As fall begins and the new school year starts, many children may complain that they are allergic to school. While I certainly had my share of allergic attacks because of homework, there is a chance that your child is not far off the mark. If going to school makes your child feel ill, do not simply discount the symptoms as the back-to-school blues. Each new classroom (or new school if you moved over the summer) is a new environment with distinct allergens and irritants. These unfamiliar allergens can cause new symptoms – or familiar ones – such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, eye irritation, and headaches. These symptoms lead to irritability and exhaustion. Your child will not be able to concentrate because of their allergy symptoms.
A newly constructed school is a point of pride in any community, but new construction is a source for multiple allergy triggers. These irritants include dirt, dust, and chemicals. Chemicals and odors from the installation of new carpeting and flooring are harmful. Other seemingly innocuous odors from air fresheners, colognes, perfumes, and other artificial scents can also cause allergy symptoms. Other allergens commonly found at schools include: chalk powder, dust mites, and animal dander from classroom pets.
You do your best to make your home clean and allergen-free, but you have very little control over the school environment. What can you do? First, you have to think and act like a detective. Ask your child questions and pay attention to the details of the answers. Ask your child about classroom pets. Even cute hamsters and gerbils can cause allergy symptoms. Carefully, evaluate what is causing your child's symptoms. Secondly, make a plan. You must anticipate the presence of new allergens, and you have to talk with your child about ways to avoid those allergens.
What steps can parents and children take to avoid school allergy symptoms? If you suspect your child is allergic to something at school, take a tour of the school and class room. The offending allergen might be easier to spot in person. If you have not done so already, schedule a visit with an allergist or immunologist. These doctors will advise you on appropriate medications, immunotherapy, and prevention techniques. If your child comes home from school with nasal congestion, make sure their symptoms are alleviated before bedtime. A stuffy nose keeps your child from sleeping properly. Lack of sleep can severely hinder their performance in school. When playing outside at school, children must avoid fields which can harbor large amounts of weeds and pollen. During the fall ragweed season, this is critical. Talk to teachers about what the teachers can do to help. Communicating your concerns and ideas while being supportive of a more allergy-free classroom will help your child and their classmates.
To avoid school allergens, teachers can do a variety of things. Make sure that dust does not accumulate in the classroom. Keep classroom windows closed to keep pollen from coming inside. If you use a chalkboard, allergic children should not sit in the front row, because chalk dust may trigger allergies. If you have a chemically sensitive child in the class, choose craft projects that do not use known irritants. If your class has a nap time, any pillows provided should have allergy-proof dust mite encasings. Cleaning with harsh chemical solutions should be done after hours or at night when no children are present. Depending on your school’s financial situation, speak to your school administrator about purchasing a classroom air purifier. Air purifiers clean the air and help everyone breathe better.
Together, school administrators and parents can do a great deal to reduce the effect of allergens at school. Hopefully, the only thing that will cause an allergic reaction is that backpack full of homework.
Are you waking up every morning with dark circles under your eyes? On Monday mornings, do your co-workers wonder if you have taken up boxing or mixed martial arts? Or maybe, you think your child is not getting enough sleep, because they often have dark circles under their eyes? You or your child could be experiencing a fairly common condition called “allergy shiners.”
Our eyes swell when rubbed with fingers that have been in contact with specific allergens, but these dark rings will appear even when you think you are allergy free. Although a specific allergen is often the culprit, anything that affects your breathing and sinuses or that causes severe congestion may be the source of the shiners.
Allergy shiners are the result of an increase in blood flow near the sinuses. The swelling and skin discoloration are caused by blocked sinus cavities. When the nasal passages are congested, there is an increased amount of pressure in the nose. This pressure prevents the blood that supplies the superficial part of the face from circulating back into your bloodstream. The tiny veins around the eyes are close to the skin and when they swell a blue, bruise-like color shows through the skin. Your blood pools in the veins and capillaries underneath the eyes and causes a dark appearance, similar to that of a black eye. Some of the fluid from inside the veins slowly seeps into the tissue under the eyes causing a puffy appearance.
Many people think that the problem can be solved with medication to treat nasal congestion. I even saw one web site that advocated using makeup and concealing techniques as a solution! These will not solve your problem. Our recommendation is to reduce exposure to allergens. By controlling your environment and exposure to allergens you eliminate the cause of the nasal congestion. The best place to start controlling your environment is the bedroom. Reduce dust mite, pet dander, and dust exposure by covering your pillows and mattresses with Allergy Armor encasings. An air purifier will reduce allergens throughout your house. To specifically address nasal congestion without medication, try a netipot. By controlling your environment and allergen avoidance, you can eliminate those dark circles, feel better, and look great!
For teens with chronic medical conditions, learning to deal with their symptoms and to manage their own health is an important part of growing up. Teens and asthma or allergy symptoms can be a volatile mix. Many parents have monitored their children’s symptoms for years, but during their teenage years, the child has to learn to take care of him/herself. During this time, teens are more independent, spend less time with their parents, and are confronted with a myriad of tough choices. Some teens hate monitoring these symptoms. They just want to fit in, to forget about their allergies or asthma, and to hang out with their friends.
The problem is that teens with new found freedoms like to push the boundaries. Teen asthma and allergy sufferers want to take the focus off their health issues--to conform and be like everyone else. The children either do not understand the health risks or often they do not care about the risks. A recent Newsweek article examines this phenomenon in more detail. “Testing the limits is a normal part of adolescence,” says Dr. Paul Strumph, chief medical officer of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. “But they don’t understand the long-term consequences.”
According to the article, a Cincinnati Children’s Hospital study found that 74 % of teens dramatically overestimate their ability to manage their asthma. “Some kids who were coughing every night thought their asthma was in good control," says study co-author Dr. Maria Britto. Some data show that fewer than half of teens with asthma take their medicine regularly. Many teens working after school jobs, practicing sports, or spending time with friends need often do not prioritize monitoring their symptoms.
Severe food allergy sufferers should carry life-saving EpiPens® with them at all times. Some teens will claim they are carrying epinephrine, when in reality they have left the drug at home or in their school locker. Teens with food allergy also need to be sensitive to what they are eating. Many do not worry about taking unnecessary risks on murky food labels. A desire to fit in coupled with the typical teen's sense of immortality can be a particularly dangerous combination.
