Article: Allergies plague one-third of Americans

Allergies affect more than onethird of all Americans-almost twice as many as experts have believed -according to a survey commissioned by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). Moreover, millions suffer unnecessarily or rely on medications they don't want to take because they don't know about other effective treatment options.

A representative sample of 1,004 adults was asked about their experiences with allergies. Thirty-eight percent reported having them, while 56% said they live in a household in which at least one member has allergies. Previously, the number of people affected was thought to be closer to 20% of the population. Among those who said they live in ...