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14 unthinkable 'would you rather' questions for people with real allergies

Flowers are blooming, trees are blossoming and birds are chirping. Spring is in the air – but when you’re someone with allergies, these signs of spring can also be a source of eye-itching, nasal-dripping anxiety. In honor of Allergy Awareness Month, grab your tissues and tell us how you would answer these allergy-related "would you rather" questions!


1.Would you rather be stranded on an island by yourself or stranded on an island with someone to which you are allergic? 
Well, if you weren’t alone, at least there would be someone there to say, “Bless you!”

2.Would you rather wear a mask every day of allergy season or never be able to leave your house during allergy season? 
Wearing a dust mask outside or when doing tasks with allergenic materials are said to help reduce allergy symptoms

3.Would you rather sleep all night with a pet or have to carry around a bouquet of flowers all day? 
This question might be too hard for some people to answer because they love pets and they love flowers. That said, pet dander and flower pollen are two of the most common sources of allergens.

4.Would you rather have only leather or vinyl furniture or have only carpeted floors? 
Time to redecorate! Some ways to reduce allergens in your home can be to remove upholstered furniture and have wood or tile floors.

5.Would you rather have to sneeze every time you talk or have your eyes constantly watering?
You’ll either have people saying “bless you” all day or asking you why you’re crying all day!

6.Would you rather have to mow the lawn once a week or pick weeds out of the garden once a week?
Both tasks might be tough for allergy suffers. Perhaps it's time to grab that mask from question two.

7.Would you rather have to wash your clothes every day or disinfect the house every day?
Either way, cleaning is a must.

8.Would you rather only be able to eat spicy foods or not taste any food at all?
Spicy foods can quickly clear all your airways. However, it’s unclear whether there is a direct correlation between spicy foods and allergy suppression. At least it's a tasty way to get some temporary relief!

9.Would you rather have a runny nose all day without tissues or get a visible rash that won't go away?
Yikes - this is a tough one. A runny nose without tissue sounds like torture!

10.Would you rather not be allergic to animals but be terrified of them or love animals but be extremely allergic to them? 
According to the Asthma and Allergy Association of America, “A truly non-allergic dog or cat does not exist." Sorry to let the cat out of the bag on that one. 

11.Would you rather have to use eye drops that sting every time or tissues that feel like sandpaper?
It depends on which you prefer – a red nose or red eyes?

12.Would you rather live outside and have no allergies or live inside but be allergic to everything?
Those spring flowers and fresh air can be a blessing or a curse, but sleeping under the stars is sure a nice way to connect with the earth. 

13.Would you rather have all your debt forgiven or be guaranteed no allergies for ten years?
If you were debt free, at least you'd have enough money for allergy medicine!

14.Would you rather always have the feeling that there is something in your eye or always feel like you're about to sneeze?
Two common allergy symptoms are itchy eyes and runny noses. Which one is worse?

How did you answer these “would you rather” questions? If you suffer from allergies, don’t worry – you’re not alone. In the United States, allergies affect almost 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children. What allergy symptoms bother you the most? Let us know in the comments.