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- kamisama, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12I heard the same thing about bottle feeding. The sessions where mothers group together to breastfeed their offspring and have them switch milk is becoming popular again too. Although a recent article i read in some science mag at the doctor's pointed at western civilization just living too clean. Our immune system is becoming less and less trained.
- dkilmer, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13I've heard that bottle-feeding is also a culprit
- instantdm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I believe its a combination of:
Lack of Exposure to Contaminants, so the threshold for an immune response is to low, setting in motion allergy symptoms.
Birth Control - Birth control seems to mask women's power of smell. Part of women's mate selection strategy involves liking the smell of their potential partner. This smell somehow conveys whether the immune systems of the 2 partners "match"
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=35284&page=4 - willcode4beer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Maybe that and exercise.
I had really bad allergies. During my stint in the Army, I had almost no allergies. Being in an airborne unit, we ran 8-10 miles just about everyday. We also had very rigorous physical training. As for environmental factors, I traveled, and lived in places that weren't the most clean. Maybe a combination of these things. Then again, the quality of the food was so bad that maybe that is what built up the immune system. Seemed not a week went by that somebody didn't get food poisoning.
In most developing countries, people get alot of exercise because its part of daily living. They work hard and walk almost everywhere.
But, to be more brutal, life is harder in many of these places. Many more people die before reaching adulthood. Maybe natural selection is playing a part too. - katina, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I have what is considered a mild case of psoriasis and on days when I'm just exhausted with it I actually catch myself wondering, "Would parasitic worms actually be THAT bad?" (Psoriasis is believed to be an autoimmune disease as well. Basically your body attacks your own skin. You can develop crippling arthritis too as if that's not enough. Fun stuff.)
Yes, the idea of worm infestation is just f***ing ghastly but it is amazing what lengths people will resort to if they are suffering. It just blows me away that so much research is pumped into erectile dysfunction and thinning hair when there are diseases that cause so much grief that people will consider worming themselves like some farm animal. - rolypolyman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4There is an interesting body of evidence showing that the body's IgE antibody system may have been originally designed to control the extremely common helminthic infections (roundworm, pinworm, hookworm, whipworm, etc), and lacking that, the IgE system turns against pollen, peanuts, shellfish, and other nitnoy. So maybe indeed we're victims of our own cleanliness. Here's a few links that scratch the surface:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=helminthic+ige&btnG=Google+Search - willcode4beer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4The amount of research in those things may appear to be amazing but, the reason is simple.
Look at how much revenue an ED drug generates compared to one that actually treats a disease.
If you create drugs to treat something like aids, everybody tries to push down the price and break the patent, thus reducing the profit. Create a drug that gives a boner, you can charge what you like and there's almost no presure to give up the patent. In a market like this its amazing that drug companies even bother trying to create drugs to treat disease. - RickySan65, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Perhaps because the more developed areas have more industry, which in turn makes the air quality significantly less. Which in turn can account for the rise in asthma, it also could explain why more and more people have pollen related allergies, as they can't freely float up in to the higher atmosphere. Anyhoo just my own theory
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I have crohn's, and I've read a lot about Dr. Weinstock's research over at the U of W, Madison. We don't have enough information yet to determine if the worm therapy has helped. There are, however, clinical trials right now that use probiotics such as Acidopholis and Bifidius bacteria. These probiotics are "good bacteria" and are thought to counter some of the inflammation in IBD sufferers.
Furthermore, DARPA is funding a research project called "intestinal fortitude." This project is to help protect soldiers from indigestion. There seems to be a link between allergies and an overactive immune response similar to other autoimmune conditions such as MS, RA, Crohn's and Psoriasis. - justinvt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Would minimalist symptoms be a transient interest in Rothko paintings?
- alanspach, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I developed bad allergies in my 20 just out of the blues. I had no idea what was wrong with me. 5000 dollars worth of doctors later i found out i had allergies and needed weekly shots to help them. Oh BOY!
- phcreates, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Why hasn't anyone here mentioned the fact that people get diagnosted in developed countries because healthcare is more available, and probably more likely to take interest in them? Also, people without as good healthcare who have severe allergies probably just die young.
