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Researchers at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine are investigating a new medicine for allergic asthma, and 850 patients with are needed to participate at 150 sites across the country.
Patients enrolled in the study will have a 50 percent chance of being assigned to one of two treatment groups. The first group will receive standard treatment with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and a long-acting beta-agonist with the addition of the investigational drug for 48 weeks. The second group will receive standard treatment with the addition of a placebo for 48 weeks.
To qualify for the study, men and women between the ages of 12 and 75 must have moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma that is inadequately controlled with standard treatments. To enroll in the study, call 314-977-4440.
(If you decide to participate in the study, please email us and let us know how it goes!)
Posted by Craig on Wednesday, March 28, 2007
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In 100 days, a smoke-free England will be a reality.
England's Public Health Minister Caroline Flint says:
"On 1 July, all enclosed public places and workplaces will become smokefree, a measure supported by the majority of people in this country. The new law will protect everyone from the harm of secondhand smoke at work and in public places, and will save lives.
"We are now entering an important period, when all businesses should start preparing for compliance. They should be removing all smoking rooms and start putting up no smoking signs. We are confident that with the support being provided by the Department of Health and by local councils, everyone should be ready in time.
"A snapshot survey carried out by the Department shows that more than three-quarters of businesses are aware of the legislation. This is an encouraging picture, but obviously we need to ensure every business understands what actions they will need to take ahead of 1 July and has the support they need.
"To help businesses prepare, we will be sending out guidance and no smoking signs to every business with employees in England, some 1.7 million, during April; while local councils will also be providing support and advice about smokefree law."
A Department of Public Health Survey shows:
- 74% of the overall population support the legislation
- 77% of all businesses are aware of the legislation
- 65% of the population say that the legislation will not affect how often they go to the pub, and 15% of the overall population say they will go more often
- 75% of the overall population believe that going smokefree will have a positive effect on health
Posted by Craig on Wednesday, March 28, 2007
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MSNBC reports that the lack of rain in the Southeast is to blame for the extremely high pollen counts.
"Everybody who walks through the door, you can see it in their faces," says Atlanta pharmacy owner Ira Katz, who is running low on medication to treat what he said is the worst allergy season of his 26 years in the business.
Atlanta’s pollen count hit 5,499 particles per cubic meter of air on Monday, the highest so far this season and the fourth highest in the 12 years that the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic has been keeping records. A reading of 120 is considered extremely high.
Atlanta has had only four rainy days this month, and there is no rain in the forecast for at least a week.
"Unless we get some rain, people could be having symptoms for quite some time," says Dr. Stanley Fineman of the Atlanta allergy clinic.
Experts recommend that allergy sufferers stay indoors as much as possible, especially in the morning when pollen counts are highest. Also, if you have allergies, avoid the temptation to wash pollen off your car - because that only makes it airborne, and the coat of pollen will be back soon.
See our Seasonal Allergy Solution Guide for more tips.
Posted by Craig on Wednesday, March 28, 2007
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CNN reports that a new study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology shows that most people who died from food-induced anaphlyaxis were teenagers or young adults who were away from home when they ate the food that killed them.
"We were surprised that so few people had gotten correct information about ingredients in restaurant settings, which accounted for about half of these fatal reactions," says study author Anne Muñoz-Furlong, founder and CEO of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, a nonprofit advocacy and education group. "The individuals either did not ask about ingredient information -- and assumed the food was safe -- or the restaurant staff gave them incorrect or incomplete information."
Often times, teenagers with food allergies feel embarrassed to talk to restaurant employees about the allergy. Food Allergy Restaurant Cards make the process easier on the allergy sufferer and the restaurant employees.
"What was most heartbreaking," says Muñoz-Furlong, "is that the story repeats itself over and over again and the fact that these deaths are preventable."
Posted by Craig on Wednesday, March 28, 2007
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ABC News Online reports that women who were overweight as young children are more likely to develop asthma as adults. The Melbourne University study found that overweight girls more than triple their risk of developing asthma as adults. The same risk does not apply to overweight boys.
Posted by Craig on Wednesday, March 28, 2007
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Holistic health practitioner Linda Binns suggests the following natural remedies for seasonal allergies on SelfGrowth.com:
- Goldenseal helps eliminate mucus.
- Echinacea and goldenseal root strengthen the immune system.
- Cayenne pepper can help counteract allergy symptoms and is particularly helpful in treating asthma.
- Acidophilus helps balance the intestinal flora,.
