Hay fever linked to poor exam scores
Anyone who suffers from hay fever knows it's incredibly irritating, and can make life miserable every spring. Now, new research shows that the affliction is more than just annoying, and has a considerably negative impact on academic performance.
British students taking GCSEs (tests for high school-aged students similar to final exams in the US), were found to be 40% more likely to drop a drop a grade between their mock and final exams if they suffered from hay fever. If those students were taking anti-histamine drugs (which can cause drowsiness), the numbers were even worse -- with 70% scoring at least one grade lower.
The problem is so bad that researchers suggest moving the exams to a different time of year.
According to Dr. Samantha Walker, who led the study, "Parents and health professionals need to understand that having hay fever could cause their children to perform less well in their exams and that effective treatments are widely available..."
If hay fever has such a profound effect on academic performance, I wonder what it does to worker productivity?
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