Month: April 2008
Cat Allergies, Cat Parasites & Environmental Control
Only in recent years have I befriended the feline species. I was always a ‘dog person.’ But in the past five years or so, I've had just as many feline roommates as human roommates, and I've grown to love the…
Are You Allergic to Your Cell Phone? Electromagnetic Sensitivity & Allergies
‘In addition to the typical pollen-producing allergies that are rampant during the months of spring, technophiles should take caution that some of their favorite gadgets may be the culprit of certain allergy symptoms,’ says Dr. Todd Rosengart, Chief of Cardiothoracic…
Smog, Ozone Linked to Premature Deaths
According to CNN, a National Academy of Sciences report contradicts White House officials who say that the connection between smog and premature death has not been shown sufficiently. ‘The report is a rebuke of the Bush administration which has consistently…
Asthma Symptoms & Salt Intake
WebMD reports that you might breathe easier if you watch your salt intake and avoid processed foods (which is where most Americans get three-quarters of their salt). In a recent study at Indiana University, researchers found that test subjects with…
Special Earth Day Announcement: Allergy Armor
Happy Earth Day! We have a special announcement for Earth Day 2008: Allergy Armor
Bed Bug Problem Spinning Out of Control
Veteran entomologist Rick Cooper had never actually seen a live bed bug until 1999. Since then, bedbugs have turned into a full-time job for his pest management company. ‘I would say it's spinning out of control,’ says Cooper. Indeed, Orkin…
Children’s Breathing Problems Possibly Linked to Baby Swimming
Mothers who have allergies or asthma may want to think twice before enrolling their babies in swimming classes. ScienceDaily reports on a recent study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH)using data from the Norwegian Mother and Child…
Blood Test May be Used to Diagnose Chronic Sinusitis
The presence of a particular protein profile in the blood of those suffering from chronic sinusitis may lead physicians to be able to objectively diagnose and treat the disease, ScienceDaily reports. Using surface enhanced laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy…
A Brief Discussion of Sulfa Allergies
As the Mayo Clinic describes, a sulfa allergy most often refers to an adverse reaction to an antibiotic called sulfamethoxazole, which is present in antibiotics that contain sulfonamides. Some of these antibiotics are Septra and Bactrim. Sulfisoxazole, present in Pediazole,…
Pollen Allergy Avoidance Tips
I received immunotherapy for pollen allergy several years ago, and while I rarely get sick these days, I’m definitely feeling the effects of pollen today. (The pollen count is well over 2000 here in Atlanta!) The short walk to my…
Sky-High Pollen Count in Atlanta
The pollen count in Atlanta was 1705 today. It was over 1000 last Thursday as well… and anything over 120 is considered extremely high. Yessir, this is allergy season. I went to visit an old friend last Thursday night, and…
Chocolate Allergies, Part I
Although many people believe they are allergic to chocolate, true allergies to chocolate – specifically, the cocoa it's made from – are actually rare. In addition, many reactions to chocolate are not true allergies to the chocolate itself, but are…