Seasonal allergies are on the rise. The Center for Health Statistics of the CDC reports about one quarter (25.7%) of adults and 1 in 5 children (18.9%) have a seasonal allergy. It is estimated that 30 to 40 percent of the world’s population now have some form of allergy.
One theory is that in our increasingly hygienic world, children are not exposed to enough germs and dirt to build up resistance. Another theory is that the shift in diet toward processed food has affected our body's ability to build immunity against these tiny irritants. A third possibility is increased exposure to environmental toxins, which may reduce the skin’s ability to resist allergens.
Studies show a trend in allergies worsening as age causes anatomical changes in the gut, the skin, the respiratory system, and the immune system. Common types of allergic reactions that worsen with age are food allergies, drug allergies, hay fever, asthma, and skin allergies. Here are things you can do manage the symptoms:
- Wear a face mask
- Consult an allergist or a pulmonologist
- Use medications
- Try immunotherapy
- Give your home a thorough cleaning
- Rinse your nasal passages
- Replace processed foods with more natural foods