Natural remedies should not replace prescribed medications. Please talk to your healthcare provider before using natural remedies, as some of them could interfere with allergy and asthma medications.
Posted by Craig on Wednesday, March 28, 2007
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My once-black car is now more of a yellow-green color, and here in Atlanta, friends who normally don't even have allergy problems are feeling the effect of thousands of pollen grains flying up their nostrils.
I wasn't surprised to see Atlanta at the top of The Weather Channel's Allergy Hot Spot List.
Last year, Atlanta had one of the worst allergy seasons on record, and this year is shaping up to be another nightmarish spring for seasonal allergy sufferers.
To learn more about pollen counts and pollen allergy relief, see Understanding the Pollen Count.
Posted by Craig on Tuesday, March 27, 2007
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It's officially spring now, and tree pollen is raining down upon us - but only the pollen from certain trees is a problem for allergy sufferers.
According to WFIE News, Dr. Jason White has a simple rule of thumb: Pretty, flowering plants are generally not threatening for allergy sufferers.
"The maple tree doesn't have any flowers on it, and the maple tree requires the wind to blow the pollen far away, and that's what makes allergy sufferers so miserable. The dogwood, it attracts bees; it attracts beetles, and it carries the pollen on the bee. So, it's not as allergenic because you don't get exposed to it," says Dr. White.
Trees that are "allergy-friendly" include apple, cherry, dogwood, magnolia, pear, and plum.
The trees that are releasing all the problematic pollen at this time of year include alder, ash, aspen, beech, birch, box elder, cedar, cottonwood, cypress, hickory, juniper, maple, mulberry, oak, olive, palm, pecan, pine, poplar, sycamore, walnut, and willow.
Dr. White offers the following advice to pollen allergy sufferers: "Make your motto, 'Leave the outdoors, outdoors.' Take off your shoes, so you don't track those things in the house. Change your clothes in the laundry room and leave those clothes in the laundry basket. Don't carry them throughout the rest of the house. Wash your hair before you go to bed at night so the pollen doesn't get on your pillow at night."
See our Seasonal Allergy Solution Guide to learn more about pollen allergy.
Posted by Craig on Tuesday, March 27, 2007
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The Washington Post reports that antibiotics are still being prescribed for seven out of ten patients with chronic sinusitis and eight out of ten with acute sinus infections, even though research has proved that more than 90 percent of sinus infections are caused by viruses - not bacteria.
"Prescription antibiotic drugs are being used far more than bacterial causes would indicate," wrote authors of a new study published last week in the Archives of Otolaryngology.
The overuse of antibiotics is a major problem - perhaps even a public health crisis - because it's creating strains of drug-resistant bacteria. In the United States, sinus infections account for an astounding 21 percent of all antibiotic prescriptions.
There is no quick swab test that determines whether an infection is bacterial or viral: To figure that out, doctors must consider the severity of symptoms and the duration of the infection.
Some doctors think that antibiotics are being overprescribed because patients demand them when they are sick.
"Probably to save time, I will often knuckle under and give them the antibiotics, just because it's what they want," says Dr. Donald Leopold of the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Dr. Matthew Mintz of the George Washington University School of Medicine agrees that patient demand plays a role: "We have advertisements on television from drug companies that basically tell you to ask your doctor for a pill. We are a pill society. We want a pill to fix our problems."
David Fairbanks, a spokesman for the American Academy of Otolaryngology, says physicians don't have time to spend 15 minutes with each patient explaining the public health implications of drug-resistant bacteria, so they write the prescription instead.
If you get a sinus infection, Fairbanks suggests trying to hold off on antibiotics for five to seven days after symptoms begin, and give your body a chance to fight off the infection. The overuse of antiobiotics only gives bacteria more of an opportunity to develop resistance to the drug, and according to the FDA, researchers fear that we may be nearing an end to the seemingly endless flow of antimicrobial drugs.
During those five to seven days without antibiotics, try sinus relief products like sinus washes to reduce swelling and restore moisture to inflamed sinuses.
Posted by Craig on Tuesday, March 27, 2007
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As a follow-up to my previous post about alternative medicine treatments for allergies...
United Press International reports that experts at the university of Washington warn that patients seeking alternative allergy treatments should not stop taking standard medications.
"Anyone with moderate to severe allergies and asthma should absolutely remain on standard, conventional forms of medication. Asthma in particular is a potentially life-threatening condition, especially in children," says Barak Gaster, associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington.
