Time
to Get Serious About Seasonal Allergies
Think allergies are
little more than a runny nose?
Guess again.
The watery eyes, sneezing,
congestion, and itchy throat that are hallmarks of allergies take
a lot more out of sufferers than most people think.
Allergy
Sufferers Experience Quality of Life Issues
A new survey by the American
College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) found
that 94 percent of people said that when their allergies act up,
their quality of life deteriorates. Their work, sleep, concentration—even
their sex lives—suffer.
"Allergies and their symptoms
not only cause quality of life consequences such as fatigue, impaired
work performance, and general malaise, but also, insufficiently
treated allergies often lead to serious conditions such as sinus
or ear infections, asthma, and sleep problems," says ACAAI
President Dr. Bobby Lanier.
Despite these disruptions
to their lives, only about 50 percent of sufferers said they considered
their allergies to be a serious medical condition. And nearly two-thirds
did not see a physician the last time their symptoms kicked up,
the survey found.
A
Call to Action For Allergy Sufferers
Given that awareness gap
and the approaching height of the fall allergy season, the ACAAI
has issued a "call to action" for allergy sufferers to take their
health problems seriously, and see an allergist or personal physician
to get the treatments that can manage their ills.
"We're trying to tell
people, 'Hey, recognize this chronic problem and take care of it,'"
Lanier says. "Pay this thing some respect, because it will eat you
up if you don't."
About 50 million Americans
are expected to suffer from allergic symptoms this fall, either
from seasonal allergies caused by mold spores or plant pollens,
or from year-round allergies caused by indoor allergens such as
dust mites.
Ragweed is the plant most
responsible for fall allergy symptoms. It is most prevalent throughout
the Northeast, South, and Midwest, although forms of ragweed allergens
can be found in all areas of the United States, the ACAAI
says.
Other common fall allergens
include outdoor molds found in soil, vegetation, and rotting wood.
Some molds peak in late summer or early autumn, while leaf molds
peak after the leaves have fallen. They are most common in the North
during the fall and year-round in the South and West Coast.
"Unfortunately, most people
think that anyone who suffers from allergies are a bunch of wimps,
because they're complaining about a runny nose," says Dr. Jay Portnoy,
an allergist from Kansas City, Mo. "Many people don't recognize
how much of an impairment they're having from their allergies."
Key
Findings From the Study
For the survey, telephone
interviews were conducted last month with 300 allergy sufferers
nationwide. Among the key findings:
-
More than two-thirds
of the respondents said their allergies kept them from getting
a good night's sleep.
-
About half said
allergies interfered with outdoor activities and with their
ability to concentrate.
-
Forty-three percent
said their work productivity suffered due to their allergies.
-
Thirteen percent
said their sex life was disrupted by allergies.
Lanier says he was not
surprised to learn that so many people find that allergies profoundly
affected their lives. Nor was he surprised to hear that half
still do not consider allergies a serious problem.
"I think a lot of people
who don't deal with an allergy may be surprised by it," Lanier says.
"I would just say, 'Aha! I told you so.' It's a chronic problem
that does not produce any visible scars, so it is hard for people
to take it seriously."
Forty-one percent of those
surveyed said they first thought they had a cold or virus when they
began suffering from allergies. The reason: Many of the signs of
a cold—watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, itchy throat—are
also symptoms of allergies.
The survey also found
that when people relied on over-the counter medications for relief,
67 percent reported drowsiness as a side effect. More troubling,
two-thirds of those experiencing drowsiness said they drove a car
shortly after taking such medicine.
Portnoy says allergy sufferers
should see their physician or allergist to receive treatment specific
to their symptoms. It is particularly helpful if you do so at the
start of the allergy season.
An allergist can prescribe
appropriate medications, help identify the substance causing the
allergies, or even offer allergy shots if other remedies fail, Portnoy
says.
"They can be a collaborator
with you in controlling your disease," Portnoy says. "You've got
somebody to work with, a sympathetic ear."
Always consult your physician
and/or allergist for more information.
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November 2002
Allergy
Sufferers Experience Quality of Life Issues
A
Call to Action For Allergy Sufferers
Key
Findings From the Study
Dust
on the Job Can Be Tough on the Lungs and Increases the Risk of Asthma
and Respiratory Problems
Online
Resources
In Other Mind &
Body News:
Dust
on the Job Can Be Tough on the Lungs and Increases the Risk
of Asthma and Respiratory Problems
If you are exposed to
dust and fumes at work, you may be at greater risk of developing
respiratory problems and asthma.
A Norwegian study recently
published the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical
Care Medicine found a link between dust and fume exposure
at work and respiratory problems and asthma. That was even after
adjusting for gender, age, smoking habits, and education.
The study also found that
exposure to quartz causes coughing and exposure to asbestos leads
to a high risk of severe breathlessness and asthma.
The 11-year study included
2,819 people. Just over 28 percent of the people in the study were
exposed to dust and fumes at work, with 3.7 exposed to quartz and
5 percent exposed to asbestos.
The study found that between
5.7 percent and 19.3 percent of the incidences of respiratory problems
and 14.4 percent of the incidences of asthma in the people in the
study were linked to dust and fume exposure.
Always consult your physician
for more information.
Online
Resources
(Our Organization is not
responsible for the content of Internet sites.)
American
Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI)
American
College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)
American
Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
American
Lung Association
National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
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