It's spring again. Allergies are essentially the overreaction of the immune system to various substances, according to a University Health Center pamphlet. Insect stings, mold, drugs, certain kinds of foods and all sorts of airborne agents trigger them. Among the most common symptoms are runny, itchy eyes, stuffy nose, sore throat and a cough.
Seasonal asthma is also related to allergies.
The University Health Center has seen a recent tide of allergy sufferers come through its doors. We usually just recommend something over the counter like Benadryl and that works fine. However, these drugs can have a sedative effect, causing drowsiness. The degree to which students are affected by allergies varies. Some find that their medications serve them well enough to let them get through the day largely unaffected, Whittles said.