[nabbed]

I might be in a higher risk group then: I can drink at most 1 coffee per morning (I love coffee but coffee doesn't love me). In addition, the only anti-allergy pill that works for me is a first generation allergy medicine (chlorpheniramine) that's strongly associated with increased chance of dementia. I could stop taking chlorpheniramine, but then my nose would keep me up at night, and poor sleep is also associated with increased chance of dementia.

So I am hoping there are confounding factors in all these studies, such that it's not coffee per se that helps with dementia but rather something along the lines of "the type of person who desires coffee is less likely to develop dementia".

[banach]

In case you haven't read it, I can recommend https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12216/my-house-killing... for ideas on what is causing your allergy.

[nabbed]

It's in my local library. I'll check it out. Thanks.

[zafka]

I am curious(because I get stuffed up a lot also) Do you know what is causing your stuffiness?

[nabbed]

Good question, I never had an allergy study done. I do complain regularly to my primary doctor, but he has not referred me to an allergist (yet).

It's probably brought on by something found indoors in most places. It's not seasonal, it's everyday. I have allergies no matter where I am (my home, some hotel, other people's homes, in my home province, in other provinces, in other countries).

[throwawaytea]

I know HN hates anecdotal health advice.. especially natural stuff.. but order yourself some Stinging Nettle powder or grounds, loose, and make yourself a decently strong tea everyday. I personally drink a liter, but I've had friends helped by just one cup daily. I had strong seasonal allergies that for 3-5 months of the year would leave me in sneezing fits, or drooling liquid out of my nose, or just with a constant itch in my nose. After years of stinging nettle drinking, on the worst days I have small symptoms. A skeptical friend was finally convinced when we went hiking in an area that started to even bother him, someone who had almost no allergies ever, yet I had half of his reaction.. and he had known how sensitive I was prior.

Obviously there are many types of allergies and who knows if it works for you.. but worth a shot.