Allergy sufferers' red, itchy, watery eyes may in part be a response triggered by an allergic response of the nose.
As Reuters Health reports, the nasonasal reflex, in which an allergen introduced into one nostril causes the other nostril to respond in kind, has been demonstrated previously. Because the eyes and the nasal cavity share the same nerve supply, researchers thought that eye allergies occurred not only from direct exposure to allergens, but also due to a similar reflex response.
Indeed, research demonstrated that histamine release in the nose does in fact trigger eye allergies. This means that the pollen or other allergens you inhale are most likely the culprit in your eye allergy symptoms; while some allergen does probably get into your eye directly, this amount is much smaller than the amount you inhale.
In further corroboration of these findings, corticosteroids that are delivered through the nasal passages can also reduce eye allergy symptoms.
Dr. Fuad M. Baroody and his colleagues at the University of Chicago reported their findings in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. The researchers conclude, "The eye symptoms associated with allergic rhinities probably arise, in part, from a naso-ocular reflex."
MedicineNet.com reports that researchers in Denmark found that using HEPA filters for just two days significantly improved cardiovascular health in healthy, nonsmoking elderly people.
"Our main finding was a significant improvement in the function of small finger blood vessels after reduction of indoor air particles. This effect most likely indicates a general improvement in the function of the inner lining of small vessels, including those supplying the heart," says Dr. Steffen Loft of the Institute of Public Health in Copenhagen. "This suggests that indoor air filtration represents a feasible means of reducing cardiovascular risk."
Last week, leaders from the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) released the following statement in response to the announcement of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation into Singulair:
"There are no data from well-designed studies to indicate a link between Singulair and suicide. The concern expressed by the FDA is based entirely on case reports and there is no indication that such effects apply to other leukotriene-modifying medications.
"Post-marketing case reports are incomplete. Furthermore, comparative data are lacking on the incidence of suicide in the general population versus the incidence in patients taking Singulair. Thus, it is unknown whether there is an increased incidence of suicide in patients receiving Singulair.
"Based on the information currently available, patients taking Singulair should continue to take the medication as prescribed provided: 1) the patient and physician feel the medication is effective; and 2) the patient does not experience any suicidal behavior or thoughts.
"Patients who experience suicidal thoughts or demonstrate suicidal behavior should consult their physician immediately to discuss whether to continue with this medication. Patients should not hesitate to consult their physician if they feel uncomfortable continuing on the medication."
Ammonia is found in a wide range of cleaning products, including many glass cleaners, and is poisonous if swallowed. It can burn the skin on contact, and fumes can also irritate and damage the eyes. Ammonia also aggravates the respiratory tract and can trigger asthma attacks. Note: NEVER mix ammonia-containing products with bleach. The combination makes a deadly gas.
Antibacterial cleansers with triclosan are dangerous on two fronts: they are absorbed into the skin and can be tied to liver damage, and they are suspected of contributing to the increase in antibiotic-resistant germs.
Butyl cellosolve (also known as butyl glycol, ethylene glycol monobutyl) is poisonous if ingested, is absorbed through the skin, and is also a lung tissue irritant. It's often found in carpet sprays, wax strippers, and heavy-duty cleaners.
Chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) irritates the lungs and eyes.
Diethanolamine, commonly known as DEA, can combine with preservatives to crease cancer-causing nitrosamines. These can penetrate the skin.
Fragrance often contains phtalates,chemicals that can build up in the body, trigger asthma attacks, and have been linked to reproductive abnormalities and liver cancer in lab animals.
EcoDiscoveries Natural Cleaning Products and Begley's Best Natural Cleaning Products have no added fragrances. EcoDisoveries AirZyme is a natural and safe odor remover that eliminates odor rather than just covering it up like many fragranced cleaning products and air fresheners do.
Phosphates soften the water in detergents, but cause food-chain disrupting algae blooms in waterways once they're flushed down the drain.
Sodium hydroxide, commonly found in drain cleaners, metal cleaners, and oven cleaners, is severely irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat, and is also extremely corrosive to these same tissues.
Many natural cleaning advocates suggest using a paste made of water and baking soda to clean ovens. Simply spread it around the oven, leave overnight, and then wipe clean the next day.
