HEALTH REPORT - Allergies

By Mario Ritter
HEALTH REPORT - May 1, 2002: Allergies¹

This is the VOA Special English Health Report.

Many different substances and organisms in the environment affect our health. An allergy² is an unusually strong
reaction to a substance. The substance may not be harmful under normal conditions. However, the way some
people react to a common substance may not be normal. People may feel as though they are very sick from an
infection.

Many different things can cause allergies. The most common cause is pollen³. Trees
and many other kinds of plants release huge amounts of pollen into the air to
reproduce successfully. To make things worse, different kinds of plants produce
pollen at different times of the year. For example, trees usually produce pollen in the
spring. Grasses pollinate in the summer. Weeds produce pollen in the autumn.

Many other things can cause allergies. They include organisms such as dust mites⁴
and molds, dead skin particles on dogs and cats, chemicals, plants, medicines and
some common foods. Insect bites also can cause allergic⁵ reactions.

There are several kinds of allergic reactions. The most common reaction is watery⁶, itchy eyes and a blocked or
watery nose. Other reactions include red, painful, itchy skin. Some allergic reactions can be so extreme that they
are life-threatening. For example, allergic reactions that block breathing tubes are very dangerous.

Doctors say there are several ways to treat allergies. They say people should try to avoid the substances that
cause allergic reactions. Medicines called antihistamines⁷ are used to treat allergies. These are some of the most
widely used medicines in the United States.

Another treatment is called immunotherapy. This involves injecting a patient with small amounts of the allergy-
causing substance. Larger and larger amounts are given. Over time, the patient develops a resistance to the
allergy-causing substance. This treatment is usually effective against allergies to small particles in the air, like
pollen or dust, and insect bites. However, this treatment is generally not used for allergies to foods.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says more than fifty-million Americans suffer from
allergies. The organization also says that treatments for allergies cost Americans eighteen-thousand-million
dollars each year.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Mario Ritter.

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1 allergies   

n.[医]过敏症；[口]厌恶，反感；（对食物、花粉、虫咬等的）过敏症( allergy的名词复数 )；变态反应，变应性

参考例句：

• Food allergies can result in an enormous variety of different symptoms. 食物过敏会引发很多不同的症状。 来自辞典例句
• Let us, however, examine one of the most common allergies; hayfever. 现在让我们来看看最常见的变态反应的一种--枯草热。 来自辞典例句

2 allergy   

n.(因食物、药物等而引起的)过敏症

参考例句：

• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。
• The patient had an allergy to penicillin.该患者对青霉素过敏。

3 pollen   

n.[植]花粉

参考例句：

• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。
• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。

4 mites   

n.（尤指令人怜悯的）小孩( mite的名词复数 )；一点点；一文钱；螨

参考例句：

• The only discovered animals are water bears, mites, microscopic rotifers. 能够发现的动物只有海蜘蛛、螨和微小的轮虫。 来自辞典例句
• Mites are frequently found on eggs. 螨会经常出现在蛋上。 来自辞典例句

5 allergic   

adj.过敏的，变态的

参考例句：

• Alice is allergic to the fur of cats.艾丽斯对猫的皮毛过敏。
• Many people are allergic to airborne pollutants such as pollen.许多人对空气传播的污染物过敏，比如花粉。

6 watery   

adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的

参考例句：

• In his watery eyes there is an expression of distrust.他那含泪的眼睛流露出惊惶失措的神情。
• Her eyes became watery because of the smoke.因为烟熏，她的双眼变得泪汪汪的。

7 antihistamines   

n.抗组织胺药( antihistamine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cough suppressants and some antihistamines may help quiet an annoying cough. 镇咳药和一些抗组织胺类药物能帮助驱除烦人的咳嗽。 来自互联网
• Antihistamines are the medications most commonly used to diminish allergic symptoms. 抗组胺药是药物最常用的，以减少过敏症状。 来自互联网