By Dr. Cliff Han, President & CEO — Allerpops
An allergy attack can quickly ruin even the best day out. Seasonal allergies plague about 25% of adults, and the body’s immune response to an allergen can render one completely incapacitated from sneezing and itchy and watery eyes — not to mention the drowsy effect of most common allergy medicines.
As for food allergies, 6% of adults and about 5% of children carry these at varying degrees of seriousness. Even though allergies are relatively common, there exist persistent myths about allergies that have yet to be eradicated.
Unfortunately, these myths have endured and are often so solidified in the culture that they stand in the way of people getting eventual relief from their allergies. Here are some common allergy myths and the truth behind what you may have been told about allergies.
You can get rid of your allergies by moving location
People move to cities, states, and even countries for various reasons, and allergies may be one of them. However, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America does not recommend moving in an attempt to escape your allergies.
Even if you feel moving to a colder area may help you escape the onslaught of pollen that hits you every spring, you may be surprised that an allergy-prompted move could have the opposite effect and actually make allergies worse. While your allergy symptoms may disappear at first, due to a change in the air quality from where you previously lived, they could return with a vengeance.
Your hypersensitive immune system is constantly working to produce antibodies against pollen in the new place. Instead of moving, people who suffer from allergies should concentrate on reducing the activity of the immune system when there is no infection present. This has shown to be more effective than moving to a new place every year or two, and is also much cheaper!
You can never outgrow your allergies
This notion is simply untrue. Many children, for example, grow out of their milk and egg allergies by age 16. Allergic reactions tend to become weak as we grow older, and some people even find that their allergies completely disappear as they age.
Sometimes, new allergies can be triggered by events — such as pregnancy — and, conversely, allergies can be squashed by the same event. But just because a child has an allergy does not necessarily mean they will carry that allergy into adulthood.
At the same time, repeated exposure to new allergens in adulthood can also trigger new allergies. So, while you may be able to shed some childhood allergies, new ones could be ready to appear when you least expect them.
There is no cure for allergies
Those with allergies believe that they are relegated to a life of antihistamines or having Epipens at the ready. However, recent research has uncovered that allergies can actually be brought to a state of remission.
The cause of allergies has been connected to an oral probiotic deficiency. When this deficiency was remedied, allergies were effectively “cured.”
While this research is still in its infancy, scientists and allergists alike are hopeful that it could lead to relief for millions around the world who regularly suffer from allergy attacks. In addition, the study led to the development of the Theory of the Negative Trigger, which advocates that probiotics introduced orally are a “negative trigger,” allowing for a modulation of the relationship between microbiota and the immune system — opening the door for the treatment of and an eventual cure for allergies.
Allergies are just for kids
Anyone who carries around stores of Benadryl and tissues in the spring and fall (or even year-round) can attest to the fact that allergies are not just kid’s stuff. Allergies can hit at any age and can emerge at any age as well.
Allergies may be more prevalent among children, however, due to a more frequent interruption of the oral microbiome. Kids use antibiotics more frequently due to infections that often pop up in childhood, effectively killing off the “good bacteria” that can help battle allergic reactions.
The only treatment for allergies is to avoid triggers
While prevention is an excellent way to avoid the symptoms that come along with allergies, it is not the only treatment for allergy sufferers. Remedies such as antihistamines, commonly found in allergy medicines or nasal sprays, can help stave off the worst symptoms temporarily.
Some people who suffer from allergies will also resort to regular shots with their allergist. However, with new information pointing to a shortage of “good bacteria” leading to allergies, products designed to work as prebiotic supplements, replenishing that good bacteria, can work as effective treatments as well.
Allergies are not just an annoyance but can seriously disrupt people’s lives. What we know about allergies — what causes them and how to treat them — is changing daily.
With every new study or bit of research, we get closer to being able to eradicate allergies altogether. By dispelling the commonly-held myths about allergies, we can help those who suffer from them find more effective treatments and get some much-needed relief.