What can parents do to reinforce proper health techniques? Starting while a child is young and slowly familiarizing them with every aspect of their condition can be an excellent foundation for their teen years. The best way to encourage teens to take charge of their own health is to communicate with them. Talk about the risks and the long term benefits of taking the proper medication. Empower the teens with a sense of responsibility. One cool and tech savvy example from the Newsweek article is to have teens create and send text message reminders to themselves to take medication or carry their inhalers with them. Download a popular ring tone to go with the text message. Hopefully, staying on top their chronic conditions can lead to a safer and happier teenage rebel....
We’ve roughed the spring months, trudged through another smoggy summer, and before we know it, fall will be here. With fall comes our yearly visitor, ragweed. As the most common allergen of the late summer/early fall months, ragweed is not affected by high gas prices. Each plant produces up to a billion grains of pollen, and these particles can travel hundreds of miles by simply hitching a ride with a passing breeze. In addition to ragweed, mold can also be an issue for some of us. Mold often flourishes as dead leaves accumulate in damp piles at the edge of our yards or by the street. Lastly, firing up the furnace for the first time can also unsettle dust mites and blow them and their allergenic byproducts throughout our homes.
While packing up all of our belongings and children (don’t forget the children!) and moving to the beach or the mountains might seem like a good idea, packing is not as much fun as it sounds and unpacking is something that usually takes us months, if not years, to complete. Besides it is a buyers market when it comes to houses, and relatives generally aren’t too keen on boarding extended family for months at a time. So what other alternatives do we have?
Ideally, keeping track of the pollen count is a great idea. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology tracks pollen counts on their site, and many times the local weather now includes this information in their broadcasts. While indoors, a HEPA certified air purifier can eliminate dust, spores and pollen from the home, and when the leaves need to be raked a Respro Aero mask can keep pollen and mold spores out. After finishing be sure to shower before bed to keep from transplanting these allergens onto your bedding. Cleaning the ducts, before using the furnace for the first time each fall, can eliminate or drastically reduce the amount of contaminants that would be blown throughout the home. Once the ducts are clean you can continue to keep pollen, dust, and smoke from circulating throughout the house by using vent filters.
With temperatures cooling off, the kids going back to school and the holiday season just around the corner, fall can be a great time of the year. Allergies should never be a reason for us not to enjoy what each season has to offer, and by keeping a few things in mind we can more fully enjoy all times of the year.
If you are like most people in the United States, you enjoy dining out on the weekends. Recently, I moved to Atlanta and have been trying out new restaurants around the city. Usually, I check out the local newspaper, surf the internet, or ask co-workers and friends to find new and different dining experiences. On the surface, dining out a new place seems harmless, but if you are an allergy sufferer, you know that you have to be very careful about trying a new eatery. Straying away from national franchises like Applebee’s, Chili’s, Longhorn Steakhouse, etc. and going to a trendy, hip new restaurant can be fun, but you have to question the serving staff and tell them exactly what foods you cannot consume.
Last month, Atlantans were talking about the tragic death of Rodney Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins passed way after mistakenly eating a dish that contained seafood, causing a severe allergic reaction which resulted in his death. In the United States, 100 to 200 people die each year from anaphylactic shock, which is the acute reaction to an allergen. The scary part is that for food allergy sufferers accidentally eating a wrongly prepared or cooked meal can cause your whole body to shut down in a matter of minutes. Without a shot of adrenaline or immediate medical attention the individual, tragically, can die.
What can a food allergy sufferer do to enjoy a new restaurant with family or to hang out with friends at a hip, new chef-driven bistro? There are a couple of very important actions that food allergy sufferers must take when dining out or trying a new dish. First, you have to communicate in advance with the restaurant management and the serving staff. Make a phone call to the restaurant in advance and ask them questions about the menu. Be specific about what foods you are allergic to and how intense your reaction might be to the allergen. Most restaurants do some sort of training of the wait staff, and possibly by calling ahead they can make a notation by your reservation or alert your specific server. Here at achoo! Allergy, we have food allergy cards (and for youngsters we have food allergy t-shirts) that can be passed out to your server as a reminder. They can take the card with your order, keep them together, and pass the card along to the chef.
Secondly, when you actually decide on a food choice, be specific with your server about what you can and cannot eat. Do not be bashful! The chef could very well be like me in the kitchen and just throw different ingredients into a dish. Cooking is an art form! Hopefully, the server knows this and either can recommend a different dish, or inform the cook that the dish has to be cooked according to the menu and with freshly cleaned utensils. With a little vigilance and communication, food allergy sufferers can enjoy new restuarants, great meals, and hospitality without worrying about the consequences, except for maybe a few added pounds from eating too much!
Technology is at its forefront and everyone enjoys the benefits and conveniences of it. Who doesn’t love remote controls and other gadgets that make our lives simpler? That’s what Blueair had in mind when they decided to launch their “E Series.” The Blueair Electronic Series lets you manage your indoor air quality with a trendy remote control from a distance of up to 20 feet. Moreover, you can set the unit on Auto Mode and let it regulate the speed according to the number of particles and contaminants present in the air. The faces on the digital display indicate the condition of the indoor air quality. The four units--250E, 450E, 550E and 650E provide different square footages depending on the size of your room.
There are many other unique features that set these units apart from others on the market. Blueair uses HEPASilent Technology that captures 99.97% of 0.1 micron particles with an extremely quiet operation. In fact, these air purifiers are quieter than any others available on the market today. Moreover, the high-efficiency filters trap up to six times more dirt while allowing air to flow freely through the bacteria-resistant filters. Therefore, you will actually notice less dust in your surroundings when these units are running. Another plus is a filter timer on the digital display, which counts down the days until it’s time for filter replacement at which point the “Replace Filter” light turns red. Thus, you can prepare in advance and have a filter on-hand to change when the time comes. What’s more is that it takes less than a minute change the filter so there are no excuses. Who wouldn’t like that? There is also an on/off timer if you don’t want your unit running constantly.
