Got Allergies ?
You are NOT Alone !

ALLERGIES Touch Every Aspect of Your Life

Your Immune System is what keeps your Body Healthy and Free of Disease, but for as many as 50 Million Americans, sometimes their Immune System goes haywire mistaking innocent environmental Allergens such as Pollen, Animal Dander, Pollen etc. as harmful thereby triggering a chain of very unpleasant and unhealthy events for the individual.

Allergies / Allergic Rhinitis is considered by many Physicians to be no more than a nuisance, treating the symptoms only on an as-needed basis. In reality, under-diagnosed and under-treated, Allergic Rhinitis is the sixth most common chronic illness and it can have a significant impact on the quality of patients' lives. Recent estimates have found that 20% to 30% of Adults and up to 40% of Children have Allergic Rhinitis.

Allergies not only negatively impact the Quality of Life of EACH Allergy Sufferer, but those of their Spouse, Family, Social Friends, Professional Workers… virtually Everyone they interface with on a daily basis are ALL negatively touched by Allergy Symptoms and Complications.

A poll, sponsored by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, reveals that 94% of Allergy Sufferers say their condition Negatively affects their Quality of Life, but few do anything about it. 56% said they live in a household in which at least one member, including themselves, have Allergies. Current estimates indicate that more than 50 million people in the United States suffer from Allergic Rhinitis. It is the most prevalent chronic condition in patients under age 18. In one study, 42% of children had physician-diagnosed Allergic Rhinitis by 6 years of age.

Often underestimated by both Allergy Patients and Physicians, the impact of Allergic Disease on a Sufferer’s Quality of Life can be very significant. When in Fact, recent Studies have shown that the Quality of Life Index for an Allergy Sufferer is LOWER than that of an Asthma Sufferer. Still further, Studies show Chronic Sinusitis even exceeds Congestive Heart Failure in its adverse effects of Quality of Life !

An important Negative Impact on Quality of Life pertains to the Life Choices, which a Sufferer makes to accommodate their Disease. Altered LifeStyle choices can have long-reaching effects which can lead to problems such as Avoidance of Exercise (resulting in Weight Gain & Weight Complications ), Low Self-Esteem, Shyness, Depression, Anxiety, Fearfullness, Poor Academic / Learning Performance, Social Interaction difficulties, Inability to participate in Sport activities.

For Example, Allergic Rhinitis in Children can result in significant nasal congestion, resulting in physical discomfort, and in some patients it may also interfere with both sleep quantity and quality. If sleep is adversely affected, then children are tired and irritable the next day. They may have trouble concentrating at school and at home, and their performance at school may suffer because of the fatigue. If school performance falters, it can result in problems with self-esteem, as well as possibly affecting advanced educational options at a later time. If young people have Allergic disease resulting in lower respiratory problems such as Asthma, their decreased respiratory capacity can slowly but subtly affect life choices they make, including decisions not to participate in school sports, particularly if the disease is not well controlled. This can make them feel like they're different from their peers. Furthermore, it can contribute to a lack of exercise that has secondary effects such as increasing the risk of obesity, an ever-increasing problem among American children and adolescents.

Untreated or inadequately treated Allergic Disease can also result in significant fatigue in Adults. By interfering with the quality of sleep, adults can have more problems with drowsiness during the day, resulting in an inability to maintain focus at work or other activities. If Allergic disease interferes significantly with sleep, it can exacerbate sleep-disordered breathing. It is well known that nasal congestion is a contributing factor for obstructive sleep apnea, and that some patients who have sleep-disordered breathing will improve significantly with management of their nasal obstruction. If someone has sleep-disordered breathing, they may experience daytime somnolence and an increased risk for motor vehicle accidents. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea may also lead to decreased concentration and excessive sleepiness, and it may increase the risk for hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, and obesity. Finally, untreated Rhinitis in adults and children increases their risk for secondary infections, such as acute and chronic sinusitis, as well as otitis media.