The Owner's Manual for Allergy Sufferers

By Bruce Kaler M.D.

The Owner’s Manual for Allergy Sufferers is intended as a primer for people who struggle with allergy issues. It explains in easy to understand terms how to recognize common triggers, understand treatments, affordability, symptom specific choices, and tips for managing and preventing allergies whether you have a stuffy nose, rashes or asthma.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bruce Kaler M.D.
• Release date: Jan 19, 2009
• ISBN: 9781452308975

Bruce Kaler M.D.

Over thirty years clinical experience as a physician in general practice with emphasis in urgent care, family practice, occupational and emergency medicine in both rural and urban settings. My professional experience has not been limited to medicine. I have been a business consultant, registered investment advisor, wine enthusiast and wine merchant. I contniue to practice medicine as well as write about it. I also published a medical mystery novel Turnabout by Bruce Kaler M.D. and nonfiction Owners Manual for Injury Prevention, a user friendly guide to injury management and prevention. Hope you enjoy them both.

Book preview

Introduction

Allergic reactions have become a growth industry. Allergies are on the rise for reasons we do not completely understand. More than 35 million are affected by allergic rhinitis (stuffy-runny nose) while at least 10 million suffer with asthma. Many more are affected by drug allergies, sensitivities to insect bites and rashes.

Food allergies affect 6% of children under the age of three and while American researchers have found that about 4 percent of the overall population has food allergies or 12 million people. The same researchers have studied people in China. There the results were surprising. They found over 16 percent tested sensitive to shellfish and 12 percent to peanuts. What is peculiar is that among practicing physicians in China, allergies are almost never diagnosed or reported as a problem. The reason for this discrepancy is not clear.

How often do we hear people complain about their allergies? How often are you subjected to advertising for allergy sufferers? We do not fully understand the mechanism of