Comprehensive state-of-the-nation on allergies and quality of life
introduced today
TORONTO, May 1 /CNW/ - With each passing year, allergies as a condition
continue to rise in Canada. In fact, 10 million Canadians suffer from seasonal
allergies alone. And for these sufferers, allergies aren't just a pesky
annoyance, but a condition that significantly impacts their day-to-day lives.
This is an issue that hasn't gone unnoticed by industry leader, Reactine, who
today launches the first-ever 2007 Quality of Life Report - a comprehensive
research review that explores the impact of allergies on individuals' quality
of life over the past five years.
This national, state-of-the-nation review talks to 2007 allergy trends,
seasonal predictions, health professional perspectives, and a cross-comparison
of quality of life issues from 2002 to today.
"The expression allergy 'sufferer' is certainly fitting," says Toronto
family physician, Dr. Jennifer Malcolm. "If you don't have allergies, it's
hard to imagine the extent that this condition can affect your day-to-day
functioning, particularly during summer months when Canadians want to get
outside and enjoy the season."
The World Health Organization defines quality of life relating to health
as 'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely
the absence of disease.'(1) The 2007 Reactine Quality of Life Report tackles
the quality of life and allergy question via clinical research, allergic
population breakdowns, and national health opinion from allergists to family
physicians to pharmacists. This research compilation also contains
cross-country quantitative data and analysis of allergy sufferers'
perspectives on quality of life issues ranging from productivity, to social
interactions and even relationships.
"The issue of quality of life and allergies has been on the radar screen
for some years now - and will just continue to grow in importance," says Dr.
Malcolm. "In fact, many organizations are starting to treat allergies as a
disability. Case in point, in 2002, the Canadian Transportation Agency ruled
allergies can be considered a disability for airline passengers, and last year
almost nine in 10 sufferers believed their city of residence has an obligation
to reduce smog and pollution levels to assist those with allergies."(2)2007 Report highlights:(3)(4)
- Allergic and Unbearable. Three out of four Canadians with allergies
say symptoms increase irritability and fatigue, and 55 per cent claim
reduced productivity (housework; on-the-job, academia).
- It's not in Your Head: And this doesn't come as a surprise to health
experts. This season 71 per cent of health professionals agree
allergies can regularly or often affect a person's quality of life.
2007 Report highlights:
- Spring Shut-Ins - No Way. A whopping 86% of allergy sufferers refuse
to let their allergies keep them indoors - but how is that impacting
their quality of life?
- Silent Sufferer: Twenty-two percent of Canadians with seasonal
allergies believe their symptoms are getting worse year-over-year.
More than half say their allergies have developed as an adult, and
believe symptoms worsen with age.
- Allergies and the Bottom Line: One out of two allergy sufferers
believe they have reduced on-the-job productivity during the season,
and 83 percent of human resource professionals agree employee
productivity is diminished due to allergic symptoms.
- Smog + Pollen = Smollen: Did you know that smog may
exaggerate or intensify allergies by stimulating the production of
pollen in urban areas? Three quarters of allergy sufferers claim
increased suffering as a result of record smog has had an "Impact" on
overall quality of life.
- 2007 Allergy Map: Ontario rates highest for seasonal allergies -
whereas Atlantic Canada fare the best, with the least amount of
sufferers.
- Mars versus Venus: More women experience (or admit to?), seasonal
allergies (26%) versus their male counterparts (18%).
- It's Raining Allergies: Will irregular weather patterns affect this
allergy season?
- The Allergy Myth: Forty-nine per cent of health professionals say the
optimal time to start taking allergy medication is when the season
starts, but before the onset of symptoms - yet only 12% of allergy
sufferers do this. Only three per cent of health professionals say
the best time to start allergy medication is on days when symptoms
flare up.
- Love, Labour & Snoozing. According to the Quality of Life Report,
allergies permeate all facets of life, including sleep patterns, work
performance, and even libido."Allergy sufferers can significantly improve their quality of life with
one simple step - by taking their medication early," says Dr. Susan Waserman,
Allergist and Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology
& Allergy at McMaster University. "Patients often wait until their symptoms
are in full swing before taking an antihistamine, but by that time it's often
too late to experience full relief. Antihistamines should be used daily, with
the onset of the earliest symptoms, to increase their effectiveness."
Relief from the Grief
"The unpredictable weather patterns we experienced this past winter make
the upcoming allergy season even harder to predict," says Dr. Malcolm. "But
Canadians with allergies are not content to hibernate this summer - so
proactively managing your symptoms is key to enjoying improved quality of
life."
Dr. Malcolm suggests the following tips to get outside and enjoy the
upcoming allergy season:1. Go Online: Check out your provincial online resource for air quality
forecasting or log onto www.qualityoflife.ca for symptom management
tips. Check the daily pollen counts before heading out - they tend be
lower when it's cloudy or after rain.
2. Avoid Outdoor Activity: Try to stay indoors from early to mid morning
(between 5 and 10 a.m.) when pollen levels are highest. Close windows
at home and in the car; and leave the lawn care to others.
3. Allergy Arsenal: Treat your symptoms with a second-generation
antihistamine like Cetirizine (the medicinal ingredient in Non-Drowsy
Reactine). Fast-acting Reactine starts to work in 20 minutes and has
a long safety record. In addition, Visine Advanced Allergy can be
used to fight itchy eyes as a result of allergies and Benadryl can
also be used to combat skin itch and hives.Highlights from the 2007 Reactine Quality of Life Report are now
available to Canadians across the country - for your complimentary copy just
log onto www.qualityof life.ca.
B-roll footage is available via satellite May 1st: Satellite
coordinates - Anik F2 (111.1'West) C Band Transponder 3B - analog, Downlink
Frequency: 3820 Vertical from 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. EST (English) and
1:30 - 2:00 p.m. EST (French). Beta tapes of B-roll footage available upon
request.
Non-Drowsy Reactine provides fast, effective relief of symptoms
associated with seasonal and year-round allergies and allergic skin reactions,
such as hives. Non-Drowsy Reactine can start to work to relieve your allergy
symptoms within 20 minutes. Non-Drowsy Reactine(R) comes in four convenient
formulations: Regular Strength, Extra Strength, Reactine Allergy + Sinus and
Reactine Syrup for Children. Non-Drowsy Reactine is owned by McNeil Consumer
Healthcare.----------------------------------
(1) WHO. Constitution of the World Health Organization, Geneva, 1946.
Accessed October 30, 2006
(2) CBC: Allergies can be a disability for airline passengers: CTA.
(2002) Retrieved April 25, 2007, from
http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2002/05/14/airlinesallergies_020514.html
(3) Reactine Quality of Life Report 2007. Reactine (April 2007)
(4) Reactine Quality of Life Index 2007, Decima Research. (Apr. 2007)
For further information: or to book an interview with Dr. Malcolm please
contact: Ryan Lockhart or Amy Gillespie, Environics Communications, (416)
969-2749 or (416) 969-2714, rlockhart@environicspr.com,
agillespie@environicspr.com