The Blueair E Series is perfect for people with allergy, asthma or other respiratory conditions or anyone who wants clean indoor air with convenience at their fingertips. All these units are Energy Star rated, thus using very less electricity. The units come with a one-year limited warranty that can be extended to another five years by returning the completed product registration card. We currently carry the Blueair 250E and will soon carry the 550E and the 650E. The 450E will be available in September. Last but not least, the units are also very stylish in design. You get style, convenience and performance all in one unit.
Like most people in our country, I am saving everywhere I can these days. We continue to work hard and our business thrives, but every night on the news it seems I hear more bad news about the economy. Anyway back to my blog topic, Allegra D. My insurance does not cover the full amount of my monthly prescription for Allegra D 12 hour allergy medicine. I have to pay $60 per month for it out of pocket. Actually, I used to have to pay $60 per month for it, starting now I am going to be paying $36 per month for it with the coupon below.
I have always been a fan of the three pronged approach towards managing allergies. A combination of environmental control measures (air purifiers and allergy bedding for me), plus allergy medications (Allegra D and generic Flonase for me), plus immunotherapy (tried it and it worked, but too inconvenient for my current lifestyle) if necessary is a great recipe for success.
Allegra D is my miracle drug, it keeps me from getting congested, and from getting sinus infections. However, it is not a wonder drug for my wife. I suggested she take one of my Allegra Ds last week, probably not a good idea, and she was up literally all night. It had a side effect on her that I don't experience. She was mad at me and has vowed never to take it again.
Anyway, here is the coupon for Allegra D below. I filled my Rx today and am going to pick it up after work, and then I'll take 5 minutes and fill out the rebate certificate and mail it in tomorrow morning.
I have tried buying Allegra D through Kroger, via the Canadian pharmacies, legally of course, and haven't found a loophole for savings like this until now. I will be sure to report back when I get reimbursed.
Click on this link allegra-d 12 hour then click on the red rebate certificate on the page.
This guest blog post comes from Danielle Grilli of rVita.com:
Throughout my childhood I watched my brother suffer miserably from allergies. Every year, as summer rolled around, he literally couldn’t be around "anything that grows outside" without his eyes swelling completely shut. It was so sad, and still, I felt pretty charmed. Lucky for me, I was untouched by this particular genetic predisposition; that is, I was untouched until I moved into the city three years ago, at which point I began to experience stretches of days when my eyes became watery and blurry, my brain fuzzy, and my breathing restricted to an alarming degree. I didn’t realize what it was until a naturopathic doctor very plainly told me that I was allergic to smog. Nice.
Of course there are many pharmaceutical options available for individuals suffering from allergies, but I have never been a pharmaceutical kind of person. For some reason, the idea of taking a pill which has innumerable side effects is just not appealing to me. I’m sensitive to pharmaceuticals, and it seems every time I take one, I fall victim to one sort of rare and unpleasant side effect or another. The Naturopath I was seeing at the time suggested I try using a neti pot and taking butterbur. I did and it worked.
These, however, are not the only natural, clinically proven options available to the unfortunates suffer from allergies. Along with Butterbur and nasal irrigation, Bromelain, has also proven to be an effective treatment for allergies. In fact, multiple human trials have shown that Bromelain, which is a group of enzymes extracted from pineapple, effectively breaks down fibrin in the body, helping to reduce the body’s allergic response. In addition, Bromelain thins mucus, allowing it to drain more easily. Lastly, this supplement has been shown to reduce the duration of the inflammatory response following nasal procedures by over 70%.
For me, this is all good news. I’d hate to think that I only have 2 choices: suffer from allergies or take a pharmaceutical and wait to see what sort of side effects I get to deal with. So you see, my friends, there are other options, they are natural, and you know what? They work!!
References
1. rVita: Alternative Medicine 2. Seltzer AP. Adjunctive use of bromelains in sinusitis: a controlled study. EENT Monthly 1967;46:1281-8. 3. Taub SJ. The use of Ananase in sinusitis—a study of 60 patients. EENT Monthly 1966;45:96-8. 4. Ryan RE. A double-blind clinical evaluation of bromelains in the treatment of acute sinusitis. Headache 1967;7:13-7. 5. Taub SJ. The use of bromelains in sinusitis: a double-blind clinical evaluation. EENT Monthly 1967;46:361-5. 6. Seltzer AP. Minimizing post-operative edema and ecchymoses by the use of an oral enzyme preparation (bromelain). EENT Monthly 1962;41:813-7.
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 little furballs.
Ironically, since I have developed an affection for cats, I've also become allergic to them. Thanks to environmental control measures, my cat allergies are not very bothersome. I've spent a lot of time learning how to avoid cat allergens in the home; the key is to always keep the cats out of the bedroom. I keep the bedroom sealed off and keep my AllerAir air purifier running at all times. (When I do have reactions, it's usually because a fur-covered blanket is brought in from another room; to avoid this, use Allersearch Allergen Wash laundry detergent to denature allergens, and make sure that you have a durable, washable hypoallergenic blanket.) To learn more about environmental controls for cat allergies, see An Allergy Sufferer's Guide to Living with Cats.
Today I'd also like to discuss a different topic related to cats and environmental control: the litter box. Cute as they are, cats frequently spread disease to humans. In fact, about half of the world's population is infected by the common cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This ABC News article suggests that T. gondii subtly affects the human personality and may be linked to schizophrenia. Other studies suggest that the parasite may play a role in bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety. Oxford University researchers say that high levels of the parasite lead to hyperactivity and lower IQs in children.
So how do people get this parasite? Well, it comes from cat poop, particularly the poop of cats who venture outdoors and eat infected animals. About 80% of domestic cats are infected. Clean out the litter box every day to avoid infection. This is crucial. After the cat poop sits out for longer than a day, the microscopic oocysts (spores) become infectious and can easily be inhaled or ingested without your knowledge. Use gloves and wear a mask when emptying the litter box. Wash your hands thoroughly after emptying the litter box, and try to keep the box in a low-traffic area of your home.
Pregnant women should be especially careful to avoid litter boxes. A woman who gets the infection, known as toxoplasmosis, during pregnancy can transmit the parasite to her child, and studies suggest that this increases the risk of mental disorders in the child. Toxoplasmosis can also cause stillbirth. Pregnant women should also avoid eating raw meat and gardening with bare hands, as these activities could also lead to infection.