Sodium lauryl sulfate, used as a sudsing agent, can penetrate the skin, leading to contact dermatitis.
I often see "mucus" and "mucous" used incorrectly, so I thought I'd try to explain the difference here. (Yes, I'm a geek...)
Mucus - Noun - A viscous, slimy mixture of mucins, water, electrolytes, epithelial cells, and leukocytes that is secreted by glands lining the nasal, esphageal, and other body cavities and serves to primarily protect and lubricate surfaces. Example: Whenever I'm around cats, my nose produces more mucus.
Mucous - Adjective - pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling mucus. Example: During cold, dry months, I often use Ayr Saline Mist to rehydrate the mucous membrane in my nose.
Mucosa - Noun - another term for mucous membrane; a membrane lining all body passages that communicate with the air, such as the respiratory and alimentary tracts, and having cells and associated glands that secrete mucus. The plural is "mucosae." Example: Pollen makes my nasal mucosa feel itchy.
Depsite its bad reputation, mucus plays an important role within your immune system. It traps inhaled particles like allergens. However, the production of too much mucus is unpleasant.
Mucinex is an OTC medication that loosens and thins out mucus to relieve nasal and chest congestion.
However, you may be surprised to learn that peaks in tree pollen counts are associated with spikes in suicide.
It appears that the connection between allergies and depression runs deeper than the obvious fact that allergies make people feel bad.
When allergies activate the immune system, the brain begins to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cytokines are signal proteins that allow cells to communicate with each other. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression can lead to reduced activity and social interaction, inhibition of sexual behavior, reduced food intake, increased sleepiness, and altered REM sleep.
Pro-inflammatory cytokines also activate the HPA axis in the brain. The HPA axis consists of the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the adrenal gland. By sending and receiving hormones and other signals, the HPA axis controls reactions to stress and regulates digestion, immune responses, sexuality, mood, and energy.
One hypothesis states that activation of the HPA axis results in aberrant responses to stress. In other words, allergies not only make you feel bad, but they could also make you overreact to stressful situations. One UCLA study found that subjects with a history of allergy were three times more likely to have both major depression and lower back pain. Researchers hypothesized that allergies may prime the HPA axis to respond more strongly to stressors like back pain.
Non-physical stressors, for example, may include the death of a loved one or loss of a job. If allergies cause the brain to overreact to stress, then it's easy to imagine how suicide rates increase during peak tree pollen season.
Note that clinical depression involves much more than feeling bad; it's deeper than reduced activity, increased sleepiness, and all the other feelings that go along with being sick. Depression involves dysphoria (extremely low mood) or anhedonia (an inability to experience pleasure), and it can significantly affect work, family, school, sleep, health, and life. Clinical depression can also lead to suicide.
According to Dr. Teodor Postolache, MD, one allergy patient out of 500 will attempt suicide. Allergists, allergy nurses, and other healthcare practitioners should look for signs of clinical depression among patients and try to differentiate them from the mood changes that typically occur with sickness. Signs of clinical depression include hopelessness, helplessnes, excessive guilt, and worthlesness.
Do allergies cause depression and suicide? No - but allergy sufferers are at increased risk, and allergic disease is one more straw on the camel's back. If you can eliminate that one straw - by relieving allergies with environmental control, immunotherapy, or medication - then the chance of suicide is greatly reduced.
However... Also be aware that some allergy medications, like antihistamines, decongestants and corticosteroids, can make depression worse for certain patients. Use of the allergy medication Singulair has recently been linked to suicide.
At this year's meeting, several allergy researchers spoke about SLIT - sublingual immunotherapy. This "new" allergy treatment is similar to SCIT- subcutaneous immunotherapy (allergy shots) - but SLIT delivers the solution in the form of drops under the tongue, as opposed to a needle in the arm.
Some allergists in the U.S. already offer SLIT, although it has not yet been approved by the FDA. SLIT has been available in Europe for several years. In 1998, the World Health Organization concluded that sublignual immunotherapy is a viable alternative to injection.
SLIT accounts for 40 percent of allergy treatment in Europe, and FDA approval is pending.
