Actress Alyson Hannigan Stages An "Allergy Intervention" For The Millions Of Americans Living With Seasonal Nasal Allergies

WASHINGTON, April 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and Teva Respiratory today announced the launch of Allergy Intervention: Because Allergies Aren't Funny, an initiative aimed at raising awareness of the seriousness of nasal allergies and encouraging patients to be proactive in managing their symptoms. The campaign features comedic film and television actress and mother Alyson Hannigan, who is speaking publicly for the first time about her personal experience living with seasonal allergies, as well as her children's. For more information about the campaign, including how to enter the Allergy Intervention sweepstakes for a chance to win an AAFA Certified asthma & allergy friendly™ Dyson vacuum, visit www.AllergiesArentFunny.com.

"I've lived with seasonal allergies for as long as I can remember. Anytime the weather changes, my nasal allergy symptoms flare up, especially in the spring," said Alyson Hannigan, campaign spokesperson. "As a mom of two active kids who also live with seasonal allergies and love to be outside, preparedness is key in helping us keep our symptoms under control. Every year, I work closely with our doctor to ensure our allergy treatment plans are in place and up-to-date before our symptoms begin. Because, let's face it, the bothersome symptoms of nasal allergies just aren't funny!"

Allergic rhinitis, or nasal allergies, affects approximately 50 million people living in the United States. Symptoms include sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, itching of the nose, and are usually caused by allergic sensitivity to pollens from trees, grass or weeds, or to airborne mold spores.ⁱ

"Allergies affect millions of people across the country and while they may seem like a common occurrence, symptoms of nasal allergies are no laughing matter," said Wendy Rees, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at AAFA. "Our hope is that by partnering with Alyson Hannigan and Teva Respiratory, we will raise awareness about the seriousness of seasonal allergies and encourage patients to proactively work with their personal clinicians to find the best possible management plan for them."

For more information, visit www.AllergiesArentFunny.com.

About Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, nasal itch, runny nose and nasal congestion. For many AR patients, nasal congestion or a stuffy nose may be the most frequent and bothersome symptom.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), the prevalence of AR in the U.S. has increased during the past three decades; it is recently estimated at 20 percent in the general adult and adolescent populations. Of those Americans affected with AR, approximately 20 percent have seasonal allergy rhinitis (SAR), 40 percent have perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) and 40 percent have a combination of the two (i.e., PAR with seasonal exacerbation) depending on the allergen sensitivity. Because of its prevalence and health effect, AR is associated with considerable direct and indirect costs.

About AAFA
Founded in 1953 and celebrating over 60 years of service, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is the oldest and largest nonprofit patient organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with asthma, allergies and related conditions through education, advocacy and research. AAFA provides practical information, community-based services, support and referrals through a national network of chapters and educational support groups. Through its Kids With Food Allergies division, AAFA offers the oldest, most extensive online support community for families raising children with food allergies at community.kidswithfoodallergies.org. In addition, AAFA sponsors and advocates for research to advance the basic science relevant to treatment and cure. It also champions translational research so that the science that we have is applied more consistently and reliably. For more information, visit http://www.aafa.org.

About the Certified asthma & allergy friendly™ Program
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is the leading national nonprofit organization fighting asthma and allergic diseases. AAFA provides free information, conducts educational programs, and fights for patients' rights and funds research to find better treatments and cures. The asthma & allergy friendly™ Certification Program is jointly run by AAFA and Allergy Standards Limited (ASL), a physician-led global certification company that prepares independent standards for testing a wide range of products to determine their suitability for asthma and allergy patients. The Certification Program is an independent laboratory-based product-testing program that helps families with asthma and allergies find more suitable products for their homes. Visit http://www.aafa.org/certified to see the full catalog of Certified products and get a free guide on how to reduce allergens and irritants in your home.

About Alyson Hannigan

Alyson Hannigan is an actress, wife and mother to two young daughters. Alyson has had a widely varied career, captivating audiences in both television and film.  She recently starred on CBS' hit Emmy Nominated comedy How I Met Your Mother where she won numerous accolades including a People's Choice Award. On the film side, she most recently finished shooting the independent feature Modern Love opposite Anthony Rapp and Jonathan Bennett and appeared in the American Pie Franchise for Universal Pictures; the most popular feature comedy franchise of all time with over a billion in revenue.  Previously on the small screen, Hannigan starred in the hugely popular and critically acclaimed drama Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.

About Teva Respiratory
Teva Respiratory develops and delivers high-quality treatment options for respiratory conditions, including asthma, COPD and allergic rhinitis. The Teva Respiratory portfolio is centered on optimizing respiratory treatment for patients and healthcare providers through the development of novel delivery systems and therapies that help address unmet needs. The company's respiratory pipeline and clinical trial program are based on drug molecules delivered in proprietary dry powder formulations and breath-actuated device technologies, as well as a targeted biologic treatment for severe asthma. Through research and clinical development, Teva Respiratory continually works to expand, strengthen and build upon its treatment portfolio to positively impact the lives of the millions of patients living with respiratory disease.

Media Contact:
Talisa White
External Affairs Manager
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
(202) 466-7643 ext. 237
[email protected]

Theresa Dolge
Vice President, Media Director
Tonic Life Communications
(215) 928-2748
[email protected]

ⁱ "Allergy Facts." American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. December 2015. Accessed on January 20, 2016.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160407/352909 

SOURCE Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America