T. gondii oocysts can remain infectious for up to 18 months, so it's important to thoroughly clean the area around the litter box. I recommend a HEPA vacuum cleaner, vapor steam mop, and safe, eco-friendly disinfectant. I also have an air purifier near the litter box at home (which is hidden inside a hallway closet).
The litter itself can cause health problems, too. Have you ever coughed after inhaling a cloud of kitty litter dust? That's probably because the litter contains irritating crystalline silica, a known carcinogen. (Again, you should always wear gloves and a mask when changing the litter!) If the litter bag warns that you should go to the emergency room if you accidentally swallow it, then you can assume that it's toxic. Most stores now sell the non-carcinogenic natural kitty litter. I've been using all-natural, dust-free pine pellets along with the Naturally Fresh Pet Crystal to help with odor control.
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 car this morning was all it took to bring on the sniffles.
It's almost as if I can feel the microscopic pollen grains tickling my nasal mucosa. I really just want to take a nap, but the work day has just begun. What can I do?
Luckily, I work at achooallergy.com, so I have plenty of options.
For immediate allergy relief, I need to get those pollen grains out of my nose! A saline rinse will do the job. Some people use pump bottles. Others prefer the high-tech SinuPulse Elite Nasal Irrigation System. I'm going to use the simple, ancient neti pot, recently popularized by Dr. Mehmet Oz on The Oprah Winfrey Show. I will fill the neti pot with saline (salt water), lean over a sink, and pour the saline in one nostril, allowing it to drain out the other and wash away the pollen.
How to Use a Neti Pot
Here's a neti pot demonstration video that I found on youtube.com:
Yes, it looks a little odd, like it might even be uncomfortable, but I can assure you that it's easy, painless, and extremely refreshing. Your nose will love it. Now it's my turn...
Ahh...I feel better already! Eliminate the allergens in your environment (and in your nostrils), and your allergy symptoms will improve drastically.
How to Avoid Pollen
Of course, you can't eliminate outdoor pollen, but here are some tips for dealing with it:
Don't hang your laundry outside to dry.
Shower after spending time outdoors, or at least wash your face and hands with cold water to rinse away pollen grains.
Limit outdoor activity in the early morning hours when pollen is released.
Limit outdoor activity when pollen counts are high. Visit the National Allergy Bureau to check your local pollen count.
Avoid mowing the lawn. If you cannot avoid yard work, wear a mask.
Take your allergy medication at least an hour before going outdoors.
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.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, frequent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, recently spoke with Dr. Rubin Naiman, a clinical psychologist and sleep specialist who says that most sleep problems could - and should - be treated without medications.
Give yourself 10 to 15 minutes to relax in bed before you fall asleep.
If you rely on your alarm clock to wake you up every morning, you're not getting enough sleep, and you should go to bed earlier.
If you need stimulation during the day for energy - such caffeine high-glycemic foods - then you're probably not getting enough sleep.
Be sure to sleep in complete darkness. Even a small amount of light disturbs your body's natural cycle.
Dreams are important for your mental health; give yourself time to dream. Dr. Naiman says, "The chronic loss of dreaming may be the most critically overlooked factor in clinical depression."
Mentally prepare yourself for sleep; let go of the day's stresses.
Rest like meditation, yoga, and prayer is just as important as sleep. "Rest informs most approaches to healing and I think we underestimate how powerful it is," he says.
For more about the value of sleep - and more tips to help you sleep without medication - see The Importance of Healthy Sleep.
Science Daily reports that childhood eczema, although decreasing in the 13 to 14-year-old age group, is still on the rise in six to seven-year-olds. The continuing rise in eczema prevalence in younger children as well as the number of reported cases in developing countries is of growing concern.
A paper published by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology indicates that environmental factors are key to the manifestation of eczema. This is because genetic factors are not likely to change in the span of time covered by the study (ten years).
The leader of the eczema research, Hywel Williams, Professor of Dermato-Epidemiology in the Centre of Evidence-Based Dermatology at The University of Nottingham, says that even moderate cases of eczema have a significant impact on family life. The cost of treating eczema also poses a financial burden that is similar to that of asthma.
Professor Williams summarizes the study: “This is the first time we have been able to have a glimpse at what has been happening to eczema symptoms across the world using standardised methods. The results suggest that environmental factors are key to the expression of eczema — if only we could identify those factors so that we could prevent eczema in those countries experiencing significant increases.”
Professor Williams goes on to say that there is evidence that eczema is preventable to some degree as well as evidence on effective approaches to the managing of eczema symptoms.
For more information, and to read about the relationship between eczema and allergies and asthma, see our Eczema FAQ.
In 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advised mothers of children with a family history of allergies to avoid cow's milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, and tree nuts while breast-feeding.
Now, according to msnbc, the AAP has changed their advice to breast-feeding mothers.
While breast-feeding appears to decrease the risk of allergies, avoiding certain foods during breast-feeding does not.
The new report states:
There is no convincing evidence that women who avoid peanuts or other foods during pregnancy or breast-feeding lower their child’s risk of allergies.
For infants with a family history of allergies, exclusive breast-feeding for at least four months can lessen the risk of rashes and allergy to cow’s milk.
Exclusive breast-feeding for at least three months protects against wheezing in babies, but whether it prevents asthma in older children is unclear.
There is modest evidence for feeding hypoallergenic formulas to susceptible babies if they are not solely breast-fed.
There is no good evidence that soy-based formulas prevent allergies.
There is no convincing evidence that delaying the introduction of foods such as eggs, fish or peanut butter to children prevents allergies, but babies should not get solid food before four to six months of age.
scnow.com reports that as the weather gets colder, many people will experience allergy symptoms that seem out of place during the winter.
Dr. Shawn McKay, an ENT specialist in Florence, SC, says, "The allergies we worry about during the winter months are primarily dust mite. In fact, if I could only test and treat for one allergen, it would be dust mites."
He says the most common treatment for dust mite allergy is using impervious covers on pillows and mattresses.
Dry air can be a problem in the winter, too.
"When the humidity levels go down and the heat turns on, the nose can dry out and that can cause congestion and possibly bleeding," says Dr. McKay.