SLIT may be a viable option for food allergy treatment as well; more studies are under way.
People receiving SLIT treatments should not exercise during the four hours following treatment, as vigorous exercise could induce a reaction, possibly anaphylaxis.
SLIT is a wonderful option for children and people who have a phobia of needles.
Immunotherapy (both SCIT and SLIT) is underutilized, even though it is effective and long-lasting. Hopefully, once the FDA approves SLIT, more people will open up to the idea of immunotherapy.
Licensed social workers Melissa T. Korenblat-Hanin and Jennifer Moyer Darr spoke to healthcare professionals about the psychosocial impact of asthma. An asthma diagnosis can be devastating to children on psychological and social levels. Suddenly they hear that they're not supposed to exercise or play too hard, that they're not supposed to get too hot or too cold, and maybe even that they have to get rid of their favorite pet. A great sense of loss can accompany a childhood asthma diagnosis, and it's important that someone asks the child, "How are you handling this?" That's what social workers do best, sometimes by asking the child to draw their asthma.
I vividly remember two children's drawings from the educational session: One showed an asthma monster strangling a child who was all alone. The other showed a similar monster - but this time the child was with his family, and the father held up a large umbrella that protected the whole family from the looming asthma monster.
And that brings up an important message: Asthma is a family problem, not an individual problem. Asthmatic children who have support from family and friends are much more likely to deal with their disease appropriately. Children without proper support are prone to non-compliance with medication, poor symptom perception, anger, mistrust, sleep problems, self-esteem issues, and feelings of guilt and isolation. Asthmatic children without a solid support network are also more likely to die from the disease.
Social workers try to help connect children with positive resources. One such resource is the Asthma Explorers Club, founded by Korenblat-Hanin. Also see asthmacamps.org.
Before I begin this post, allow me to restate that I am not a doctor, and therefore my understanding of information presented at the AAAAI 2008 meeting is not 100% clear. That said, I will do my best to accurately relay what I learned about the role of vitamin D in atopic disease.
Dr. Matthias Wjst, MD, explained that dietary sources of vitamin D are not ideal. It is best to get vitamin D from natural sunlight exposure. In fact, dietary supplementation of vitamin D may be related to the increase in allergies and asthma.
Early vitamin D3 supplementation has been linked to asthma. Dr. Wjst also pointed out that inhabitants of the islands of Tristan da Cunha have a very high incidence of allergies and asthma - and they also consume a very high amount of dietary vitamin D from sea bass.
Many "allergy" genes seem to be regulated by vitamin D, and vitamin D also appears to regulate an antimicrobial response within the immune system. Dr. Wjst proposed that oral vitamin D supplementation could be a not-so-visible component of the hygiene hypothesis.
The hygiene hypothesis is a hot topic among allergists; it suggests that the prevalence of allergic diseases in modern, developed societies is related to our overly hygienic lives. For example, kids who grow up on farms usually have lower rates of allergies and asthma. However, if a child stays indoors in a sterile environment all the time, then his immune system is never challenged and never has a chance to "learn" what it should attack. Thus, the immune system overreacts to substances like pollen.
Dr. Wjst suggested that perhaps oral vitamin D supplementation early in life leads to fewer infections and therefore more allergies; this is another way of looking at the hygiene hypothesis.
Dr. Margherita Cantorna, PhD, presented molecular evidence for the role of vitamin D in asthma and autoimmune diseases. A great deal of this evidence went over my head, but I did learn that T-cells have vitamin D receptors, and that vitamin D deficiency exacerbates autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, lupus, arthritis, type I diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. Also, inflammatory bowel disease is much more prevalent in urban areas, Northern areas, and developed countries.
So... It looks like too much vitamin D in the diet can increase the incidence of allergic diseases; however, too little vitamin D can make allergic diseases worse.
Dr. Cantorna told attendees that vitamin D seems to normalize T-cell function in the immune system.
Here's the key point: People generally don't get hyper-doses of vitamin D by spending time in the sun; however, it's easy to get hyper-doses of vitamin D through oral supplementation.
My takeaway: I'm going to try to spend more time outdoors in the sun, allowing the vitamin D machinery in my skin to do its job.
