How does an antihistamine reduce allergy symptoms? How does an antihistamine reduce allergy symptoms? a. An antihistamine binds pollen antigens, preventing them from provoking an allergic reaction. b. An antihistamine blocks receptors for inflammatory chemicals released from granules within mast cells. c. An antihistamine kills mast cells, blocking an allergic reaction.

The mast cells situated at the body surfaces are responsible for alerting the immune system when a local infection is detected. This induces the secretion of inflammatory chemicals from granules within the mast cells once activated. Histamine is released which causes the blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, thereby protecting the body. This leads to the production of symptoms like sneezing and rashes.

This allergic response to the perceived antigen is initiated as a result of the degranulation of the mast cell.

An antihistamine helps in stopping the histamine from affecting the cells in the body by blocking the receptors for the inflammatory chemicals released from granules within mast cells