Allergies and your sex life

Apparently wheezing, sneezing and runny noses aren’t a turn-on.

That’s right: 23 percent of men and 11 percent of women say allergies affect their love lives, according to a Harris/Decima survey conducted on behalf of the Allergy/Asthma Information Association (AAIA).

And romance isn’t the only thing that suffers: insomnia, snoring and a limited ability to exercise or play sports are also common among those with allergies, according to the survey.

AAIA is trying to raise awareness about the effects of allergies, including the fact that untreated allergies can worsen asthma. (Try their self-assessment quiz to see if that might be the case for you.)

"Patients may be taking as many as three or four medications to keep their asthma and allergies under control, and still have difficulty with breathing, sleep and other quality of life issues like intimacy," says Dr. Alan Kaplan, a family physician and chair of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada.

Minimizing pollen exposure and managing allergies can help keep asthma under control. Some tips include keeping windows closed during pollen season, or even taking a shower and washing your hair after coming inside on very symptomatic, high-pollen days.

Be sure to read our tips on planting a low-allergen garden, too!