Rosalie B. wrote:
Jeff wrote:

enigma wrote:
Rosalie B. wrote in
:

It also depends on whether it is a sensitivity or an allergy, which are
different things. An allergy is a reaction that is mediated (caused) by
a particularly type of antibody, IgE.

Sensitivity means that someone is sensative to something. It doesn't
have to be an allergy (although allergy is a type of sensitivity).

Actually, in studies, they seem to find that kids who are exposed to
potential allergens are actually less likely to become allergic to
something than kids who aren't exposed to the allergen.

begin rant

Unfortunately, the science and medical education in high school and
college for non-medical people (and probably nurses, too) can be
improved. The terminology is specific. But, by understanding the
terminology and the actual diseases, one is able to make better choices.
This is also important for avoiding useless treatments (quacks) and tests.

end rant

I think there is too much advertising of drugs on TV. I'm sure that
drives up the price of the drugs and the side effects seem to me to be
worse than the disease.

I also think there's too much clean-nik stuff. Too many air
fresheners, too many people agonizing over how white your wash is etc.

I totally agree. I do think that letting patients know that there is a
treatment for some diseases is helpful, overall, there is way too much
advertising to doctors and patients for drugs, especially prescription
drugs.

...

DH does as you do - he takes a decongestant or anti-histamine when he
gets symptoms. I do the opposite. I hate taking medicine and don't
want the bounce back from it. Plus, I'm so used to (from childhood)
being stuffed up or sneezing that normally it doesn't really bother me
and I don't take anything (which drives dh crazy because he does not
like it if I have symptoms that he can't fix even if they don't really
bother me).

I swear that because my nose is always a bit stuffed up, I can't smell
as well. Considering that I now teach ninth grade, this is a real
advantage, particularly with the boys in my school. In fact, it's only
the boys who smell in my school. The boys constantly pass gas, some
don't have families who know how to wash laundry and others need to add
the word "deodorant" to their vocabulary, particularly after gym.
Sometimes the boys complain about nasty smells, and I can't smell a
thing. I have seriously thought about going to my doctor and seeing if
anything can be done, but I fear what would happen if my nose did get fixed.

Jeff