No one enjoys the symptoms – sneezing, sniffling, watery eyes – they just serve to make us miserable. It’s therefore surprising that new research suggests allergies may not be that bad for your health. Turns out your suffering may help ward off some forms of brain cancer.
When allergens, such as pollen, enter our bodies, those of us who are afflicted send our immune systems into battle mode. We create antibodies that recognize and attach themselves to the invaders. Researchers from Ohio State University looked for the presence of such antibodies in patient blood samples from up to twenty years ago. Those who experienced general allergies were found to be 25% less likely to develop glioblastoma – the most serious and common type of brain tumour. When researchers looked for specific types of allergies (for instance, tree pollen, dogs, and cats), the risk of brain cancer for female patients was found to be 54% lower.
The suspicion is that a hyper-vigilant immune system, such as with allergy-sufferers, helps destroy cancer cells before they get out of control. The catch? The association was related to how long a person had endured allergies. Essentially, you reap the benefits only if you’ve paid your allergy-suffering dues. Perhaps next time you’re experiencing a sneezing fit, this discovery will help sooth you – that, or an antihistamine.
interesting point….does this mean that those of us who get exposed to allergens, but don’t suffer from allergies, aren’t as “lucky” as those who do?
Hahaha, well, I suppose that ‘luck’ can be a relative term. Ask a Ragweed sufferer during Ragweed season and you might get a different perspective.