This One Really is My Parents Fault

What WebMD.com has to say about this god-awful condition of mine:

"When a person is exposed to an allergen, a series of events takes place:

The body starts to produce a specific type of antibody, called IgE, to bind the allergen.

The antibodies attach to a form of blood cell called a mast cell. Mast cells can be found in the airways, in the GI tract, and elsewhere. The presence of mast cells in the airways and GI tract makes these areas more susceptible to allergen exposure.

The allergens bind to the IgE, which is attached to the mast cell. This triggers a reaction that allows the mast cells to release a variety of chemicals including histamine, which causes most of the symptoms of an allergy, including itchiness or runny nose."

And:

"Most allergies are inherited, which means they are passed on to children by their parents. People inherit a tendency to be allergic, although not to any specific allergen. When one parent is allergic, their child has a 50% chance of having allergies. That risk jumps to 75% if both parents have allergies."

So, thanks Mom, Dad.