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DiscussionFragrances and Asthma / Allergies
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Replies to "Today, I thought about all of you who are sensitive to fragrances. I decided that it..."
@rosemarya Yes, you get it. I can't walk through a department store without being affected by fragrance. Sure the overpowering scent is bad enough, but I react badly to it physically. What happens is it makes my airways swell, and then it traps phlegm. I get exhausted because I can't get enough air. I feel chest pain from the accumulated phlegm. I get a horrible headache and my face swells and ears actually turns red from inflammation of my blood vessels from the chemical exposure. This reaction will go on for a few hours, so even using an inhaler at this point helps me breathe, but I'm still suffering with the headache, swelling, and phlegm that my lungs kicked out in trying to protect themselves. I wonder what happens to people exposed to this daily who don't have asthma and what long term health effects they might have from the chemical exposure to their bodies? I think this isn't safe for anyone, and there isn't much regulation about what's put out there for consumers. Fragrances are considered cosmetics with a purpose of making a person more attractive, so they are not regarded as the complex chemical compounds and solvents that they really are. I'm like a canary in a coal mine. I hold my breath if I have to walk through a cloud of fragrances, and I don't go into department stores very often. The longer the exposure time, the worse I will be. We need to keep talking about it. Thanks for listening.