New Methods for Overcoming Environmental and Food Allergies

When it comes to allergies, the number of affected individuals in the United States alone is staggering. Approximately 20 million adults and 6 million children in the US are affected by seasonal allergies, and roughly 32 million Americans struggle with a myriad of food allergies.Seasonal allergies have been front-of-mind for many Americans, especially with the Spring season in full effect.The struggles people with seasonal allergies face have no doubt worsened with the introduction of longer and more severe pollen seasons, as well concerning levels of air pollution recorded across the country that were detailed in the latest State of the Air Report by the American Lung Association.In this wide-ranging interview for DocTalk, Christine Rauscher, MD, member of the Allegheny Health Network and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Drexel University, offered an overview of some of the most common allergies in the US as well as what could be done to prevent severe allergic reactions among adult and pediatric populations.