This was not the first time I had heard about the possible role of vitamin D in atopic disease. Several months ago I interviewed Dr. Thomas A.E. Platts-Mills, former President of the AAAAI and one of the world's preeminent allergy researchers, and he alluded to the possible vitamin D connection.
Dr. Platts-Mills believes that the hygiene hypothesis does not offer a full explanation. He thinks that the rise in allergies and asthma is due to the fact that we have essentially become an indoor species:
"Yes, you need cleanliness in order to get allergy, but the rise in asthma from 1960 onward, which was occurring among allergic patients, is much more likely to be due to the major change in lifestyle that occurred then, which is that we moved indoors and have essentially become an indoor species. In the 1950s, children would spend three hours a day outdoors playing. From about 1960 onwards, that's progressively decreased so that now it's unusual for children to go outdoors. The outdoor exposure could be beneficial because it allows the children to open up their lungs and exercise their lungs; it could be beneficial because they don't get so fat; it could be beneficial because their environment is better; or even, as has recently been suggested, because they get more exposure to the sun and therefore aren't vitamin D deficient."
According to NewScientist, greasy hair may reduce the amount of ozone that you inhale.
Researchers at the university of Missouri in Rolla found that, on average, unwashed hair absorbs around seven times more ozone than washed hair.
"Ozone is probably reacting with components of hair oil," says one of the researchers. "For dirty hair, the ozone concentration around the head is likely to be substantially lower than the level in the room."
Ground-level ozone can cause respiratory problems and trigger asthma attacks; it has also been associated with increased mortality.
However, before you throw out all of your shampoo, note that ozone may form secondary respiratory irritants when it reacts with hair oil.
A better option would be to switch to non-toxic hair-care products - because chemicals in personal care products like shampoo and conditioner can also react with ozone in the air to form other harmful chemicals.
Dr. Robert A. Wood, MD FAAAAI, told attendees that cow's milk allergy is not going away. In fact, it looks like it's getting worse. Back in 1990, the first big study on cow's milk allergy concluded that most children become tolerant by the age of three; however, more recent studies suggest that the usual course of developing tolerance lasts longer - that the majority of children outgrow the allergy by age six. Similar findings apply to egg allergy in children. Dr. Wood also pointed out that high specific IgE levels suggest that a child is less likely to outgrow the disease.
Dr. David M. Fleischer, MD, spoke about peanut allergy and tree nut allergy. In the past, it has generally been recommended that those with peanut allergy should avoid tree nuts - and vice-versa - because of the high potential for cross-contamination (in food processing equipment, for example). Dr. Fleischer shed light on recent studies which suggest a potential for cross-reactivity among peanuts and tree nuts - so that's another reason to avoid all nuts if you're allergic to one type of nut.
Current research suggests that the prevalence of peanut allergy (and likely tree nut allergy) is increasing. About 20% of children with peanut allergy will outgrow the allergy; and about 10% of children with tree nut allergy will outgrow the allergy. Among those who outgrow peanut allergy, recurrence is more common among individuals who rarely eat peanuts; it is less common among those who eat peanuts frequently. Dr. Fleischer pointed out the there's a seven percent chance that the younger sibling of a child with peanut allergy will also develop the allergy.
Dr. Sami L. Bahna, MD DrPH FAAAAI, gave a very interesting presentation about fish allergy. "Fish allergy is not universal," he said; that is, some people are allergic to certain types of fish but not others, and some people react to certain parts of the fish but not others. For example, some people react to dark meat but not white meat, and some react to the shell of shellfish but not the meat. Cooking methods can also affect the allergenicity of fish.
If you are allergic to one type of fish, there is an 85% chance that you are allergic to another type of fish. The fish species that are most prone to cross-reactivity include cod, salmon, pollack, and herring.
It may not be news that cockroaches cause allergies because of their feces, saliva, and bodies, but the Madagascar hissing cockroach poses additional allergy threats, as Medical News Today reports.
Unlike the household pests we detest, hissing cockroaches have enjoyed the status of educational tools and even pets for many years. Reported to be gentle (whatever that means in an insect), hissing cockroaches are large enough to "pet" and emit intriguing sounds for which they're named.
