Leading lives designed and dictated by allergens

No surprise then that Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec, Benadryl and Neti pots have become household names for many.

Allergies are reported to be the sixth leading cause for chronic illness in the US, thus keeping many of them guard against it. They are compelled to design their lifestyle based on the allergens they are prone to. This resultant change in lifestyle is a new and unexpected experience for the immigrants.

“In just a year after we moved to the US, my two-year old daughter developed asthma. The attacks were so severe that we were scared for her life. Finally, when the doctors diagnosed the condition to be one of dust allergies, we were not relieved. Constant monitoring of the situation at home and wherever she went became a necessity. Constant vigil on keeping the home dust-free became an obsession – we had to change the carpets to wooden floors. We had to lead a restricted life when it came to contact with the outside world.

Life for a two-year old could not be more cumbersome with restrictions on the play time. Despite all the precautions, the attacks were sudden and severe, and kept repeating itself,” said Mallika Nathan, a concerned mother.

“My son was diagnosed to be allergic to milk and the dietary restrictions were too much to follow. I had to quit myjob to take care of him,” said Sangeetha, another mom. “Even planning a vacation to India has been a tough decision for us,” she added.

Yet another common allergy for children is that of peanuts. Unfortunately, US has too much of peanuts on its plate and it is all what the children love to eat. But peanuts and other nut allergies are so severe that most schools restrict such food or snacks to be sent to school. The lunch rooms are monitored for such foods. In organising birthday parties, parents have to be watchful in planning the menu to care for children with allergies.

“We have a kid in our school who is so severely allergic to even the smell of peanuts that we ask all teachers and children to come free of the smell even ifthey had eaten peanut butter at home. Its smell is good enough to trigger the allergy attacks in some children,” said an elementary school teacher.

Adults, too, are caught in this challenge, having to face the onslaught of seasonal allergies. The most common is that of pollen allergy. With spring comes the flowering season; but with it also comes the threat of pollen allergy. Attacks often manifest in the form of uncontrolledsneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, scratching throat, rashes, hives, breathing trouble, asthma attacks and sometimes even death if left unattended. Some people have to carry injections in their bags to save them in times of emergency.

Allergic people suffer these attacks badly at work. As seasonal allergies linger for a longer time, taking time off work is not an option. Hence pills are the only option.

“During my first six years in the US, I had never had an episode of allergy attacks. Slowly, the pure environment had its magic on my immunity that I started seeing the allergies taking over my system,” said Karthik Ranganathan, in his mid-thirties.

Seasonal allergies, food allergies like milk, white sugar and nuts, allergies to dust mites, trees, grass, weeds, pollen, mould spores, cockroaches, cat, dog, rodent, the list is long. People visit the emergency room about 2,00,000 times each year because of food allergies says a study. At least 90-100 deaths occur each year in the United States due to insect sting anaphylaxis.

Having one person in the family suffering from allergies is good enough for the lifestyle of all other members to take a beating. Study also says children born in the US are prone to allergy more than those born outside. The food and lifestyle are to blame, feel many experts.

The extensive use of packaged foods has become a cause for the lower immunity that an individual develops. For immigrants, the completely new food options alter their metabolism. Moving from a tropical geography, the metabolism undergoes a change for immigrants. “Every day, morning cereal or the cup of packaged food breakfast options are so new for the immigrants that their body finds it difficult to accept. Nutrition rich processed food with a reduced metabolism have impact on the immunity and that opens the door for all kinds of allergies,” observed Dr Priyaa Balaa, an Ayurveda practitioner who runs Ayurvedashram in New Jersey.

“Most children eat food that are easily available in the packaged form. And there is no second thought by parents who are already pressed for time. In the immigrant’s world where there is no support system, most of the infant food is market supplied. No wonder there is less immunity that opens the doors for allergy. Many opt for alternative medicines like Ayurveda that helps boost metabolism,” she added.

It is incorrect to always blame the impurities and imperfections around us in India; rest assured that all that appears pure does not guarantee peace of mind. Even living in pure, clean and green pastures comes at a price!

— The writer is ajournalist based in New York