- willcode4beer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2In many (definitly not all) developing countries, people receive even more vaccinations that in the US.
Mostly because they are exposed to things that just aren't around us. - amonroy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I don't have data to prove it, but it always seemed to me that in developing countries the occurrence of allergies is a lot less than in the US. This might explain why.
- justinvt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2JayKayEss
Yeah, but you are ignoring the fact that the bulk of our immune response (specifically the part responsible for allergic reactions) is mediated by specific protein triggers, which are related exclusively to biological entities (ie, bacteria, viruses, dead cells). This is why you aren't tested for things like "soot" or "carbon monoxide" when you receive the RAST test for allergen sensitivity. - samdu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2You would be correct. It's also the case that the upswing in the occurance of asthma is much more concentrated in affluent areas.
- thirdtenor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Maybe because in developing countries people have more serious ***** to worry about... like a life expectancy over 45yrs...
- hyaena, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I had mild asthma as a child along with severe allergies. As soon as I started smoking, around age 15, my asthma and allergies went away. I've always theorized that my allergies were somehow ignored by my immune system because of a more immediate threat to my body (cigarette smoke.) This sort of validates that theory!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I go with the hygiene hypothesis myself, seems people are getting too good at cleaning....
Hell, I used to get covered in crap and eat worms when I was a toddler, and I'll be honest, I live like a slob; but I've only been ill twice in the past 8 years, 'course that's not grounds for a causal connection, but it's still what I go with!
I know when I have kids I wont be bothered if they come home with pockets full of mud and grazed knees - hordak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2That picture of the hookworm is going to give me nightmares!!!
- Utopian, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3"Lack of Exposure to Contaminants, so the threshold for an immune response is too low, setting in motion allergy symptoms."
Allergies are the immune system overreacting, not underreacting.
I see no reason why the two theories in the article must be mutually exclusive. - kakapu4u, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2So maybe someday Centrum will release a probiotic pill to exercise the immune system - all the bacteria you need to live a healthy lifestyle. As an allergy sufferer with mild and almost constant throat itchiness, I'd buy a bottle of those. Que the infomercials...
- JohnyD, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Breast feed your children and let them play ourdoors in the dirt.... trust me.
- YesWorld, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If you have asthma, you could try eating more fruit:
Low fruit, vitamin C intake tied to asthma risk
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060516/hl_nm/asthma_risk_dc_1 - Itkovian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1What about vaccinations? I was told by a number of doctors that a vaccination at early age may cause the immune system to go haywire. I've no proof, but the way my kid responds in the months after he had his shots makes me wonder ...
- PacoDEmu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It seems like people would have to spend a lifetime building up immunities to things (germs, viruses, allergies, etc.), and by the time they actually have a considerable amount of immunities built up, they're too old to enjoy them.
ot
"that handful of years mayn%u2019t be adequate to understand what a lifetime of use can do to a body."
I think that's the first time I've ever seen the contraction of "may" and "not" in my life, is that even a real contraction?
/ot - theven7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Do these shots help? I've been considering them.
- bryan42, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Shots have about a 70% chance of helping somewhat if you stick with them for several years. Not a great record. Diet and other health changes are more likely to do some good.
- captaindan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1RickySan's ideas might have merit. Temperature inversions tend to form over cities, which prevents air near the surface from circulating upward.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Shots worked awesome for me... at the time I never noticed how good they were until 6 years after I stopped getting them when my allergies returned with a vengence. The shots are not a cure but they definitely lessen the symptoms. Shots combined with moderate doeses of claritin and benedryl work wonders. No perscription allergy medicine ever worked well enough alone without benedryl. When not wearing my contacts visine allergy works wonders too.
- sixlocal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Interesting. I had the same situation. Always sick from allergies as a child, and a lot less when I started smoking -- at about the same age as you.
I've noticed that after I have quit, I'm a lot more sensitive. - werddrew, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This reminds me of the guy who cured his asthma with a controlled hookworm infestation... Anyone else read that?
- H2SO4, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I like hookworms with my coffee.
