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RE: Why do we get allergies?

in #science6 years ago

Peoples immune systems seem to be so weak nowadays. I grew up on a farm never worried about germs. Sickness was never an issue for any of the family.
People now spent so much time killing germs that they have no resistance when they do encounter them.

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This is somewhat true. Being exposed to germs is not necessarily a bad thing, it helps to build up some adaptive immunity to pathogens.

Our lack of exposure to infectious agents is thought to be the cause of autoimmunity (which I discussed in a previous article), and is known as the hygiene hypothesis.

I agree with you. I suspect growing up with germs somehow trains the immune system not to be so sensitive.

Same as anything. Exposure in small amounts will just help your resistance. Its the same when we were in college, we drank so often that it had very little effect on us compared to people who stayed away from drink and were fading after 2 drinks.