[Ditter]

I just saw my allergist today and I am here to tell you you were right about one thing. The reaction that I have to tobacco smoke is not an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction is anaphylactic, the reaction that people have to tobacco smoke is an anaphylactoid reaction. It tightens the breathing passages and causes asthma because smoke is an irritant.

It is kind of like saying a glass is half empty or half full, they both are physical reactions they just work in different ways.

Everything else you said is totally wrong. Anaphylactoid reactions are not caused by hysteria. When I told the doctor about your sister she doubled up with laughter. Her comments were "smoking around kids is child abuse", and "there aren't many of those left", meaning your doctor. She was still laughing when I left the office.

[elkfersupper]

It's nice to know that you see an allergist and ask them about these things, as do I.

Your allergist is giving you correct advice.

The fact that she laughed at my anecdotal story about my sister leads me to believe that she might be in her mid-thirties to early forties, and is thus thoroughly schooled in the current propaganda.