Subject: Are allergies more prevalent nowadays?
Posted by: Cymruambyth
Date: Mar 11 10
This thread was prompted by the 'Peanuts and Airlines' discussion. It seems to me that more and more people are allergic to more and more things these days. Why is that, I wonder?
Is it because we eat more processed foods, use more chemicals in finishing fabrics for drapes, upholstery, rugs, depend on stronger chemicals in cleaning products and so on?
I sympathize with people who suffer from allergies and I thank God that I have none at all, and I wonder why I'm allergy free?
What's your take on this subject?
Posted by: Cymruambyth
Date: Mar 11 10
This thread was prompted by the 'Peanuts and Airlines' discussion. It seems to me that more and more people are allergic to more and more things these days. Why is that, I wonder?
Is it because we eat more processed foods, use more chemicals in finishing fabrics for drapes, upholstery, rugs, depend on stronger chemicals in cleaning products and so on?
I sympathize with people who suffer from allergies and I thank God that I have none at all, and I wonder why I'm allergy free?
What's your take on this subject?
14 replies. On page 1 of 1 pages. 1
Schoonie101 
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I don't know why either but the idea you brought up about increased processed foods along with more chemicals in every item we use under the sun... that would definitely make sense. Reply #1. Mar 11 10, 12:49 AM |
Lochalsh
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I think many of us have weakened autoimmune systems that no longer help us to battle the onslaught of pollutants. I wish I could answer better than that. The very air that we breathe these days is hastening our demise, that much I know. (This was written with my eyes three-quarters closed. I hope I'm not snoring!) Reply #2. Mar 11 10, 1:07 AM |
| Lochalsh
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...and that weakening makes us more nearly susceptible to allergies... (I should have paid more attention to the thread title the first time.) Reply #3. Mar 11 10, 1:11 AM |
xbunny
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I feel very lucky as to not have any allergies,so far. I grew up not knowing anyone that had an allergy,except hayfever,now I can tell you I have have several friends with celiac's allergy to gluten in food,which is in just about every cereal,bread ,pasta ect.there;s eczema,there's peanut even kiwi allergy,eating out for them is a non existent,they endure daily inconvience's,pain,runny nose,anxiety and arthritis .Both my son's never brought any peanut to school as there were always classmates that had an allergy.I believe it is on the rise,1-2% of canada has anaphylaxis.I also beleive its our food that is processed,added steroids for faster growth,pesticids,and over prescribed meds given out,apparently introducing food to a baby before six months also has an effect. There's probably alot more of us that have allergy's and do not know it as the symptoms are mild but constant,fatigue,anxiety,arthritis,depression are some Reply #4. Mar 11 10, 1:29 AM |
rayven80
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I don't know if people are getting more allergies or if technology has just improved to where they can diagnose more. Reply #5. Mar 11 10, 2:21 PM |
| Lochalsh
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I certainly made a mess of my earlier statements. Let's see if I can theorize better now. I have to admit, though, that I don't feel good today and am not very lucid. The dogwoods are just about in bloom here, and they've got me sneezing and sniffling. I've been allergic to grasses, flowers, and trees most of my life, but I find that in recent years I'm more susceptible to them than ever. What I wanted to say earlier is that I think all the unnatural, human-generated pollutants have finally worn my autoimmune system down to the point where it doesn't fight back at the noxious chemical environment so well as it used to. (Well, then there's age: the eternal pollutant!) I'm no scientist, no medical professional. This is just what my eyes, ears, and lungs tell me is happening. Bless me, for I have sneezed yet again. Reply #6. Mar 11 10, 2:47 PM |
EmmaF2008
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I'm lucky in that I've only had an allergic reaction once in my life - it was to a food colouring, strangely enough. It was horrible. I honestly think part of the reason for increased allergies is that as children, we are less exposed to dirt, bacteria etc. etc. and our immune systems don't get a chance to strengthen at a young age. Even the most basic cleaners seem to include bleach and "kill 99.99% of bacteria". TV ad's seem designed to scare people half the time. As a child I played in dirt, picked things up off the ground and ate them, shared cups, plates and allsorts with friends...parents these days are being terrorised into over-sanitising their kids environments. My nephew had signs of asthma when he was around two. It was very mild, just a reaction to dust. The doctor advised them to cut back on hoovering and dusting and allow him to build up a tolerance. It worked. He has grown out of it. I'm not saying this is a solution in every, or even in most cases - but this time, it was that everything around him was actually too clean! Reply #7. Mar 11 10, 3:39 PM |
