Allergies Are More Common Than You Think
When it comes to prevention, the majority of allergy sufferers get an "F" on their "Allergy Report Card" according to a recent survey because nearly half wait until symptoms occur before taking action, rather than taking advantage of therapies that can prevent symptoms from occurring.
For the survey, conducted by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, researchers interviewed 1,000 men and women about their knowledge of allergy triggers, symptoms, prevention and treatment. About half of those surveyed were seasonal allergy sufferers who were also asked questions about their management of their allergies. Unfortunately, most scored poor marks in many areas of allergy knowledge, including the following:
• Awareness, "F." Only 28 percent said they were very knowledgeable about allergies. In addition, only one in five knew that having a family history of allergies increases their risk of allergies.
• Triggers, "C." Most could identify common triggers such as pollen, pet dander, and mold. But awareness was lower for other triggers such as cockroaches.
• Symptoms, "F." About 80 percent said allergy symptoms (such as stuffy nose, congestion, itchy and watery eyes, or a runny nose) disrupt their lives.
• Prevention, "F." Most fail to act before allergy symptoms occur.
• Treatment, "D." Many are aware of over-the-counter allergy medications, but many aren't treating their symptoms because of fears about side effects.
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The results of this allergy awareness test show that while allergy sufferers may think they know enough about their allergies, there's a gap between what they know and the impact allergy symptoms have on their lives. Most allergy sufferers say their symptoms are controllable yet eight out of 10 also say allergy symptoms disrupt their lives.
"When it comes to our health, we need to strive to do better than average," says Mike Tringale, director of marketing and communications at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. "To raise the allergy grade, Americans need to learn how to manage symptoms so allergies do not impact their quality of life, by disrupting daily activities or preventing attendance at important events."
Managing Symptoms the Natural Way
While over-the-counter and prescription medications can help you cope with your allergy symptoms, they often have unwanted side effects such as drowsiness.
Fortunately, God has created natural nutrients that are very effective in combating allergy symptoms. Many of these nutrients are natural antihistamines, without any ill side effects. A few of these key nutrients include the antioxidants vitamin A (beta-carotene) and vitamin C, grape seed and green tea leaf extracts, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (another antioxidant that helps clear mucus from nasal and respiratory passages) and quercetin (a flavonoid antioxidant that has been shown to inhibit the release of histamine in the body).
A daily natural supplement program that includes these key nutrients, along with a few lifestyle adjustments, can help you find relief from your allergy symptoms so that they don't disrupt your life.