However, these cockroaches harbor and create even more allergens than their less-revered cousins - mold. Researchers have identified 14 types of mold on and around hissing cockroaches, housed in their hard bodies and feces. Many of these molds are associated with allergies, and others may cause secondary infections if they enter the lungs or an open wound.
Lead author of the study, Joshua Benoit of the entomology department at Ohio State University, states, "This is mainly a point of public awareness. We are not criticizing their use. We are just saying that if you handle these cockroaches, you should wash your hands when you're done." He also advises that the cockroaches' cages should be cleaned regularly to avoid the build up of feces and exoskeletons, favorite homes to these cockroach-induced mold allergens.
However, it may be best for allergy sufferers to avoid the temptation to befriend these moldy cockroaches altogether.
Dr. Andre E. Nel, MD PhD, explained how air particulates injure the airways and promote allergic sensitization. Small particles create oxidative stress; that is, they generate oxygen radicals that can cause damage and lead to cell death. The smaller the particle, the deeper it penetrates into the lungs - and the more damage it causes. Ultra-fine particles not only damage the airways, but they also worsen the inflammation associated with allergies and asthma, and they can damage the cardiovascular system. (You can actually chart an increase in the number of emergency room visits following an increase in air pollution.) Most of these dangerous ultra-fine particles come from the combustion of fossil fuels.
Dr. Grace K. LeMasters, PhD, presented evidence which showed that children who live near high-diesel-traffic areas experience increases in wheezing. She also pointed out that simply taking a two-hour walk on a street with heavy diesel-powered traffic can decrease lung function. Inner-city stop-and-go traffic is more dangerous than fast-moving highway traffic, as stop-and-go traffic pumps out more exhaust particles. Dr. LeMasters also suggested that some children are more vulnerable genetically to damage from air pollutants.
If you live near a highway or other source of air pollution, we recommend an air purifier with an activated carbon filter to adsorb the chemical pollutants. If you must spend time outdoors in a highly polluted area, wear a mask with an activated carbon filter; I recommend the Respro Aero Mask or the Honeycomb Mask.
I just got back in town from Philadelphia, where I attended the 2008 annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). The trip was exhausting, but it was also a wonderful, non-stop learning experience.
achoo! ALLERGY had a booth in the exhibit hall, and we enjoyed interacting with allergists and allergy nurses from all over the world. Kimberly Bryant (achoo! Customer Service Manager, pictured on left) and Khristina McClinic (achoo! Physician Services Manager, on right) answered questions about our environmental control products and gave out stuffed dust mite toys to attendees. Nearly 300 physicians requested samples of Allergy Armor™!
While Kimberly and Khristina operated our exhibit booth, I went to as many of the educational sessions as I could. Because the sessions were intended for doctors, some of the material was over my head, but I learned quite a bit about recent advances in allergy research. I'll be posting my notes from the sessions here on the blog.
I also got the chance to meet several other players in the online world of allergy relief - like Sloane Miller, award-winning author of the Allergic Girl blog. We recently published an interesting interview with Sloane, and it was great to meet her in person.
As an allergy sufferer myself, I realize that allergic diseases are no laughing matter. In fact, some people who don't have allergies seem to think that allergic conditions are not as serious as other medical conditions - or that allergies and chemical sensitivities are not completely "real," that they are somehow "all in your head."
That kind of thinking is dangerous.
Allergy and asthma attacks kill thousands of people every year. You can't get any more serious than that.
However, I believe that laughter really is medicine - and most of us adult allergy sufferers probably don't laugh enough. I think it's good to try to see the humor in all situations.
With that said, I'll admit it: I've been looking for a funny allergy joke for years now. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be a subject that most comedians want to tackle.
I did find one allergy joke that almost made me laugh, and achooallergy.com's in-house artist Ashley Vinson has helped me bring the joke to life below...
A sign recently spotted hanging in an allergy clinic:
(Like I said, it almost made me laugh.)
If you have any family-friendly jokes related to allergies, asthma, or chemical sensitivities, please send them in! And if your jokes make me laugh - or almost make me laugh - I'll post them here on the blog.
