And now researchers at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver have discovered that kids who are exposed to a lot of dust and animals (farm kids, for instance) are less likely to develop asthma or allergies later in life. This theory is controversial. It may just be that inner city kids are more exposed to things like cockroaches and poor sanitary conditions.
Unfortunately, it's too late to change where we grew up (although I just found a delightful excuse for the dusty furniture). As I write this, I'm sneezing and my head aches because I've been out mowing the lawn on a windy day. I do live in a rural area now (I grew up in the city), and I love the peace and quiet, but haying season is a real drag. I'm not alone in my misery; some 20% of the American people suffer from allergies.
All of this information is wonderful, of course, but short of locking ourselves in an air-conditioned room for the duration, what can we do?
I already fight my year-round allergies with a steroid nasal spray that reduces the inflammation of allergic reactions. These are only available with a doctor's prescription but they're quite effective. I've seen a world of difference, and they're so safe you can use them 365 days a year for many years. Beconase, Flonase, Nasacort, Nasarel, Rhinocort, Nasonex, and the Vancenase I take are some of the brands.
The only problem I've had is that sometimes they're so much in demand the manufacturer can't keep up, so I normally get my prescription refilled a couple weeks before I run out.
You've probably seen the commercials for Nasalcrom. This is another nasal spray but it's an antihistamine which treats the runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, etc. of allergies. Over-the-counter antihistamines such as Benadryl, Tavist, Actifed, and Chlor-Trimeton are fine except that they may cause drowsiness, so you wouldn't want to take them if you'll need to drive. Since many of us need to drive daily, that just isn't a good option.
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