Posted by Craig on Monday, March 26, 2007
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Dr. Manuel Alvarez of Fox News says that alternative medicine systems like Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine believe that the true key to allergy prevention is treating the underlying causes while building up the body's immune system.
"The long-term solution to getting rid of allergies is to not just quell the symptoms but to delve into the root cause of them", says alternative health counselor and nutritionist Danny Arguetty of the Kripalu Health Center in Lenox, Mass. "To do this, you must strengthen your immune system, which is often sluggish and taxed from over-indulging during the winter months. However, it is important to do this before allergy season kicks in, and then maintain a healthy life-style in order to effectively withstand allergens."
Arguetty says, "You don't have to do an extreme fast or detox to rekindle your immune system. There are many easy life-style and diet alternatives that you can implement that will help your body better adapt to the change of seasons and ultimately keep you allergy free."
According to Arguetty, these are the top five things for allergy sufferers to avoid before and during allergy season:
1. Heavy, cold, hard to digest foods such as ice cream, ice-cold food and drinks, heavy desserts, oily or fried foods, red meat and hard cheeses.
2. Pre-packaged, canned, frozen or processed foods of any kind.
3. Consuming caffeine and alcohol.
4. Extreme temperature contrasts - for example, going from a very warm or hot environment to a very cold environment.
5. Going to bed late and sleeping in late.
Arguetty also suggests the following therapies for the treatment of allergies:
- Eat a light nourishing diet of cooked, lightly spiced organic fresh vegetables, sweet ripe fruits, whole grains and legumes/beans for protein.
- Season your food with immunity enhancing and anti-allergic spices such as, turmeric, fennel, coriander, black pepper, and fresh ginger root. Cook these spices in a little bit of olive oil or ghee (clarified butter) to help release the spice's flavors and medicinal properties.
- Sip plain hot water and detoxifying teas such as, echinacea, ginseng, dandelion and ginger, throughout the day.
- Keep your house and office on the cooler side, so your body will transition easier to the outside temperature without sending your body into shock.
- Install an air purifier and a water purifier in your house or office. Alternatively, keep air-purifying plants, such as spider plants or holy basil.
- Get plenty of rest at the right times of day - it is best to go to bed before 10pm and get up before 7am.
"Going into allergy season with a strong immunity will decrease your likelihood of being vulnerable to all the beauty that nature has to offer us this time of year, which no one should have to avoid," concludes Arguetty.
Posted by Craig on Thursday, March 22, 2007
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If you don't know Arthur, he's an eight-year-old aardvark and the star of an animated series on PBS. The series has a substantial educational outreach program for librarians, teachers, community centers, and families. Two of the lesson plans are "All About Asthma" and "Binky Goes Nuts: Understanding Peanut Allergies."
Buster, Arthur's cartoon rabbit friend, offers the following asthma tips:
1. Ask people not to smoke around you or in your house so you don't have to breathe in their secondhand smoke.
2. Wash your sheets, blankets, and stuffed toys often to help keep dust mites away.
3. Keep your pets off furniture and out of rooms where you sleep. Down, Pal, down!
4. Help keep things clean and dry around the house to stop mold from growing. Yuck!
5. If you spill food, be sure to clean it up, because pests like cockroaches love food! (Cool! I've got something in common with a cockroach.)
6. Since plain ol' dust gets me every time, my mom makes sure to dust and vacuum the house pretty often.
Approved by the Food Allergy & Anaphlyaxis Network, the peanut allergy lesson plan revolves around Arthur's friend Binky, who discovers he has a peanut allergy.
Binky says:
1. I'm allergic to peanuts. If I eat anything with peanuts in it, I get very sick. So I always read food labels really carefully!
2. To be safe, I bring my own food to school. When my friends pack peanut-free lunches, they can eat at the peanut-free table with me.
3. I'm a tough kid, but even tough kids need help from their pals. My friends wash their hands after they eat, help me watch out for peanuts, and know how to get help if I need it.
4. I'm still the same old Binky. I just know a whole lot about peanut allergies now. That's good, because the more you know, the easier it is to stay safe and get back to having fun.
See Arthur's Health Lesson Plans for more tips, activities, and information about asthma, peanut allergies, and other topics.
Posted by Craig on Thursday, March 22, 2007
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NorwichBulletin reports that the presence of cockroaches in schools and homes is a contributing factor in the rise of asthma and other respiratory ailments.
Entomologist Jennifer Dacey says that cockroach shells, dropped after molting, along with the insect's feces, dissipate into the air and become respiratory irritants.