Actress and allergy sufferer Molly Shannon has teamed up with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and the makers of Zyrtec to launch the Allergies Are No Laughing Matter campaign.
Molly and the AAFA will teach allergy sufferers about different treatment options and how to avoid allergy triggers. The site contains an online quiz to help people learn if they may have allergies.
In the youtube video below, Molly explains, "It's something I could really relate to - putting the word out about how to manage your allergies better."
Researchers discovered a link between high exposure of expectant women to bleach and air freshener, among other common products, and asthma and wheezing in their small children. The increased risk for persistent wheezing and sub-normal lung function in children under 7 was 41 per cent.
Although experts are not certain about which chemicals are responsible for the effects, research in the past indicates that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are likely responsible. Disinfectants and bleach were the most common cleaning products found in homes, followed by window cleaner, air fresheners, and aerosols. VOC levels were highest in homes that used air fresheners and aerosols.
The study was led by Dr. John Henderson, a pediatric respiratory specialist at Bristol University, and was published in the European Respiratory Journal. He states, "This research points to the direct effects of chemical-exposure on lung development or irritation of the airways after birth."
A reader recently sent in an interesting question:
I have a question. Generally speaking. If you take preventive action against allergic triggers, could you avoid all the pharmaceutical and over-the-counter medications like singulair and nasonex?
In some cases, yes, allergy sufferers can avoid medication by practicing sound environmental control methods and avoiding allergens. Allergy symptoms do not occur without exposure to the offending allergen. We hear "miracle stories" all the time in regard to Allergy Armor™. Some people put these covers on their mattress and pillows, and their symptoms disappear completely.
However, everyone is different, and even allergy sufferers who take all the proper environmental control measures will still experience symptoms sometimes. For instance, in many place in the U.S., it's difficult to avoid ragweed pollen during allergy season because the allergen is just so pervasive. And in one major study, cat dander was found in 100% of U.S. homes - even homes without cats! Similarly, it's nearly impossible to get rid of all dust mites and mold spores. They're everywhere! So, even with all the best environmental control products and methods, there will still be a need for allergy medication, but you can greatly reduce the chances that you'll need medication by avoiding the particles that make you sick.
The Westin A. Price Foundation, a non-profit charity focused on nutrition, has asked the FDA to block the "heart healthy" label from use on soy food products, according to physorg.com.
"We have filed this petition because there was never a sound basis for a soy health claim and the heavy marketing of soy as a 'miracle food' has put American men, women and children at risk," says Kaayla Daniel, lead author of the 65-page petition that was officially filed by Sally Fallon, president of the foundation.
The petition also documents concern about soy's possible role in carcinogenesis, thyroid disease, reproductive problems, and other illnesses.
In 2006, the American Heart Association advised physicians that soy has little effect on cholesterol and is unlikely to prevent heart disease.
To learn more about possible health risks associated with consuming too much soy, and soy's connection to food allergies, see Is Soy Really A Health Food?
In addition to the hypoallergenic egg that may be in development, scientists are at work on soy products that would be safe for soy-allergic individuals.
Medical News Today reports on two studies by the University of Illinois that show how fermenting soy by exposure to microorganisms greatly reduces its allergenic properties and increases its level of essential amino acids.
A University of Illinois associate professor, Elvira de Mejia, reports, "When we fermented soy seeds, flour, or meal by introducing certain microorganisms, immunoreactivity was significantly reduced - by as much as 99 percent. This shows that we have the potential of developing nutritious, hypoallergenic soy products."
The fermentation process breaks down proteins into small pieces that aren't identified by the antibodies responsible for allergic reactions.
Although cleaning products have been linked with increased asthma in cleaning professionals, this study reports that others are also at risk. In fact, exposure to cleaning products may account for one in seven adult asthma cases.
Jan-Paul Zock, an epidemiologist at the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona, wrote: "Frequent use of household cleaning sprays may be an important risk factor for adult asthma."
Air fresheners, glass cleaners, and furniture cleaners are reported to have the strongest effect. The study also showed that the risk of developing asthma increased with the number of different sprays, as well as with the frequency of cleaning. On average, the risk of developing asthma was 30-50% higher in people exposed to cleaning sprays at least once a week.
