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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