Allergies
Are on the Increase
By
Jane Thurnell-Read
A third
of the population believe that they suffer from allergies,
and even though some of these people may be mistaken, everyone
agrees that eczema, asthma, hay fever, irritable bowel syndrome,
etc. are now more and more common. So, what has happened?
It is often unclear why a person has a tendency to be allergic
or intolerant to a range of substances. Medical practitioners
talk about atopic individuals - atopic means out of place.
To the unknowing this sounds like a medical diagnosis, but
in fact all it means is: You have a tendency to have allergies;
you may have several different symptoms caused by your allergic
reactions; this often runs in families; we don't know why.
Describing someone as an atopic individual is not saying anything
the person does not already know about themself!
Genetic Predisposition
Allergy problems undoubtedly do run in families, so there
may be a genetic component, although the exact mechanism is
not clearly understood. Some small genetic mutation can cause
the immune system to be triggered more easily, so that family
members sharing this mutation will all have a tendency to
allergic reactions, although not necessarily to the same substances,
but this does not explain the rise in the incidence of allergies
in recent years.
Severe Virus Infections
A severe virus infection can lead to damage to the immune
system, so that the individual is more likely to develop allergies
in the future. Again, although this may explain why someone
has allergies, the incidence of virus infections is not on
the increase.
So we have to look elsewhere to explain the rise, and there
are several completely different possibilities.
Parasites
One allergy theory now being proposed is that the lack of
the proper enemies (liver fluke, tapeworms, etc.) has led
to an idle immune system finding inappropriate work in allergic
reactions. There are many antibodies produced in the body
to protect it against invasion by harmful organisms. IgE antibodies
deal effectively and quickly with the extreme danger of infection
by large parasites, such as tapeworms. Parasites' effect on
health can be devastating, so over the years individuals with
efficient IgE mechanisms have lived to reproduce and pass
on their genes at a greater rate than people with a less efficient
IgE mechanism.
The IgE antibodies are also involved in allergic and hypersensitivity reactions,
so people with these inherited efficient IgE mechanisms are more likely to suffer
allergy problems than people who have inherited a less efficient system.
This super-charged immune system was a plus for an asthma sufferer's distant
ancestors inhabiting a world with many life-threatening parasites, but now leads
to a trigger-happy immune system firing off inappropriately.
Other practitioners (notably Hulda Clark in Cure For All Diseases) take the opposite
view, and see many allergy symptoms as being a reaction to an infestation of
parasites.
Excessive Cleanliness
The obsession with the danger of 'germs' is thought to have led to an increase
in allergies. Much of this obsession with cleanliness seems to be driven by the
media and advertising. Headlines about 'killer bugs', and advertisements that
claim a product kills even more germs have led many people to buy more and more
products to wipe out these dangerous enemies.
A view now gaining ground among many researchers and some doctors
is that a certain level of dirt is good for us, particularly during infancy and
early childhood
when the immune system is maturing.
T-helper cells in the immune system recognize foreign antigens and then secrete
substances to activate other cells to fight the invader. In pregnancy the T-helper
cells that attack invaders directly without producing antibodies (Th1 cells)
are less active, as these could lead the mother's system to reject the fetus.
This means that the T-helper cells that are responsible for antibody reactions
(Th2 cells) are more prominent. These are the ones that are involved in allergic
reactions. The new baby's immune system has the same emphasis as the mother's
had during pregnancy. It is believed that the exposure of the very young to some
level of dirt is beneficial in that it helps to rebalance the immune system to
emphasize the T-helper cells that are not involved in the allergy process.
In an excellent article ('New Scientist' July 18th 1998) Garry Hamilton talks
about 'the gentler side of germs'. If the young are not exposed to 'dirt', the
immune system does not go through this rebalancing process, and a tendency to
allergy can result. Linda Gamblin in 'The Allergy Bible' cites several medical
research projects, which support the idea of allowing children to be exposed
to dirt and minor infections to help protect against allergies.
Vaccination
Our children are now being vaccinated against a bigger and bigger range of diseases.
While some of these are serious, many are mild illnesses that were once considered
part of a normal childhood. Many alternative practitioners consider that these
childhood illnesses help to prime the immune system so that it is better able
to cope with a whole range of illnesses later in life.
