The Do's And Don'ts of Allergies

Uncontrollably watery eyes at the office? Awkward itching at your friend’s flat? Convulsive sneezing when you sweep the kitchen? Welcome to the allergies club. Eight in 12 Women’s Health readers are plagued by seasonal allergies – and the reason, more often than not, is genetic. “Some families are just allergy prone,” explains Dr Adrian Morris from the Cape Town Allergy Clinic. Studies show that the chances you’ll be allergic rise to 50 percent when one parent has allergies and 80 percent when it’s both. We help you understand what makes you itch and how to put a stop to it (once you’re done blaming Mom and Dad).