- willcode4beer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1There's quite a bit of research that says you are right.
- willcode4beer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1RickySan65 and captaindan interesting but, if this were true, Shanxi, Mexico city, and Beijing, would have an exceptionally high incidence, while suburban areas in the US would have really low levels. We see the opposite.
- alarion, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I am the opposite. I was allergy free until about age 14/15. Two major changes around that time:
- Started smoking a few years before
- Got my first pc around that age and started spending more and more time indoors. Previously I spent a good 5 hours outside after school playing basketball, or just hanging out. - jayKayEss, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I really don't buy the "lack of contaminants" scenario... we may be exposed to fewer bacteria and pollen, but we're exposed to waaaaaaay more particulate pollutants, which can also trigger allergies.
- justinvt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1not to freak you out, but I got shots for almost three years, and compared to simply taking loratadine or something similar, they did almost nothing. I did experince some level of relief, but nothing that would merit the hour a week it took to drive to the doctor's office, get the shots, and wait to see if there was a reaction. Also, my doctor originally gave me the impression I would experience some benefit throughout my lifetime, but after year three I asked again and he said I would probably need to get them my entire life. I would rather just pop a pill every day. I suppose if you are experiencing relief, it may be worth it for you...just don't expect anything too dramatic.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I grew up with goddamn cats and have been allergic to them from day one.
The minute I visit a new client's house that has a cat in it, my contacts dry up and cloud over and my throat instantly dries up. Dander is hell in my sinus tract. Dogs, OTOH, are no problem. - cprior, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Forgive my ignorance, but what is the five-seconds-rule for eating from the floor? That you may eat anything that only touched the ground shortly?
- spjmm0, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@dkilmer
"I've heard that bottle-feeding is also a culprit "
I was bottle fed and my friend was not. She has massive allergies I do not. I am sure there might be a slight correlation there but remember data can be made to say what you want. - CedanticPunt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I live in a clean house, don't eat stuff off the floor, and have only had 2 days off work sick in 10 years. You can't generalise from your experiences to the general case.
- nightwing2000, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1By this logic then...
Gardeners, especial organic gardeners, for example (or the outdoorsy types) should have minimalist symptoms; since they would be exposing themselves to all kinds of dirt. Regular hikers/campers who don't get to shower with soap twice a day or wash hands 10 times a day, would have the exposure to reduce their sensitivity.
From the opposite perspective, people with allergies would of course limit their exposure to outdoor environments, thus feeding the vicious feedback cycle. - dantana, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That's not really the way it works. Under the hygiene hypothesis, the exposure they are talking about must generally occur when the immune system is developing, ie in childhood.
- M2Ys4U, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1How on earth are vaccinations evil? It's training the immune system to detect threats and build up defenses against them.
In the same vein, you're saying that the military should never train for battle as they can just go there and shoot the opposition... - M2Ys4U, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"That's not really the way it works. Under the hygiene hypothesis, the exposure they are talking about must generally occur when the immune system is developing, ie in childhood."
Not strictly true, the body is always developing immunity (how else would you get rid of a cold, the flu et. al), your Killer-T cells revert to Memory-B cells once an infection has been detected, and they stick around for a long time.
Of course, it's this reaction to contaminents (& flushing them out of your system) that can sometimes become hyper sensitive and thus alergy symptoms. - theven7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Thanks for all the info. I'm gonna talk to my doctor about it soon.
- justinvt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1rv8ch--
Why are you advising people against immunizations? You know, there is a lot of information saying that a lot of things are bad, but that doesn't always mean that the information is valid. Look at all of the sites claiming that aspartame is deadly and causes nerve damage - that has never been proven in any substantial way by the medical community. I think the benefit offered by immunizations far outweighs any potential negative consequences. If you still had to worry about getting polio or smallpox, I think your attitude might be a little different. - scottyy11, on 02/14/2008, -0/+0This is all caused by exposure to toxic chemical specially those in cleaning products. There are many green cleaners out there.
http://naturalallergycures.net/category/try-green- ... - toody, on 12/16/2008, -0/+0iam seek information about Immune System here
http://emedlog.org/category/AllHealth -
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