Are allergies genetic?

Are allergies genetic?

Harold Kaiser (Practicing Allergist and Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School) gives expert video advice on: When should I see a doctor if I think I have allergies?; Are allergies genetic?; What are the tests to find out if I have allergies? and more...

Allergies are genetic but they are not strictly genetic the way that blue eyes or red hair may be genetic. They run in families and there are genetic markers that are common in the offspring of patients who have allergies, in other words they run through the families, but it's not directly and it's not only genetic. If you have a history of allergy in your family, that's probably the best indication that you are potentially at risk to have allergies in your own life.