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| |  New Survey Takes a Look Into Daily Lives of Allergy Sufferers KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 20, 1996-- An allergy symptom is not always just a sneeze, a sniff, a teary eye. Allergy symptoms also cause embarrassment, moodiness and others' misperceptions. A recent survey probed allergy sufferers to find out what it's really like to suffer from seasonal allergies. The survey found that allergy symptoms make the lives of sufferers more difficult in some unexpected ways. It also found that the medications sufferers take do not always provide the relief they are looking for. The survey of more than 1,000 allergy sufferers was conducted by Louis Harris and Associates during the spring 1996 allergy season. More Than Annoying Symptoms The survey asked allergy sufferers to rate the speed of their average allergy sneeze. Forty-six percent compared it to a "gale force wind," 25 percent compared it to a "gentle wind," 16 percent compared it to a "mild breeze" and 11 percent compared it to a "hurricane." A majority of sufferers (59 percent) report that people respond to sneezing with "bless you." But one in four allergy sufferers (26 percent) report that most people say nothing at all. The survey also revealed that seven is the average for the most number of sneezes sneezed in a row, as reported by sufferers. Allergy attacks can be a source of embarrassment for the sufferer, with nearly one-third (32 percent) saying they "frequently" or "sometimes" find themselves in embarrassing social situations due to their symptoms. For example, 73 percent report that allergies have caused them to sneeze in a place that should be quiet, with 65 percent of those reporting they have sneezed in a church or synagogue. For many sufferers, mundane, everyday activities such as driving, eating, exercising, and applying makeup have become difficult as a result of allergies. In fact, more than half of the respondents (55 percent) say they have experienced a sneezing fit while driving; have had a hard time enjoying food (56 percent); or have had difficulty in exercising or participating in sporting activities (55 percent). One-third of women indicate that sneezing or watery eyes have caused them to misapply makeup, yet only seven percent of men have cut themselves shaving. And a vast majority (79 percent) indicate that their sleep is hindered by allergies. Given the difficulties in carrying out daily tasks, it seems natural that allergies would affect a sufferer's general outlook and attitude. In fact, 45 percent of allergy sufferers compare their mood during allergy season to that of a "crawling snail." Apparently, allergies interfere to the extent that more than half of sufferers would trade their allergies for other common medical conditions. Specifically, 61 percent say they would rather have dandruff than allergies; 43 percent would rather suffer heartburn; and nearly one-third (29 percent) would prefer the flu to allergies. Perceptions of Suffering Sufferers compare how watery their eyes get to a "dripping faucet" (80 percent), and also report that runny noses (51 percent), and itchy mouths and throats (50 percent) nag at them almost constantly. Nearly two out of three (66 percent) say that when their allergies are acting up, they "look and feel a little under the weather." Moreover, 13 percent of women and eight percent of men say they feel like a "wreck and in need of serious medical treatment." Only two percent of sufferers report that they look fine during an allergy attack. Allergy sufferers also believe their allergies affect the way others perceive them. During a typical allergy season, nearly two out of three report hearing "You look tired" (65 percent), or "You don't look well, do you have a cold?" (60 percent). Allergy sufferers say that non-sufferers are unsympathetic to the difficulties caused by allergies. A large majority (72 percent) say "people don't realize how difficult life can be for an allergy sufferer." Additionally, 63 percent report both that "people don't understand how difficult it is to perform at my best when I'm having allergy attacks," and that "people don't understand how bad I feel when I have an allergy attack." On the other hand, family members at least do appear to be more supportive of allergy sufferers. This could be because most allergy sufferers (62 percent) report another person in their family suffers from allergies. Sixty- two percent of allergy sufferers say their family members are "very understanding" when they are suffering from allergies. However, 31 percent say their families are only "somewhat understanding," and six percent report that their families are "not very" or "not at all understanding." Anticipation, Preparation and Medication Two out of three (64 percent) allergy sufferers report that they can generally anticipate when they are about to have an allergy attack. The most common signs are the onset of sneezing (19 percent), watery eyes (17 percent) and itchy or scratchy eyes (16 percent). Forty-five percent believe it takes one hour or more for an allergy attack to go from nothing to full-blown, while 47 percent say it takes less than one hour. The onset of an allergy attack can catch many sufferers unprepared. Many sufferers (59 percent) say they wait for symptoms before taking medication. Only 26 percent of those who buy over-the-counter medication use it early to prevent the onset of symptoms, compared to 55 percent who take a prescription medication. Although 90 percent of allergy sufferers report using some kind of medication, only 22 percent rate their own allergy medication as "excellent." Seventy-nine percent believe that allergy medications in general are effective in stopping symptoms. Fourteen percent rate their medication as "fair" or "poor." People who take a prescription medication (37 percent) are more likely to rate their medication as "excellent" than people who take an over- the-counter medication (21 percent). However, more than 50 percent of sufferers find their current allergy medication takes more than one hour to give them relief. Fast relief is more likely considered by people under 45 years old to be the most important attribute (39 percent) in an ideal medication. Half of allergy sufferers (51 percent) take a 12-hour medication; only 12 percent take a 24-hour medication. Forty-four percent of those using a 24-hour medication report that when they wake up in the morning, their medication has already worn off. Drowsiness and overall safety are clearly important concerns of sufferers when choosing an allergy medication. When asked about which side effect is the worst to experience from medication, 44 percent said drowsiness. Other noted side effects include dry mouth (15 percent), dizziness (13 percent) and nervousness or excitability (11 percent). However, when it comes to choosing the most important attribute of an ideal allergy medication, 41 percent say they choose safety overall. Thirty-four percent said they would choose speed of relief and 23 percent chose an absence of sedative effects. Survey Methodology A total of 1,006 American adults (age 18+) who suffer from allergies were interviewed by Louis Harris and Associates between May 16 and May 26, 1996. The survey was funded by Hoechst Marion Roussel, the pioneer in nonsedating allergy treatment. Hoechst Marion Roussel is dedicated to extending and enhancing human life through the discovery, development, manufacture and sale of pharmaceutical products. Hoechst Marion Roussel, with global headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, and North American headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is a member of the Hoechst Group. To receive a copy of this release or any recent release via fax, call Hoechst Marion Roussel's automated news fax line at 800-556-7422, or 816-966-3434.
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