The Cost of Allergies

Someone once said that you can determine a person’s priorities by looking at their checkbook register. If you looked at mine (and if I were a little better a keeping my checkbook register up to date), you would discover that “managing allergies” is definitely on my priority list. I spend at least $75 a month on medications used to control allergies.

But the cost of allergies is really much greater than a simple glance at my checkbook might reveal. That sort of calculation doesn’t take into account the cost of air conditioning my home and car (even when the outside temperature may be comfortable). It doesn’t take into account the cost of washing my sheets in hot water (as opposed to cold water). It doesn’t take into account the extra loads of laundry required by more frequent washing of drapes and throws and pillows. It doesn’t take into account the cost of using a dryer for all my laundry (instead of hanging it on a line.) It doesn’t take into account the extra cost of purchasing more effective furnace filters–and purchasing them more often. It doesn’t take into account the extra cost of bleach and of vacuum cleaner bags for less allergenic cleaning.

And those are only the financial costs of allergies. Once you start thinking about quality of life, the equation builds. Allergies mean that I have to take medication three times a day–and at just the right times in order to avoid the worst symptoms. Allergies mean that I have to shower and wash my hair before bed every night so that I don’t “track allergens” into my bed and sleep with them all night. Allergies mean that I need to be hyper-vigilant about cleaning my house (When was the last time you dusted your mini-blinds?). Allergies mean I have to consider what sort of exposure I’ll have before venturing outside for a walk, a game, a dip in the pool.

Then there are the miscellaneous, little things that start to add up after a while. The allergic blepharitis that keeps me from wearing eye makeup. The bronchospasm that often limits me to walking for aerobic exercise (and rules out “spur of the moment” exercising). The crinkle of the allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers.

I know that there are plenty of diseases out there that cause lots of problems. Allergies are certainly one of the least–especially my type of allergies, which are by no means life-threatening. But even so, considering the cost of allergies (even just “environmental” allergies like my own), don’t you think it might be worthwhile to invest something into searching out a way to prevent or cure allergies?

This post was thought up and written on June 25–that’s why I dated it as June 25. However, I got sidetracked and didn’t actually “post” it to the internet until early on June 26. Sorry!