Allergy Nurse Terry Gardner says cockroach allergies are predominant in the southern states but can occur in any urban area. Gardner says few people are allergic to cockroach allergen alone, but many are affected by it when it's combined with other allergens like dust and mold.
"Cockroaches are highly allergenic, and we do see some positive tests," Gardner says. "But symptoms vary from person to person."
The most common symptoms are difficulty breathing and throat irritation.
Public Health Nurse Eileen Boulay says the main problem with cockroach allergen is its role as an asthma trigger.
"Cockroaches are a big allergen. But, since asthma is not a reportable condition, there's no way of tracking how many individuals are affected through cockroach exposure," Boulay says.
Some people are also reluctant to talk about problems caused by roaches.
Public Health Director Patricia Beckenhaupt suggests using HEPA filtered vacuum cleaners amd cleaning all food from household surfaces to cut down on cockroach allergen exposure.
See the Cockroack Allergy FAQ for more information.
Posted by Craig on Thursday, March 22, 2007
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The Australian reports that children exposed to cigarette smoke in cars are more than twice as likely as other kids to develop asthma.
Some Australian officials would like to ban smoking in vehicles with children for this reason.
"Teenagers can escape their parents' smoke in the home by leaving the room, but in mum's taxi they are essentially trapped, regardless of whether the windows are down," says Peter Sly, from the Centre for Child Health Research at the University of Western Australia. "They're forced to inhale the smoke while they're being ferried about to and from school and, as we've found, the risk is great."
Posted by Craig on Wednesday, March 21, 2007
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According to PRnewswire, Procter & Gamble has partnered with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) to educate people about hidden allergen hot spots.
Most allergy sufferers know about the dust mites in their bed, but they may not know about these hidden hot spots. According to the AAFA, these are five of the most commonly overlooked allergen hot spots in your home:
1. Door Jambs - Constant airflow means that dust will collect here.
2. Window Sills - As with door jambs, airflow can lead to a build-up of dust.
3. Plush Toys - Dust mites are common in plush toys. Wash them in hot water to get rid of the dust mites. Use de-mite Laundry Additive or Allergen Wash to get rid of dust mites in any temperature water. Baby Gund stuffed toys are hypoallergenic and machine washable.
4. Walls - Walls have twice the surface area of floors and ceilings, but they're often overlooked when people are cleaning.
5. Closets & Drawers - Allergens like dander and pollen can stick to your clothes and end up in closest and drawers. The AAFA suggests washing clothing more frequently during the spring and paying more attention to cleaning closets and drawers.
The AAFA is stressing the importance of allergen reduction throughout the entire home this spring.
"Allergen avoidance and reduction at home is critical to allergy control," says Mike Tringale, Director of External
Affairs at AAFA. "The first step is to identify the problem areas, and then take the necessary steps to reduce hidden indoor allergens."
If you're an allergy sufferer, consider vapor steam cleaning as an alterative to cleaning with chemicals. See more safe cleaning options for allergy sufferers.
Posted by Craig on Wednesday, March 21, 2007
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Child magazine recently published an in-depth article titled Allergy Nation all about the increasing prevalence of food allergies among children.
Interestingly, the article states: "It's not unusual to hear about parents who have tried to sabotage food-allergy policies and children who have been teased or bullied by their nonallergic classmates." It seems like many children and parents alike simply don't understand the severity of food allergies.
Apparently some teachers don't understand food allergies, either. The article also tells the tale of a middle school teacher who "invited the allergic boy to eat [a homemade casserole containing nuts that she brought in]; when he said he couldn't because of his allergies, she had him stand outside the classroom (in the cold) while other students ate."
"This is a disease that hasn't been studied well. The science has to catch up," says Anne Munoz-Furlong, a leading authority and founder of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), a Fairfax, VA-based research and advocacy group.
A much-cited 2003 study by Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and FAAN found that the number of children reporting peanut allergies had doubled between 1997 and 2002, from 1 in 250 to 1 in 125.
According to Scott Sicherer, M.D., an associate professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai, only about 20% of children are believed to outgrow peanut allergies, while about 85% have historically outgrown egg and milk allergies by age 5.
"With a food allergy, the onus is on the family to be on guard. If you make a mistake, someone in your family could die," says Munoz-Furlong. "That's a tall order for anyone."
In fact, a University of Derby study found that 36% of parents of food allergic children had high levels of depression and anxiety.
"It's hard to relax," says Gina Clowes, who runs a support group at allergymoms.com. "Food is everywhere. You always have to be careful."