It is important that those with allergies and asthma maintain a clean environment. But common household cleaners often trigger asthma in these same sensitive individuals.
ScienceDaily reports in an article entitled Incredible, Hypoallergenic Egg: New Process to Help Egg-Allergy Sufferers that German and Swiss chemists have developed a new process that greatly reduces allergens in eggs. Food allergies have been increasingly on the rise in recent years, especially among children. Egg allergies are one of the most common food allergies in infants and children.
Egg prodcuts are widely used in a broad range of processed foods and traditional recipes, so those with egg allergies are not only unable to eat eggs, but also have to be vigilant about what foods may contain egg products and avoid them.
Although previous attempts have been made to reduce allergens in eggs, this new method successfully uses high heat and enzymes to break down eggs' main allergens. The resulting treated egg was 100 times less allergenic than an untreated raw egg. Flavor and texture are not significantly altered.
The study, "In Vitro Determination of the Allergenic Potential of Technologically Altered Hen's Egg," will come out in the March issue of the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
What may seem intuitive to many who suffer from allergies and asthma is that the two are linked. And now it's official: results from a recent national survey have found that "asthmatics that have allergies may alleviate symptoms by reducing allergen exposures inside their homes," as Medical News Today reports.
The study used data from the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing (NSLAH) to look at factors that contribute to high allergen levels in homes. The researchers then looked for an association between elevated household allergen levels and occupants' asthma status. Their findings are the first to relate total allergen burden inside American homes and its relationship to asthma.
Principal Investigator in the Laboratory of Respiratory Biology at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Darryl Zeldin, M.D., states, "Indoor allergen exposures are of great importance in relation to asthma because most people spend a majority of their time indoors, especially at home." He further adds, "This study confirms that indoor allergens play a major role in asthma."
Another lead researcher of the NIEHS, Paivi Salo, Ph.D., says, "Our results highlight the importance of reducing exposure to allergens as a fundamental part of asthma management. Although homes cannot be made allergen free, asthmatics that have allergies may need to do a better job in reducing allergen levels in their homes to improve asthma control."
Seed Newsvine
Allergy sufferers' red, itchy, watery eyes may in part be a response triggered by an allergic response of the nose.
National Geographic's Green Guide reports on 
The most interesting session I attended at AAAAI 2008 was entitled "Neuroimmunologic Consequences of Allergic Inflammation."
At this year's meeting, several allergy researchers spoke about SLIT - sublingual immunotherapy. This "new" allergy treatment is similar to SCIT- subcutaneous immunotherapy (allergy shots) - but SLIT delivers the solution in the form of drops under the tongue, as opposed to a needle in the arm.
Before I begin this post, allow me to restate that I am not a doctor, and therefore my understanding of information presented at the 
Dr. Robert A. Wood, MD FAAAAI, told attendees that cow's milk allergy is not going away. In fact, it looks like it's getting worse. Back in 1990, the first big study on cow's milk allergy concluded that most children become tolerant by the age of three; however, more recent studies suggest that the usual course of developing tolerance lasts longer - that the majority of children outgrow the allergy by age six. Similar findings apply to egg allergy in children. Dr. Wood also pointed out that high specific IgE levels suggest that a child is less likely to outgrow the disease.
It may not be news that 
Dr. Grace K. LeMasters, PhD, presented evidence which showed that children who live near high-diesel-traffic areas experience increases in wheezing. She also pointed out that simply taking a two-hour walk on a street with heavy diesel-powered traffic can decrease lung function. Inner-city stop-and-go traffic is more dangerous than fast-moving highway traffic, as stop-and-go traffic pumps out more exhaust particles. Dr. LeMasters also suggested that some children are more vulnerable genetically to damage from air pollutants.
The Daily Mail reports that 
A reader recently sent in an interesting question:
Speaking of soy...
What may seem intuitive to many who suffer from allergies and asthma is that the two are linked. And now it's official: results from a recent national survey have found that "asthmatics that have allergies may alleviate symptoms by reducing allergen exposures inside their homes," as 
