Mind & Body

Time to Get Serious About Seasonal Allergies

Think allergies are little more than a runny nose? Picture of an elderly man clenching his aching head

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.

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

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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.