Luckily, experts say that experimental treatment techniques could amount to a breakthrough in the next five years.
Posted by Craig on Tuesday, March 20, 2007
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eMaxHealth reports that, according to a study in the Journal of Ambulatory Pediatrics, only 20 percent of children with persistent asthma have a level of control that is optimal.
"That leaves almost 80 percent who are suffering more than they need to," says the study's lead author, Jill Halterman, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong. "They may be experiencing unnecessary symptoms, missed school days, and restrictions on activity. That's a problem."
The study showed that 37 percent of children with persistent asthma receive no preventive medication - and of the children who did receive medication, 43 percent still had poor symptom control.
"This second group – the children who were experiencing poor symptom control despite the use of preventive medications – has received relatively little attention until now," Halterman says.
Halterman found that reasons for the poor symptom control include inconsistent use of the medication, exposure to environmental triggers like mold or pet dander, or simply not receiving adequate education about asthma.
"The bottom line is that there's much work that needs to be done in making sure that children with asthma receive appropriate and effective care; it's more complex than one might think," Halterman says. "Asthma care involves coordination on everyone's part. Parents and patients need to report and track symptoms, relay this information to their doctor, use medications as prescribed, and steer clear of triggers. Physicians need to recognize persistent symptoms in their patients, and take time to prescribe, educate and draw up unique action plan for each patient's management."
Posted by Craig on Tuesday, March 20, 2007
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achoo! ALLERGY & AIR Products, Inc. has officially moved into its new world headquarters, located at:
3411 Pierce Drive, Suite 101
Atlanta, GA 30341
We're very excited about our new headquarters, expanded warehouse space, and larger showroom.
Posted by Craig on Monday, March 19, 2007
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Experts say we're in for a pollen "superburst" in the next couple of weeks.
Roger Emert, an allergy specialist at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, recently shared his tips for combating watery eyes and the sniffles on ABC's Good Morning America:
- Start taking prescription medicines earlier. If you've been tested for allergies and know you're allergic to pollen, consider taking your medication earlier than usual. They're more effective if you start taking them before symptoms appear.
- Try non-sedating antihistamines. Claritin is the most popular non-sedating antihistamine.
- Keep windows closed. It's especially important to keep windows closed on windy days and in the morning, when pollen counts are highest. If you'd still like to get fresh air into your home, consider a Safeguard Window Filter.
- Turn on the air conditioner. This will help filter the air. Air purifiers are made to remove allergens and toxins from the air in your home, and dehumidifiers are important allergy relief appliances for hot, humid environments.
Posted by Craig on Friday, March 16, 2007
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In the 1950s, 20 percent of consumer food in the UK came from supermarkets. Now it's closer to 80 percent, according to Epoch Times International. Since the 1950s, there has also been an increase in cancer, diabetes, obesity, depression, and asthma, and many health professionals think that artifical additives in food may be part of the reason for the increase in disease.
Food additives are identified by name and number, and the numbers are the same worldwide.
One class of food additives is preservatives, which are supposed to prevent decay and contamination. Calcium proprionate (preservative 282) is commonly added to bread as a mold inhibitor, and reactions to this additive have been well publicized. Reactions include migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and fatigue.
Other additives include color and flavor enhancers. At least 60 of these additives are known to aggravate asthmatics and are not recommended for children. Many people are also sensitive to the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG), commonly found in Chinese food, frozen foods, canned tuna, and dressings.
FedUpWithFoodAdditives.com states that the following additives are particularly nasty and should be avoided:
Colors: 102, 104, 107, 110, 122, 123, 124, 127, 128, 129, 132, 142, 151, 155, natural color 160b.
Preservatives: Sorbates 200-203, Benzoates 210-213, Sulphites 220-228, Nitrates & Nitrites 249-252, Propionates 280-283.
Synthetic Antioxidants: Gallates 310-312, TBHQ, BHA, BHT 319-321.
Flavor Enhancers: Glutamates (including MSG) 620-625; Ribonucleotides 627, 631, & 635; Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP).
For more information about food sensitivities and their symptoms, and to find out how you can find out your sensitivities in your own home, see Dr. Fred Pescatore on Hidden Food Allergies.
Posted by Craig on Friday, March 16, 2007
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The Doctor's Guide reports that a child's race may be a factor in determing his or her susceptibility to toxins associated with environmental tobacco smoke. A new study published in the journal CHEST reveals that African American children with asthma who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke have significantly higher toxin levels when compared to their Caucasian counterparts.