"Also, it may help to have a humidifier in the bedroom where they sleep," he said. "Most people are breathing through their nose for several hours at a time when they are sleeping."
Cold weather also means much more time spent indoors - with windows and doors sealed tightly. Use an air purifier to filter airborne allergens and pollutants.
HealthDay suggests that you should see a doctor if you have a cough that won't go away.
"Cough is the most common respiratory symptom for which patients seek medical attention," says Dr. Alan B. Goldsobel, chairman of the cough committe at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
"Cough protects the body by removing mucus and irritating particles from the respiratory tract. Coughing is a useful function and does not always mean there is a problem ... However, coughing at night, after going to sleep indicates the need for medical attention."
While wheezing and shortness of breath are more commonly known as signs of asthma, a nighttime cough could be a sign of undiagnosed asthma. Some experts think that cough is the most common symptom of childhood asthma.
A chronic cough could also be a symptom of a viral upper respiratory tract infection, stomach or esophagus problems, an inhaled foreign body, or environmental irritation.
I just moved into a new home here in Atlanta and had to do quite a bit of remodeling. The floors were in really bad shape, and I decided to rip up the remaining carpet, pull up all the nails and tacks, sand the original wood floors, and refinish them. I am very happy with the results! Now the dust mites won't be able to hide in carpet!
If you decide to remodel your home, be sure to wear a mask (especially if you're sanding floors). Construction dust is particularly harmful to the lungs. You can also seal off rooms with plastic and work on them individually to prevent contaminating the air in the whole house.
I've been running an AllerAir VOCARB air purifier at my house since I started the remodeling, and it's done a great job of getting rid of that initial mildew odor plus the subsequent paint smells.
Ventilation is important, too. Be sure to open windows and doors when you're working with paint or other chemicals.
Fox News reports that a new study links spray cleaners and air fresheners to one in seven cases of asthma in adults.
Researchers say that just spraying a cleaner once a week can trigger an asthma attack, but more frequent use increases the risk of asthma.
"Frequent use of household cleaning sprays may be an important risk factor for adult asthma," says Jan-Paul Zock, of the Municipal Institute of Medical Research in Barcelona, Spain. "The relative risk rates of developing adult asthma in relation to exposure to cleaning products could account for as much as 15 percent, or one in seven, of adult asthma cases."
Furniture sprays, glass cleaners, and air freshener sprays are associated with the highest risk of asthma. It comes as no surprise that people who clean for a living have an increased incidence of asthma.
Instead of harsh chemicals, clean your home with a safe alternative: M-1 House Wash All Purpose Cleaner. or, if you must use spray cleaners, always wear a mask.
If you want to freshen your air, don't poison it with chemicals! Air out your house by opening doors and windows, or clean your air with a HEPA air purifier.
Dr. Daniel More of about.com explains, "Dark circles under the eyes, when related to nasal allergies, are called 'allergic shiners.' Allergic shiners are related to nasal congestion, which can occur for other reasons besides allergies, such as with the common cold or with sinus infections.
"When the nasal passages are congested, there is an increased amount of pressure in the nose. This pressure prevents the blood that supplies the superficial part of the face from draining back to the heart. This blood pools in the veins and capillaries underneath the eyes, causing a dark appearance, like a black eye. Some of the fluid from inside the veins can slowly seep into the tissue under the eyes, leading to puffiness of the tissue as well.
"Any number of allergy medications that treat nasal congestion would be expected to help these symptoms."
Recently, thanks to increased awareness about the dangers of construction dust, many builders have started hosing down sites with water to prevent heavy build-up of dust. The La Porte County Herald-Argus points out five facts about construction dust:
Construction dust poses health risks because it often contains harmful substances like asbestos, man-made mineral fibers, cement residue, and wood dust.
"Dust from all over the building may well cause more varied and severe allergies than dust generated from natural sources, such as animal hair and plant pollen," says Dr. Manjula Jegasothy, a dermatologist at the Miami Skin Institute. "This is because construction dust is often composed of particles from many different sources present at the building site. Coupled together, they irritate the skin and nasal membranes."
Allergy sufferers may develop itchy hives after coming in contact with construction dust. Dr. Jegasothy says that the rash itself is not medically serious, but it can last for weeks or even months.
Sometimes hives can develop into anaphylaxis, a serious, multi-system allergic reaction that requires prompt treatment in an emergency room.
As with any substance that causes allergies, avoidance is the best prevention method. Stay away from construction dust, or invest in a mask.
Recently featured in The Wall Street Journal, AllergyGrocer.com has a large selection of foods for people who have food allergies. Founded as Miss Roben's in 1992, the company initially sold only a few different wheat and gluten free mixes, along with some other gluten free products.
Now Allergy Grocer has a large selection of fresh and dried goods - everything from breads to condiments. The Wall Street Journal reports that Allergy Grocer's comprehensive selection makes it a good first stop for food allergy sufferers; WSJ also reports that the site has an impressive search function, allowing customers to search by a food category, by an allergen, or if the product is new, kid-friendly, or a top seller.
"We want people to know you don’t have to sacrifice great taste, quality, or selection just because you need to avoid certain foods," says Miss Roben of Allergy Grocer.
The Consumer Law Page lists the Top 12 Hazardous Household Chemicals:
Air Fresheners - Don't let the commercials fool you. Most air fresheners interfere with your ability to smell by disabling your nasal passages with an oil film or a nerve-deadening agent. Common chemicals in air fresheners include formaldehyde (a highly toxic known carcinogen) and phenol (which can cause hives, convulsions, circulatory collapse, coma, and even death).
Ammonia is a volatile chemical that can damage your eyes, respiratory tract, and skin.
Bleach is a strong corrosive that can damage the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. NEVER mix bleach with ammonia, as the fumes can be deadly.
Carpet and Upholstery Shampoos generally contain highly toxic substances like perchlorethylene (a known carcinogen that damages the liver, kidneys, and nervous system) and ammonium hydroxide (a corrosive that irritates eyes, skin, and respiratory passages).
Dishwasher Detergents - Most of them contain highly concentrated chlorine, which is the #1 cause of child poisonings.
