Excessive-cleanliness-may-boost-allergies

The Washington Times ^ | April 15, 2010 | Jennifer Harper

[Ditter]

Thanks for a better explanation that I could have given. I suspect that we are talking apples and oranges here.

Allergies like you and I have are caused by an “over active immune system”, we inherit this from our parents.

The lack of dirt theory may be an “under active immune system” that has not been exposed to bacteria and viruses enough to keep from catching everything that comes along.

I always get a laugh about people who say “I have no allergies and am healthy as a horse because I was raised dirty”. I do have a bit of good news for you. I was waiting to go in for minor surgery and the doctor after asking about my allergies and getting my list, remarked "hummm, you probably will never have cancer". That's and over active immune system at work!

[mowowie]

Germs are EVERYWHERE.

I came to live with that fact early on.

[algernonpj]

..."hummm, you probably will never have cancer". That's and over active immune system at work!

Thanks for the tidbit! See, there's always a silver lining. (At least that's what I'm telling myself this spring - the pollen counts have been off the wall.)

When I researched my father's family (in the US since the early 1800's), I discovered back then, when the life span was about 40 - 45, my father's antecedents were living well into their 60's. In addition, although I don't get a flu shot because of allergies to eggs and feathers, I almost never get the flu. Ditto for colds, or infected cuts. I have to be 'living dead' exhausted for an infection to take hold.

[Ditter]

I am 70 years old soon and so far so good. Not much cancer in my ancestors. The only health problems I have had (knock on wood) have been allergies and those are annoying not life threatening. I'm good thanks! :o)

[surrey]

My children and grandchildren also have no allergies but their schools have peanut-free tables at lunch and every classroom has a list of all the children with allergies and what they are. My daughter can’t have some of my grandsons’ friends to the house because they have a dog and one little girl comes with a list of foods she’s ALLOWED to eat. Sorry, even my PCP who is a good friend says he’s seen a dramatic increase in allergies in his 30 years of practice.

[Ditter]

I understand what you are saying but prior to 30 years ago, allergies were not on any ones radar, doesn't mean they were not around. Better testing, better record keeping, better doctors now than in the past, medicine has come along way. No doctor ever treated my childhood allergies, that would not be true today.

I did have an inhaler for my asthma but no doctor ever said, get her off those feather pillows, keep that cat out of her bed, give her these antihistamines in the spring and summer, keep a food diary to see what affects her. No child today would have to suffer like I did.