redwaldo
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I've got a really bad allergy-FT addiction! Reply #8. Mar 11 10, 4:46 PM |
Cymruambyth
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Emma, your point about our over-sanitized environment, particularly in the home, is well-taken. Like you, I observed the five second rule and ate food that had fallen on the floor, played in mud, shared drinking glasses with friends, and violated every known hygiene rule at one time or another. However, with the world's best cook for a mother, I was never subjected to processed food and I cook all my own food from scratch, so I know exactly what goes into it. I use organic cleaners (many of which I make myself) and having spent half my life writing advertising I don't believe everything I see and hear in commercials! (Although I wonder how that .1% of bacteria managed to escape the dreaded Lysol! Who did the research to discover that?) I'm allergy free and the only ailments I have are those connected with aging. Go figure. Reply #9. Mar 12 10, 10:09 AM |
Jazmee27
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I wish I were lucky enough to say I had no allergies. The good thing is that they're bearable--I rarely have to go t the doctor for them). I have medication (a decongewstent over-the-counter, plus a prescription nasal spray, plus a rescue inhaler in case I need it), but I don't overuse any of it. It's strictly on an as-needed basis. (Which reminds me:) I think a lot of people who had minor allergies earlier in life have major ones due to overmedication. (Some people were also fortunate enough to grow up in an environment with low ammounts of allergens; at some point, they encounter a harsher environment and have problems. Jaymee Reply #10. Mar 12 10, 2:13 PM |
Mixamatosis
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Latest research seems to suggest that people who sucked their thumbs or bit their nails as children have fewer allergies (because they were more exposed to germs). It does not apply to asthma or hay fever though apparently. I do have asthma and hay fever but no other allergies. Yes I did bite my nails as a child. Reply #11. Oct 13 16, 2:13 AM |
Creedy
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I have no allergies, except of course to cooking. Sucked my finger as a child. It now has a permanent bend to it. Reply #12. Oct 13 16, 4:55 AM |
HairyBear
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Don't all children suck their thumbs at some point? I can't recall if I ever did or not, but I wouldn't be surprised if I did. I don't know if allergies are more common or if we're just spotting them more, but asthma IS much more common now than in the past, mostly because of air pollution. I have mild allergies to grass, pet dander, dust, and apples (that one seems unique to me), and a possibly major allergy to one particular nut (though I quit eating them when I realized it and before it got really bad, so I don't know which nut), but they seem to be much more serious during times when I'm under a lot of stress and barely noticeable when I'm not. IF that's true of other people as well, and IF it's true that stress levels in the Western world have been going up for decades now, then it would stand to reason from those two circumstances alone that allergies would be more prevalent and problematic now than they were a few decades ago, regardless of pollution levels and environmental factors. Add those in and yeah, it would make sense that allergies are getting worse for everyone. Reply #13. Oct 13 16, 6:05 AM |
MiraJane
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There's also those pesky advances in medical science that save the lives of people that go into anaphylactic shock. It has happened to me and it's no fun at all. People used to die from it after the first exposure to their allergen. They were then removed from the population and the gene pool. Premature babies are another group of people that are being saved at pretty much all costs. They are born with underdeveloped immune systems which might lead to more allergies along with other health problems. Reply #14. Oct 13 16, 7:17 AM |
14 replies. On page 1 of 1 pages. 1
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