"African American children suffer from higher rates of tobacco-related disorders, such as asthma, sudden-infant death syndrome, and low birth weight, and we need to know why," says lead author Stephen Wilson MD, University of Cincinnati. "So our goal is to understand how certain populations - particularly those groups who are most susceptible - respond to [environmental tobacco smoke] exposure."
"Exposure to tobacco smoke is dangerous for everyone, regardless of age or race," says Mark J. Rosen, MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians. "These findings underline the importance of eliminating environmental tobacco smoke in every setting, especially those where children are present."
Posted by Craig on Friday, March 16, 2007
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Henna, an ink from the leaves of a shrub grown in India, North Africa and Sri Lanka, is relatively safe and has been used for many years in hair dyes and temporary skin tattoos; however, according to The London Free Press, black henna ink contains paraphenlyendiamine (PPD) as an additive to darken the color, and many people become sensitized to PPD after receiving a temporary tattoo.
Dr. Joel DeKoven has treated several patients for allergies related to henna tattoos. He explains, "Subsequent exposure to PPD - even in low concentrations, such as those in hair dyes - can lead to a delayed hypersensitivity reaction."
Dr. DeKoven has seen such reactions in patients who went to hospital emergency rooms a day or two after dying their hair. Symptoms included redness and irritation around the hairline and scalp, face swelling, where the eyelids were shut, and a rash all over the body. The common link is that all previously had at least one black henna tattoo.
Posted by Craig on Wednesday, March 14, 2007
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Dr. Mallika Marshall offers the following advice for springtime allergy sufferers on WBZTV in Boston:
To limit your exposure to pollen, try to stay indoors in the morning when the pollen count is the highest. Avoid mowing the lawn and doing yard work.
Stay away from other irritants, such as tobacco smoke, insect spray, and heavy air pollution which can exacerbate your allergies; and when you get home at night, take a shower to rinse the pollen off your body.
Meanwhile, allergy sufferers in California are experiencing severe allergy symptoms as pollen swirls along in warm, dry weather, reports the Marin Independent Journal.
"We're getting significantly more complaints than we normally would at this time of year due to the lack of rain," says Dr. Robert Freinkel, an allergist practicing in Greenbrae and Novato, California.
See the Seasonal Allergy Solution Guide for more information about springtime allergen avoidance.
Posted by Craig on Wednesday, March 14, 2007
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While approximately 80% of household dust is dead skin, a new EPA study reveals that dust emanating from mattresses and televisions contains potentially hazardous polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), according to Medindia.com Health News.
It is not yet clear how dangerous these PBDEs are, but some of them are already banned in most parts of Europe, and their structure is strikingly similar to PCBs. PCBs are suspected of causing cancer and can definitely alter human development. Exposure to PCBs also causes various skin problems like rashes. U.S. Congress banned the domestic production of PCBs in 1977, but they're still used in electrical equipment like capacitors and transformers.
To avoid PBDEs when cleaning, avoiding sweeping, which only circulates dust. Instead use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. Vacuum and dust frequently, and avoid touching used vacuum cleaner filters. Air purifiers will also help remove particulate and chemical pollution. Also, let fresh air into your home as often as possible.
Posted by Craig on Monday, March 12, 2007
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The Star Press reports that every year, hundreds of thousands of children visit the emergency room because of asthma attacks. Parents of asthmatic children should consider creating some sort of action plan.
The columnist, whose child suffers from asthma, suggests the "traffic light" plan:
- Green means go. Your child is breathing well and has no asthma symptoms. The peak flow reading is greater than 80 percent of your child's personal best.
- Yellow means caution. Your child has some asthma symptoms. The peak flow monitor reading is 50 to 80 percent of your child's personal best.
- Red means stop/danger. Your child's asthma symptoms are bad. Your child has difficulty breathing. The peak flow reading is less than 50 percent of your child's personal best. You must get help now!
The writer learned about this action plan from Sutter Health Network's Parent's Guide to Asthma.
For more information about childhood asthma, see Disarming Asthma - A Mother's Perspective.
Posted by Craig on Monday, March 12, 2007
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The Courier News announces that allergy season is here once again. And one allergist, Dr. Greg Sharon, is preparing for a busy season.
"There has been a major paradigm shift, a huge genetic change," says Sharon. "We are pretty much the same people as 100 years ago but our prevalence for allergies have skyrocketed."
