Why Allergies Are On The Rise with Professor Theresa MacPhail #374

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee interviews medical anthropologist Professor Theresa MacPhail about the rising rates of allergies globally. They discuss the immune system's role in allergies, distinguishing between innate and adaptive immunity, and explore historical theories such as the hygiene hypothesis, the old friends theory, and the barrier regulation hypothesis. MacPhail shares her personal connection to the topic, detailing her father's death from a bee sting and how it influenced her research. The conversation covers the impact of modern life, including pollution, chemicals, and processed foods, on our immune systems, and touches on the societal and ethical issues surrounding allergies, including the responsibility of communities to support individuals with allergies. They discuss practical steps individuals can take to mitigate allergy symptoms, such as dietary changes and reducing exposure to harmful chemicals, while also emphasizing the need for broader societal changes to address the root causes of increasing allergies.