A term for the biological antigen-antibody reaction which causes various symptoms ranging from rashes to anaphylaxis in sensitized people who encounter certain particles. Can also refer to the study of these interactions, treatment of afflicted patients, intensity of reaction, and study of reaction prevalence in a given population.
Questions tagged [allergies]
25 questions
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Does Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) exist?
A recent article from Daily Mail cited the case of a woman claiming to be allergic to Wi-Fi, and that it could even kill her. This claim sounded ridiculous and absurd to me. Quoting parts of the exact text:
Jackie Lindsey, 50, claims she has…
Victor Stafusa - BozoNaCadeia
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Are many allergies caused by too much hygiene?
One hears it once in a while that many allergies are due to people overly concerned with hygiene. The rationale is that growing up in a near-sterile environment will leave your immune system confused so that you then develop allergies.
Is this…
Lagerbaer
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Can locally produced honey help to build an immunity to hayfever?
I suffer quite badly in the summer months with hayfever and I've been told by numerous people that eating a spoonful of locally produced honey a day in the months leading up to summer will help me become immune to the local pollen that causes my…
Hayley Stevens
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Has there been a dramatic rise in food allergies?
There's been a lot of reports in the media that there's been a large rise in the number of allergy-related health problems over the past decade. Some reports claim that there has been a 265% increase in the number of hospitalizations due to allergy…
Django Reinhardt
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Is AllergyEZ a validated treatment for allergies?
My girlfriend is excited about an allergy treatment she's about to undergo. The product is sub-lingual allergy drops with the brand name "AllergyEZ." She's told me that her allergy doctor has told her that it is not FDA approved, but that it's…
Jacob
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18
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Is the "Electromagnetic Field Sensitivity" study reliable?
Until recently, I have only heard about studies proving electrosensitivity being entirely a nocebo effect.
Now I just found out about a study:
Electromagnetic Field Sensitivity, William J. Real et al., 1991.
I have not myself read the study, but it…
Kristoffer Nolgren
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16
votes
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Do beeswax candles "purify" the air?
It's a common claim on sites promoting beeswax candles over paraffin or soy candles that they "purify" the air and reduce allergies and asthma (Cleanup Expert,Ebeehoney, Pathways Arts, WarmCandle).
There does seem to be clear evidence that beeswax…
Cecilia
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16
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Can sunglasses reduce the symptoms of hayfever?
My mother always relayed this one to me: put sunglasses on and your eyes won't itch so much. I always laughed at this as being an old wives tale, however there seems to be plenty of anecdotal advice given out online substantiating the claim - albeit…
Jamiec
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Do cat owners have a lower chance of developing allergies?
The following is from http://blog.petspyjamas.com/getty-dog-owners-vs-cat-owners-unbelievable-facts/9/:
9. Cat owners have a lower chance of developing allergies
When cats enthusiastically rub themselves against your legs, it isn’t
just out of…
cja
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Can women give their children certain allergies by eating certain foods while pregnant?
I've heard anecdotes time and time again from people with allergies that their parent ate a lot of the food they're allergic too while pregnant. Is there any known correlation?
Alright, let's jazz up this question with some sources:
Can Pregnant…
Alain
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8
votes
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Do air purifiers remove allergens?
I am allergic to House dust mites. There are some air purifiers on the market that suppose to "clean" the air and reduce allergens. I have been really skeptical concerning these devices. Recently I received an offer from my health insurer to buy…
Andra
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8
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Does breastfeeding affect the risk of Adult Onset Allergies
A radio program over the weekend had a doctor who stated that people who were breast fed as babies were at a greatly reduced risk of adult onset allergies and that the vast majority of patients she was seeing with adult allergies were not breast fed…
Chad
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7
votes
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Does sugar deplete enzymes, allowing partially digested protein into the blood, and triggering an immune response?
I've seen this identical statement quoted in several non-technical publications, without any citation other than the author. For instance:
“Processed sugar is a major source of inflammation in the diet, and it is wreaking havoc,” says Renae…
Ray Butterworth
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7
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Do food proteins in vaccines cause the development of food allergies?
Vinu Arumugham writes in the article Evidence that Food Proteins in Vaccines Cause the Development of Food
Allergies and Its Implications for Vaccine Policy published in the Journal of Developing Drugs:
Many studies since 1940 have demonstrated…
Christian
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7
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Can children with peanut allergies be triggered by the mere presence or smell of peanuts nearby?
I've heard this claim a lot (usually by schools who take a lot of measures to prevent peanut exposure in the classrooms and lunch area, or by parents of allergic children), but is there any scientific evidence that non-contact exposure to peanuts or…
smooshie
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