This view is not accepted by most of the medical profession, and indeed it would
be difficult to prove. However, there is some evidence that vaccination alters
the ratio of T-helper cells and T-suppresser cells. This would be likely to have
an effect on the vaccinated child's susceptibility to allergy reactions. It is
also known that most vaccines stimulate the branch of the immune system that
is concerned with the more extreme immune reactions to invaders such as parasites
(New Scientist July 18th 1998).
Ubiquitous Presence Of Some Foods
Before the advent of freezers and airfreight most people ate local foods in season.
Now most fruit and vegetables are available all year round, so that our systems
are exposed to the same foods continually without respite.
There has been a dramatic increase in people experiencing soya allergy, since
soya has become a common ingredient in many processed foods. In Europe and North
America rice allergy is relatively uncommon, whereas in Asia where it is consumed
more frequently it is much more common.
Technological Developments
Developments that make modern life more comfortable have also led to an increase
in allergies. With the advent of air conditioning, central heating and wall-to-wall
carpeting, house dust mites and moulds such as alternaria have an ideal environment
in which to thrive. Modern offices with sealed windows mean that everyone is
exposed to the perfumes worn by other people. The increasing use of plastics,
formaldehyde, benzene etc. have led to all of us being exposed to an amazing
variety of chemicals.
Contamination By Environmental Pollutants
The chemicals in diesel fumes are known to damage the outer membranes of pollens.
This means that when the pollen is breathed in, the pollen proteins are immediately
in much closer contact with the delicate membranes in the mouth, nose and lungs
than they would be if the pollen had not been damaged in this way.
It has now also been suggested that the immune system is reacting to some harmless
substances because they have been contaminated by environmental pollution: the
immune system does not recognize the food, for example, if it has molecules from
tire rubber attached to it. These molecules sometimes appear similar to enzymes
produced by parasites and so the immune system attacks the 'parasite'.
Although more and more evidence is accumulating for a role for environmental
pollutants, this does not explain why New Zealand, which is relatively unpolluted,
has one of the highest incidences of asthma in the world.
Electro-Magnetic Pollution
An increase in electro-magnetic pollution has run parallel with the increase
in allergies. The scientific jury is still out on the danger of mobile phones,
power lines, etc., but many people are becoming more concerned about our constant
exposure. People who are sensitive to computers, etc. often also show many symptoms
typical of allergic individuals. In some cases correcting this sensitivity to
electro-magnetic sources, results in all or most of the adverse reactions disappearing.
(I recommend health kinesiology for this.)
Stress
The pace of life is quickening all the time: modern technology gives us more
possibilities and many of us want to experience as many of these as we can. A
survey found that half of the 950 young people in their 20's interviewed said
that they would feel a failure if they did not own a home by 26, were not married
by 27 and not both rich and parents by 29. Many of the interviewees said they
were prepared to sacrifice a healthy diet and way of life to achieve this. These
expectations and pressures are not conducive to long-term health and can also
lead to stress and allergies. Pre-packaged, processed foods eaten in front of
the television, too much alcohol, too little fresh air and exercise all take
their toll.
Sometimes particular traumatic events can explain a particular allergy. One of
my clients was allergic to wool and tea. She told me that when she was a small
child she had pulled a cup of hot tea on to herself. At the time she was wearing
a wool sweater, and the tea soaked into the sweater and burnt her very badly.
Diet
It is now well known that bottle-fed babies are more likely to be prone to allergy
problems than breast-fed ones. Sudden or early weaning can contribute to the
problem too.
Sadly the modern diet may be abundant in calories, but there is more and more
evidence that it is low in some important nutrients. People are eating more pre-processed
foods, which may be nutritionally compromised.
Soil is becoming depleted of some minerals, because they have long been taken
up by plants grown in the soil. If the mineral is not in the soil, it cannot
be in the plant, and so it is not available in the foods we eat either.
It is unlikely that there is one simple answer as to why people are allergic,
intolerant or sensitive in general or to particular substances. Research is still
being carried out in this fascinating area. Fortunately with the tools that are
available it is not necessary to know why someone has allergy problems in order
to be able to detect and correct them.
Jane Thurnell-Read is a writer and researcher on health, stress, alternative
medicine, and happiness. Visit her web site http://www.healthandgoodness.com
for tips and information on how to live a happier, healthier life no matter how
busy
you are.
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