Allergies are commonplace

Filed in archive News on August 6, 2005

You're not alone. Many Americans are allergic to one or more triggers:

A growing number of Americans are allergic to at least one or more common allergy-causing substances, like dust mites, rye grass, and ragweed.

A nationwide health survey shows that 54% of Americans aged 6 to 59 had a positive skin allergy test to at least one of 10 common allergy triggers, known as allergens. A positive skin allergy test is a major risk factor for allergic diseases, including asthma, hay fever, and eczema.

Researchers say the rates of allergies to common triggers found in this survey, which was conducted from 1988 to 1994, were two to five times higher than those found in the previous survey in 1976-1980.

They say the results are consistent with other studies that suggest that the number of people with allergies in the U.S. is on the rise.

(Warner, "Most Americans Allergic to 1 or More Triggers", WebMD, Aug.5)