A century ago, most allergies weren’t even recognized, today they’re a global burden. There are over 200 allergens out there that affect people and their ability to live their lives normally. While medications can effectively treat certain allergies, there is no one solution for all of them and the problem is quickly growing. Worldwide, sensitization rates to one or more common allergens among school children are approaching 50%. Indeed, the prevalence of allergic diseases is expected to reach up to 4 billion people by the 2050s.
Why is this? It is widely thought that the shift in our lifestyles and how we spend more and more time indoors could be a significant contributing factor. But hiding within your home are a host of indoor allergies that cause misery to millions. You just have to know where to look.
Are you allergic to your own home?
Footnotes
- Claritin: https://www.claritin.com/claritinblueskyliving/read/200-types-of-allerg…
- American Academy of Allergy Asthma &Immunology: http://www.aaaai.org/about-aaaai/newsroom/allergy-statistics
- Global Atlas of Allergy: http://www.allergique.org/IMG/Global_Atlas_of_Allergy.pdf
- NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever/
- World Allergy: http://www.worldallergy.org/UserFiles/file/WorldAllergyWeek2016FactShee…
- Global Atlas of Allergy: http://www.eaaci.org/globalatlas/GlobalAtlasAllergy.pdf
- Asthma UK: https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/animals-and-pets/
- American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology: https://www.aaaai.org/Aaaai/media/MediaLibrary/PDF%20Documents/Practice…
- Dust Mites: http://www.publish.csiro.au/book/6022
- American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: http://acaai.org/allergies/types-allergies/food-allergy/types-food-alle…
- Paediatric Dermatology: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/pde.12685
- US National Institute of Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC154188/
- Paediatric Dermatology: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/pde.12685
- US National Institute of Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15241360
- Food Allergy Research & Education: https://www.foodallergy.org/common-allergens/shellfish
- US National Institute of Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5356959/