SC - Allergies in general

[Ann Lee]

Sorry, but I guess I am the exception to your rule.  I haven't replied to this sooner because I am just getting caught up on back e-mail because I have been recovering from a respiratory infection caused by . . . . . a severe allergic reaction to hay and alfalfa particulates breathed in while helping a friend feed her sheep after a half day spent shearing ¯ outside.   You also should have seen the hives that popped up within 5 minutes of touching the stuff  ¯ the feed, not the sheep.

Yes, I _know_ that it is the hay and alfalfa because this is not the first time I have had this reaction, it is just getting worse each time.  It's not the sheep because I can spend time around them handling them without reacting like this.

I don't have air-conditioning either at home or in the car (unless you count rolling down the window), and I generally go walking outdoors for lunch, and take the bus to and from work.  Also have an herb garden.  Lots of outdoor exposure.

Ann (usually just the exception to the rule type person)

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Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 15:29:05 -0500
From: "Siegfried Heydrich" <baronsig at peganet.com>
Subject: Re: SC - Allergies in general

    OK, here's my 2 cents worth. Most of the people I know who have
allergies tend to spend most of the time in air conditioned environments.
There are several risk factors there, most notably mold and spores living in
the ductwork. Also, those who live that lifestyle (air conditioned work,
car, home) tend to have minimal exposure to things that can stress (i.e.
work out or strengthen) the immune and related systems. Generally speaking,
the more insular the lifestyle, the worse the allergies. I've also always
harbored a sneaking suspicion that it's psychosomatically induced, and is a
manifestation of some kind of self destructive stress reaction.
    I've worked construction, and I don't know of anybody in the trades with
allergies. Same thing with any field that gets you out into the great
outdoors, and puts dirt under your fingernails. But I know lots of teachers
and computer geeks who are allergic to something new every week.
    I don't know if one leads to another, but there seems to be a definite
relationship.

    Sieggy
>
> Can I ask something, seriously? Why is it that you Americans have all
these> allergies?