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Allergy Epidemic

By Henry J. Fishman, M.D.
ConsumerAffairs.com

September 2, 2005

Allergies • Don't Panic — It's Just Allergy Season • This Year's Spring Allergy Capitals Named • Children of Allergy Sufferers Prone to Same Problem • New Allergy Vaccine May Provide Long-Lasting Relief • Allergy Myths • Allergies More Than Double in 30 Years • Nationwide Study Finds Allergies Increasing --- • Health News

Twice as many Americans, more than half of the population, have allergies compared to 30 years ago, according to an article published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Researchers studied the number of allergy sufferers in a large national survey called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which is done every decade or so be the Center for Disease Control.

They studied nearly 10,000 people who were skin-tested for allergies like dust mites and peanuts. They found that 54 percent test positive for at least one of ten allergies, double the number which showed up 30 years ago.

The huge increase in allergy sufferers has occurred as the same time the number of folks with asthma has gone through the roof. Experts aren’t sure why allergies and asthma rates have increased but if you have either see your doctor or an allergist.

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