Drain Cleaners commonly include lye (which can burn skin and eyes, and the esophagus and stomach if ingested), hydrochloric acid (a corrosive eye and skin irritant that damages kidneys, liver, and digestive tract), or tricholoroethane (eye and skin irritant and nervous system depressant).
Furniture Polish is highly flammable and can cause skin and lung cancer. It often contains phenol as well as nitrobenzene, which is an extremely toxic chemical that's easily absorbed through the skin.
Mold and Mildew Cleaners often contain sodium hypochlorite (a corrosive which can lead to fluid in the lungs) and formaldehyde (a highly toxic, known carcinogen). To clean mold and mildew safely - and to prevent it from coming back - use M-1 House Wash and M-1 Sure Cote Sealant.
Oven Cleaner contains lye (sodium hydroxide). Lye is often used to dissolve roadkill dumped in landfills; that can't be healthy.
Antibacterial Cleaners often contain triclosan, which is absorbed through the skin and linked to liver damage. Antibacterial soaps may also contribute to the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
Laundry Room Products may contain sodium or calcium hypocrite (a highly corrosive agent that can irritate the skin and eyes), hypochlorite bleach (a corrosive that can burn the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract). If exposed to other chemicals, hypochlorite bleach may form chlorine fumes that could be fatal.
Toilet Bowl Cleaners may contain hydrochloric acid or hypochlorite bleach.
Other Dangerous Chemicals around the House
Pesticides - Dimpylate, or Diazinon, is extremely toxic and impairs the central nervous system. Chlorinate hydrocarbons are suspected carcinogens and mutagens; they accumulate in fatty tissue and attack the nervous system. Organophosphates are toxic and poisonous; if you can smell it, that means your lungs are absorbing it.
Lice Shampoo - Inhalation, ingestion, or absorption of lindane causes vomiting, convulsions, and circulatory collapse and may cause liver damage, stillbirths, birth defects, and cancer.
Car Wash, Car Polish - Petroleum distillates are associated with skin and lung cancer, and they irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and lungs. Inhalation could cause fatal pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).
Chemical Warning Labels
The information below is actually new to me, and it's very interesting and helpful!
DANGER means that the chemical is harmful or fatal if swallowed. Ingestion of a small taste to a teaspoon could kill an average sized adult.
WARNING means that the chemical is harmful if swallowed. Ingestion of a teaspoon to an ounce could kill an average sized adult.
CAUTION means that the chemical is harmful if swallowed. Ingestion of an ounce to a pint could kill an average adult.
Since I blogged about the possibility of Genetically Modified Foods being behind the increase in food allergies, I've received several questions (mainly from concerned parents) about how to avoid GM foods. My standard answer has always been that you can avoid GM ingredients by buying whole, organic foods.
However, earlier today I discovered another resource that helps people avoid GM foods: the True Food Shopping Guide. The handy, printable guide, compiled by the True Food Network, lists several GM and non-GM foods in different categories.
The Open Press reports that common moths can be just as damaging as dust mites when it comes to allergic skin conditions.
One study found that 60 percent of people who react to dust mites are also sensitive to moth allergen.
Moth allergen doesn't come from flying moths; rather, it comes from moth larvae, hatched from eggs that are often buried in upholstery, bedding, and clothing.
To prevent moth eggs and larvae in your favorite sweater, wash clothes frequently in hot water, and keep stored clothing in plastic bags.
In addition, you should regularly vacuum not only your carpet, but also your upholstery and under your furniture.
A good lotion also helps protect your skin from allergens and toxins.
Don't let your allergies ruin your big day! To make sure you say, "I do" instead of "achoo," follow these wedding planning tips from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI):
If you are still in the planning stages, don't pick a wedding date in the peak of the allergy season. Ragweed, which some say is the most offending plant for people with allergies, begins to pollinate in the middle of August in the Eastern and Midwestern USA. Springtime allergies are also troublesome for many people.
For floral decorations, use large, bright colored flowers such as roses, daffodils or daisies, as these usually do not trigger allergies. Their large, waxy pollens are too heavy to be carried about in the air. You can also use dried flowers or silk flowers as an alternative.
If you know you have allergies, visit an allergist ahead of time to find out what you are allergic to so that you can receive proper treatment. Take your medication the morning of your wedding, not later in the day when symptoms may already have started.
If you or any of your guests have food allergies, make sure the caterers know the offending foods and all ingredients. If you have a food allergy to eggs, you may want to consider a non-traditional dessert instead of traditional wedding cake. Some food allergy reactions can be very severe and even life threatening if they cause a condition known as anaphylaxis. See the Anaphlyaxis Solution Guide for more information.
The free screenings include allergy testing for grass (Bermuda, Bahia, Fescue, Johnson), weeds (Short Ragweed, English Plantain, Red-Root Pigweed, Sorrel, Lamb’s Quarter), trees (Oak, Elm, Pecan, Maple, Birch), molds (Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Alternaria), cat, dog, dust and cockroach..
If you're in the Atlanta area and have never been tested for allergies, this is your chance to get tested for free!
Even though the August issue of Allergy Consumer Report does not go out until tomorrow (and we're actually still working on it), I'd like to offer you a special sneak peak at one of the articles:
Dr. Chin is one of the friendly allergy specialists at Piedmont Ear, Nose, Throat & Related Allergy, and he provided us with an excellent overview of allergies and different treatment options.
According to US News & World Report, treatment with antibiotics may be useless when it comes to some children's conditions - and antibiotics may even make matters worse.
A recent study indicates that the use of antibiotics for any purpose may increase the chances of a child developing asthma, and another study suggests that antiobiotics do not work as a preventive treatment for urinary tract infections. In the study, children with recurrent UTI infections who received daily antibiotics were more than seven times as likely to develop a drug-resistant infection.
"The more antibiotics a child is exposed to, the more likely [he or she is] to develop a resistant infection," explains Dr. Patrick Conway, a pediatrician at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Conway also points out that a large proportion of childhood illnesses are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.
Experts do not suggest abandoning antibiotic treatments altogether, but they recommend a "watchful waiting" period of time before using antibiotics.
Visit the child's doctor for a check-up before leaving.
If flying, pack an asthma plan and all medicines and devices in a carry-on bag. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows passengers to carry on medications and respiratory equipment like nebulizers.
