世論 What Japan Thinks

With Japan being in the middle of the ceder pollen season, the most common pollen allergen, this survey from goo Research into hayfever, reported on by japan.internet.com, is quite timely.

Demographics

Between the 12th and 14th of March 2012 1,086 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.9% of the sample were male, 16.5% in their teens, 18.0% in their twenties, 21.6% in their thirties, 16.2% in their forties, 15.7% in their fifties, and 12.0% aged sixty or older.

I get a runny nose, and this year also quite itchy eyes, so I’ve long ago ran to the Ear Nose and Throat quack (he’s good, I recommend him) and got pills, nasal spray and eye drops. The nose spray has long since run out, but the non-drowsy pills are just managing to keep the worst symptoms away, touch any wood except ceder.

Research results

Q1: Do you get hayfever? (Sample size=1,086)

Yes (to SQ)	45.8%
Used to, but now cured (to SQ)	4.9%
No	40.6%
Don’t know	8.7%

Q1SQ: What counter-measures do you (did you) take against hayfever? (Sample size=550)

	Votes	Percentage
Wear a mask	358	65.1%
Use eye drops	321	58.4%
Use internal medicine	282	51.3%
Use nasal spray	193	35.1%
Visit a hospital	136	24.7%
Wear goggles	110	20.0%
Eat specific foods	36	6.5%
Get surgery	4	0.7%
Other	16	2.9%
Don’t do anything	45	8.2%

Furthermore, people were asked what they thought was the most most effective treatment. 161 people, or 29.3%, said internal medicine, 145 people or 26.4% a mask, and 63 people or 11.5% eyedrops.

Finally, the 53 people who had their hayfever cured were asked how they did that. 25 people, or 47.2%, said they didn’t do anything specific, 28.3% or 15 people cured it through internal medicine, then 8 people or 15.1% by nasal spray.