It is their hope that the guide will lead to more awareness of the allergy epidemic and better care for patients. Scientific studies suggest there are many reasons why patients should be seeking help for their allergy problems sooner rather than later. There is evidence that, if left untreated, allergies can cause learning problems in school-age children. Additional research has indicated that those who receive allergy treatments as youths are more likely to outgrow the condition by adulthood. Certainly cancer is horrible.
Heart attacks are horrible.
Indeed, hay fever causes many more problems than just itchy eyes and runny noses. Other common symptoms include sneezing, coughing, nasal congestion, headaches, fatigue, sinusitis, asthma and bronchitis in more than 20 percent of the U.S. population. It impairs the quality of life to a significant degree. Although substances such as molds, dust and animal dander can plague allergy sufferers year-round, in the spring and summer months it is plant pollen that frequently irritates the nose, throat and lungs. Yet each has one similar trait, an overactive immune system that mistakenly identifies harmless substances such as pollen and dust as threats to the body's health.