Why are allergies so common nowadays?

1. 95

   Robie Benveposted 12 years ago

   Why are allergies so common nowadays?
   
   I hardly remember anyone being allergic when I was growing up. What happened?

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2. 60

   Marturionposted 12 years ago

   I've noticed this, as well.  Not just the frequency, but the severity seems to be on the rise.  For at least a portion of the increase, I think that education is at the heart.  many people who suffered from unknown ailments and mysterious symptoms, often times in virtual silence, are now being diagnosed with allergies, due to the increase in understanding.  I also believe that a large part of the increase is due to environmental factors that weren't present, or weren't as widely present, 20 and 30 years ago.  People are traveling more, being exposed to a larger variety of foods and environments.  It should be expected that this would have an impact.
     Thirdly, I do believe there is a psychosomatic factor, as well.  As long as the earth has turned, there has been a portion of the population determined to suffer from the latest "affliction di'jeur." With an increase in legitimate allergies, there is also a steady increase in imagined allergies.  The mind is a very powerful tool, and is fully capable of mimicking any symptom it needs to, provided that the body is determined to have them.  When you put all three factors together, it does explain the increase.

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3. 0

   greeneyedblondieposted 9 years ago

   There does seem to be some kind of "rise" in it I've noticed. Number one: someone might not actually be allergic to something, they just think they are. I'm not saying all allergies are fake, but there probably are some misdiagnosis's in there. Also, we're putting more things in our food more than ever. Most people probably aren't allergic to the food itself but something sprayed on it or a chemical that preserves it instead. Or the chemical itself has caused the body to think a certain food is "bad" and starts attacking itself like an allergy does. Those are my reasons for this.

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4. 0

   RTalloniposted 9 years ago

   greeneyedblondie has a thought-provoking comment since allergy testing and treatment can take up to 5 years.  That's a pretty big business…  One has to wonder if there aren't more natural and less-expensive ways to manage or solve symptoms.  Not all, but many "modern" illnesses can be addressed safely and even completely by addressing lifestyles--diet and exercises issues being at the top of the list.

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