Bring back-up prescriptions in case the medicine gets lost.
The International Indoor Air Quality Association reports that a recent study examined levels of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and volatile organic compounds in 876 homes.
Homes with gas ovens had higher levels of nitrogen dioxide. In fact, more than half of kitchens with gas ovens exceed the World Health Organization guidelines for annual exposure to nitrogen dioxide.
You can improve the air quality in your home with an air purifier.
I have an AllerAir 4000 VOCARB at home, and I roll it into my kitchen almost every time I cook. Its massive bed of activated carbon absorbs harmful chemicals in the air - and it also helps get rid of the smell when I cook seafood!
AllerAir President Sam Teitelbaum started the company after his wife developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS); he was determined to develop a high-efficiency air purifier unmatched in the air purification industry.
According to the World Health Organization, exposure to nitrous dioxide can increase the allergic response to inhaled pollens. Order your AllerAir air purifier today with a few simple clicks, and start breathing better.
If you're allergic to nail polish, you can still have great-looking, healthy nails without using it.
Linda McCloud of beyondallergy.com writes that nail polish smells so strongly because of the phthalates, solvents, formaldehydes, fragrances, preservatives, and dyes. That's a lot of chemicals! The odor of nail polish is intolerable for many people with nasal allergies.
Nail polish can affect the skin, too. Allergic reactions to nail polish normally cause redness and itchiness around the nails, but reactions may include asthma-like symptoms.
McCloud says that no nail polish is really safe to use; since nail polish is a cosmetic, it is not screened by the FDA.
To get great-looking nails naturally, follow these simple steps:
Keep your nails clean.
Soak them in warm water and soap.
File them once a week.
Use a nail buffer to add shine and get rid of ridges.
Use half of a lemon as a buffer to add extra shine.
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) - Dr. Hardy says that butterbur "has had some very impressive clinical trial results." In one study, this European herb was just as effective as a popular antihistamine drug in controlling hay fever symptoms - without any symptoms of drowsiness.
Saline (salt water) - "The saline works to wash out pollen and reduce or thin mucus," says Dr. Hardy. Popular saline treatment methods include:
Goldenseal - Dr. Hardy recommends adding a goldenseal tonic to the saline because goldenseal has astringent and local antibacterial properties which can aid in the process of washing out nasal passages.
Hot, Spicy Foods - Experts say hot, spicy foods help to thin mucus secretions. And now your nose can experience the direct benefit of capsaicin derived from hot peppers! Sinol products may sting a bit at first, but they definitely clear your sinuses:
"Using nature-based products can be a very useful way to handle mild allergies and a useful adjunct for more significant allergies, and there are many types of treatments you can safely try," says Dr. Mary Hardy, MD, of Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
New York University Allergist Dr. Clifford Bassett says that if you suffer from pollen allergies, "you should avoid eating melon, banana, cucumber, sunflower seeds, chamomile, and any herbal supplements containing echinacea, all of which can make symptoms much worse."
You should always consult your physician before mixing natural treatments with medication. Allergist Dr. Marianne Frieri of Nassau University Medical Center in NY points out, "If, for example, you are taking the allergy drug Allegra -- an antihistamine -- at the same time you decide to try a natural substance with antihistaminic properties, you can end up with far too much antihistaminic activity -- which can result in some significant problems."
The Abkhazia Institue offers advice to parents of children who are allergic to eggs:
There's no easy way around it - the only way to treat an egg allergy is to eliminate eggs and foods made with eggs from the child's diet. This can be challenging because so many foods are made with eggs and egg derivatives.
In case of an emergency, doctors recommend that children 12 or 13 and older (depending on the maturity of the child) with a severe egg allergy or their parents keep a shot of epinephrine with them in an easy-to-carry container that looks like a pen (this device is also called an EpiPen).
It should come as no surprise that baked goods, baking mixes, cereals, cookies, custards, and ice cream are made with eggs, but candies, hot dogs, meatballs, fast foods, and salad dressings can include egg derivatives as well.
Look for - and avoid - these egg products on labels: dried egg, egg white, egg white solids, egg yolk, egg solids, powdered egg, egg substitutes, and whole egg.
There are many products and food ingredients that contain egg products, but whose names don't always include the word egg, such as albumin and ingredients that begin with the prefix "ovo." To ensure that your child isn't eating any food with egg products in it, read and acquaint yourself with all of the ingredients and egg products that should be avoided.
Because otherwise nutritious foods may have to be eliminated, it's important to ensure that an egg-allergic child's diet is well balanced. A pediatric registered dietitian can make sure all required nutrients are provided in the food the child is able to eat.
The Open Press reports that dry skin may cause allergic conditions like asthma, hay fever, and allergic rhinitis. Scientists have discovered that some people absorb allergens through damaged skin.
The treatment of dry skin is not just a cosmetic issue; your overall health depends on it.
Prevent dry skin and give your skin a chance to heal with personal care products like dermatologist-recommended Vanicream Skin Cream and Vanicream Lite Lotion. Vanicream products are ideal for people with sensitive skin because they do not contain all the common chemical irritants found in most skin care products.
The Toledo Journal reports that an estimated 60 percent of asthma patients have allergic asthma (triggered by dust mites, pet dander, pollen, mold spores, or cockroaches), yet in the U.S., only a small percentage of asthma patients are tested for allergies.
People with allergic asthma may produce too much immunoglobulin E (IgE), which could set off asthma attacks.
"People are often surprised to find out that approximately 60 percent of asthma patients have allergic asthma," says Dr. Bill Storms, allergist with The William Storms Allergy Clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado. "Because IgE is involved early in your body’s response to an allergen, reducing IgE may help prevent asthma symptoms and attacks before they start."
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has started a "What's My IgE?" campaign to educate patients about allergic asthma.
"Patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity know that the key to long-term management is to know their numbers, whether it be blood sugar, blood pressure or body mass index. This campaign aims to create the same awareness of IgE among allergic asthma patients," says Mike Tringale, director of external affairs at AAFA. Visit www.WhatsMyIgE.com for more information.
See our Asthma Solution Guide to learn how to control allergic asthma by controlling the allergens in your environment.