In the 1950s, six percent of the population was diagnosed with asthma and 16 to 20 percent had allergies. Now, according to a survey by Dr. Sharon's Asthma and Allergy Center, 50 percent of grade school students have allergies and 16 percent are asthmatic.
Dr. Sharon says that mold and pollen counts are increasing, and dust mites and animal dander will be a major concernt, too.
"One of the best things in our business is cats," Dr. Sharon jokes. "I recommend every household get a cat."
The article also lists the following springtime allergy tips, courtesy of achooallergy.com:
- When you have to work outdoors (especially if you're raking or mowing the lawn), wear a dust & pollen mask to avoid inhaling dust, pollen and mold.
- Limit outdoor activity when pollen counts or mold counts are high.
- When you go outdoors during your particular season of sensitivity, shower and change your clothes afterward because pollen grains and mold spores stick to clothing, skin and hair.
- Don't hang clothes outside to dry because allergens will stick to them.
- Use an allergen wash to remove allergens from your laundry in any water temperature.
- Avoid early morning outdoor activity (because that's when pollen is emitted).
- Pets can also carry pollen and mold. Bathing them every two weeks will eliminate these allergens and reduce dander which can aggravate seasonal allergies (and is itself an allergen).
- Keep windows closed or use window filters to keep allergens from floating inside.
- Air purifiers, furnace & vent filters, and HEPA vacuum cleaners will keep your indoor air free of allergens.
- Allergy relief bedding protects you from mold, dust, dander and other allergens while you sleep.
- Nasal irrigators & saline mists help restore moisture and wash allergens out of irritated nasal and sinus passages.
Posted by Craig on Monday, March 12, 2007
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ABC Health News reports that children with asthma should get flu shots, but only 3 in 10 actually receive the shots.
"We were surprised at how low the number was," says Susan Brim of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Children with asthma can die from respiratory complications from the flu. A flu vaccine shot is recommended for all asthmatic children older than six months.
"Influenza in a child or adult with asthma can be fatal," says Dr. Gerald Teague, a pediatric pulmonary specialist at Emory University.
Posted by Craig on Friday, March 09, 2007
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According to a new study cited by Reuters news bureau, hayfever sufferers who are sensitive to pollen are more likely to be sensitive to non-allergen triggers like cold air, perfume, smoke, and cleaning products.
Specifically, 42 percent of seasonal allergy sufferers are sensitive to more than three non-allergen triggers, compared to only three percent of subjects with no history of allergies.
If you're sensitive to cleaning products, you can avoid them with an all-purpose vapor steam cleaner. Harness the power of steam to kill dust mites, mold, bacteria, and germs.
See Steam Cleaning 101 for more information.
Posted by Craig on Friday, March 09, 2007
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New Scientist reports that a recently discovered class of immune cell may hold the key to new treatments for asthma - and explain why existing therapies sometimes fail.
Asthma occurs when immune cells go into overdrive and release inflammatory chemicals called cytokines. Cytokines cause excess production of mucus, which plugs up the lungs. The disease is generally associated with immune cells called T-helper 2 (TH2) cells and the cytokines they release, but their response alone is not enough to trigger asthma.
Natural killer T (NKT) cells produce some of the same cytokines as TH2s, but NKTs release them faster and in greater quantities. NKT cells are hybrids: they kill invading microbes like natural killer immune cells, but they also bind to antigens - foreign substances that trigger an immune response - like T-cells do.
Last year, Omid Akbari and his colleagues at Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, discovered high numbers of NKT cells in the lungs of people with severe asthma, but virtually none in the lungs of healthy people. Meanwhile, separate studies in mice have shown NKT cell activation alone is enough to trigger asthma, prompting researchers to speculate that NKT cells might be equally, or more, important than TH2 cells in the development of the disease.
Akbari's team has now used a drug called DPPE-PEG to inhibit the action of NKT cells in mice and found that it prevented the type of asthma linked to allergies. DPPE-PEG already has approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, so clinical trials could begin as early as this year, says Akbari, who presented his findings at a meeting of the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology in San Diego, California, last week.
The findings may help explain why some people with asthma are resistant to conventional drugs such as corticosteroids. These inhibit many immune cells, but do not work on NKT cells, Akbari says.
However, while DPPE-PEG shows promise, more work is needed to understand the role of NKT cells in asthma. For a start, they seem to bind to glycolipids - molecules made from fats and sugars - rather than the protein antigens recognised by most immune cells. Few glycolipid antigens have been discovered so far, although some have now been identified in bacteria and pollen.
