Ah, glorious springtime. It brings flowers, warmer temperatures--and for many, incessant sneezes and sniffles. Everybody curses allergies as annoying at best, and some allergic reactions--such as anaphylaxis, which rapidly lowers blood pressure and closes the airways--can be fatal. But a handful of researchers now propose that allergies may actually have evolved to protect us. Runny noses, coughs and itchy rashes keep toxic chemicals out of our bodies, they argue, and persuade us to steer clear of dangerous environments.
[More]




More...