezing 
• Coughing
• Skin irritation 

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