In the case of DPPE-PEG, Akbari believes it works by blocking the antigen receptors on NKT cells and so preventing their immune response. But since the allergen his team used to trigger asthma in the mice was an egg protein, it is unlikely to have been this that stimulated the NKT cells in the first place. It could be that protein allergens trigger the release of naturally occurring glycolipids by some as yet unidentified mechanism, which then stimulate NKT cells, suggests Akbari.
"It is also possible that there's a bacterial component to asthma," says Mitchell Kronenberg, president of the La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology in California. He suggests that bacteria present in the body may produce glycolipids that prime NKT cells to respond when an allergen is introduced.
Posted by Craig on Wednesday, March 07, 2007
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If you're heading to Florida anytime soon, you may want to take a box of tissue - and maybe even a portable air purifier for your car.
While most of the country is still thawing out and hearing the first chirp-chirps of the rapidly approaching spring, allergic Floridians are already reeling from the pollen.
According to the Bradenton Herald, tree pollen counts are already high in the sunshine state.
"There are a lot of allergens down here, and they are present most of the year in one form or another," says Dr. John P. Cella, a board-certified allergist at Allergy Affiliates in Bradenton.
In Florida, early tree pollen season starts in February, and some of the trees re-pollinate in the fall and winter. When the grass starts growing, grass pollen is added to the mix.
"Typically, up north, there is tree pollen for a few weeks, then grass pollen, and then in August is ragweed," explains Dr. Cella. "But early tree season here started a couple of weeks ago."
Posted by Craig on Tuesday, March 06, 2007
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If you have allergies or asthma, your child is more likely to develop a food allergy.
The Mayo Clinic offers advice on preventing the development of food allergies in your children:
- Avoid peanuts during pregnancy and while nursing, especially if you have a family history of allergies.
- Give your child only breast milk for the first six months, if possible. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for your infant.
- Wait until your child is six months old to introduce solid foods.
- Wait at least one year to introduce cow's milk.
- Wait until age two to introduce eggs.
- Wait until age three to introduce nuts and seafood.
- Introduce all new foods gradually and one at a time.
- Give your child cooked or homogenized foods; many foods are less likely to cause an allergic reaction after being cooked.
If you have a child with a food allergy, see Managing Food Allergies in Children for more information.
Posted by Craig on Tuesday, March 06, 2007
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At the 63rd annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) in San Francisco last month, investigators presented findings that children with asthma who live in urban settings often have under-diagnosed and therefore under-managed allergic disease.
A study of 5,250 children with asthma showed that less than half had received a diagnosis of allergies, and among those with an allergy diagnosis, less than half had undergone allergy testing, said presenting investigator Jeanette A. Stingone, MPH, research coordinator, department of community and preventive medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States. In addition, among the children who had been tested for allergies, 40 percent had not received any education regarding the importance of avoiding allergy triggers.
The findings of this study have serious clinical implications because of the strong overlap of asthma and allergies and the consequent importance of allergy management to asthma outcomes such as missed days from school and work.
See How to Decrease Your Total Allergen Load for more on allergen avoidance.
Posted by Craig on Monday, March 05, 2007
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Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, host of Sunday Housecall on Fox News, says that you should never take the antihistamine medication Allegra with any kind of juice:
"If you take the pill with fruit juice - any kind of fruit juice, apple juice, grapefruit juice, orange juice - you lose about 36 to 40 percent of its efficacy. Please, if you're using Allergra, and especially now with the hayfever season about to be here, you should take Allegra with water."
Grapefruit juice in particular has a history of interfering with medications, cautions Dr. Isadore:
"Grapefruit juice has an effect on a wide variety of medications. If you are taking any pill - whether it's a birth control pill or antibiotic or a statin to lower cholesterol - do not take grapefruit juice. Discuss it with your doctor. Some things you can take with grapefruit juice, but many you cannot."
Posted by Craig on Monday, March 05, 2007
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The Austin Air Pet Machine Air Purifier was designed specifically for pet owners.
What is in the new Austin Air Pet Machine air purifier that makes it different?
The Pet machine has 60 square feet of Medical Grade HEPA along with a Special Carbon Blend that is geared specifically for pet odors.
What are the available colors for the Pet Machine?
White, Black, Sandstone & Silver
What size does the Pet Machine come in?
The Austin Air Pet Machine is currently only available in the standard (large) unit size.
See all Austin Air Purifiers.
Posted by Craig on Friday, March 02, 2007
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