This morning Diane Sawyer of ABC News interviewed Andrew Speaker, who stirred up panic, outrage, and controversy after he flew across the Atlantic on a commerical flight, knowing that he was infected with a drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis (TB).
Speaker, an attorney from Atlanta, GA, says that CDC doctors told him that he could not infect others before he flew to Europe, but while he was in Europe, the CDC called him and told him to cancel his commercial flight plans and "turn himself in" at a European clinic.
"We said, 'Let's get home and get to Denver,'" Speaker says about his and his wife's decision to leave Europe. "Both of us worried if I turned myself [in] the next day, that's it. It's very real that I could have died there... People told me if I was anywhere but Denver, I'll die.
"I feel awful. I've lived in state of constant fear and anxiety. I'm exhausted, for a week now. And to think that someone else is now feeling that, I wouldn't want anyone to feel that way - it's awful. I just hope they can forgive me and understand that I really believed [I] wasn't putting people at risk because that's what the people told me."
Sawyer and Speaker both wore masks during the interview on Good Morning America, and the interview took place in a room with air filtration and UV lights.
Health officials are scrambling to find passengers who were on the commercial airliners with Speaker so that they can get tested for TB.
The recirculated air in airplane cabins is notorious for carrying germs as well as chemical contaminants. The Plane Clean Air Filter (pictured above) attaches to your personal above-head air nozzle and removes 99.5% of all bacteria, viruses, and allergens from your air stream.
Many people wear masks when traveling on airplanes
TB bacteria is normally carried in "droplets" ranging from 1 - 5 microns, and M. tuberculosis itself ranges from 0.4 – 1.4 microns in size, so I would recommend a mask with a HEPA filter, which filters particles down to 0.3 microns.
Over the past few years, different health agencies have given conflicting reports about the type of mask necessary for preventing the transmission of TB. To be safe, I'd go with true HEPA mask with 99.97% efficiency, although an N95 mask with 95% efficiency gels with CDC recommendations and would certainly be better than nothing.
The way the mask fits is even more important than its filter efficiency, as an ill-fitting mask may lose up to 20% of its efficiency. To be effective, the mask needs to be the correct size and fit snuggly with no gaps between the mask and face.
Dr. Byron Carlson, a family physician in Mason City, IA, says in globegazette.com that the key word in allergy relief is "avoid."
"I can’t emphasize that enough,” says Dr. Carlson, of the Forest City Mercy Family Clinic. "If you’re allergic to dust mites, avoid them. If you’re allergic to grasses, find someone else to mow the lawn. If you’re allergic to the dog, then get rid of Fido."
"I’ve seen people who have developed allergies in almost every stage of life," Dr. Carlson says. "For those people, it’s a real eye-opener because maybe they weren’t as empathetic to those who had allergies and all of a sudden they find out what it’s like."
Several friends have recently asked me to help them choose a humidifier in their home. I was able to offer the following experience:
1. Before using a humidifier, always use a hygrometer (also known as a humidity gauge) to learn exactly what the relative humidity is in the area you want to humidify. Our company sells the Acu-Rite Digital Humidity Gauge. It is worth every penny; hang it on the wall so you are constantly reminded. We have one in our home in our nursery and we use it daily. You only need to humidify the air if the relative humidity in the room is less than 40 percent. If it is over 50 percent, do not run a humidifier.
2. If the hygrometer indicates the humidity is under 40 percent, it is ok to use a humidifier; otherwise you will be adding too much moisture to the air.
3. Placement of the humidifier in the room is very important. Humidifiers need to be elevated off the ground. Otherwise, the area directly around the humidifier will become to moist. This can create several problems, slippery wood floors that can cause falls or mold / mildew if carpeting is directly below. Our solution to this problem is to place the humidifer on a small table about two feet off the ground. We put a towel directly under the humidifier to protect the table.
4. It goes without saying that the humidifier should be cleaned regularly. The one we use, the Air-O-Swiss AOS7135 Ultrasonic Humidifier, lets us know when it needs to be cleaned.
5. In my experience, all humidifiers are a little cumbersome to fill. The one we use is no exception. The resovoir has to be removed and turned upside down. The tank is too big to fit under our sink so we fill it in the bathtub. Be patient; the gain of having a little one sleep all the way through the night is well worth the trouble.
WCVB-TV in Boston reports that ancient neti pot is a simple solution for allergy relief.
Dr. Matthew Kashima, head of the Department of Otolaryngology and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins Bayview, says the neti pot is hundreds of years old, and it can be incredibly useful to allergy sufferers.
"They're very holistic, very natural and can supplement a lot of medications people need to use," Kashima says. "For people with allergies, those allergens get filtered out in the nose, and the longer the allergens stay in contact with the nose, the more chance the nose has to create symptoms, in reaction to that."
The neti pot allows you to gently wash out the nasal passages with saline.
Allergy sufferer and singer Kyle Malone, 24, says that antihistamines and decongestants interfere with his singing by drying out his sinuses. His roommate suggested trying a neti pot.
"One day I came home, and he was standing over the sink neti potting, and I was like, 'What in the world are you doing?'" Malone says.
Now Malone loves his neti pot: "The after-effect is like after you've done wasabi, just opened up, really clean. It's a great feeling. You don't realize how clogged up you are until after you've done it. You say, 'OK, I can breathe free.'"
NPR reports that foods with "gluten-free" labels may contain trace amounts of gluten (wheat protein) - enough to trigger a reaction in some people.
As of now, "free" labels like "dairy-free," "peanut-free," and "gluten-free" are not regulated by the FDA. For instance, a product labeled "dairy-free" may still list milk or casein (milk protein) under the ingredients.
The FDA is considering an industry-wide standard definition for "gluten-free."
Food manufacturers are required to list common allergens on the label. Beginning in January 2006, all foods with the following common food allergens had to be labeled: milk, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, wheat, egg, crustacean shellfish, or fish.
"Before this labeling act went into effect, there were 20 different ways that milk could appear on a label," says Anne Munoz-Furlong, founder of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. "That made it impossible to teach a 7-year-old to look at a label and to know what to avoid. Now, words are in simple language, and you don't need a science dictionary when you go to the grocery store."
But the labeling act doesn't prevent misleading marketing practices.
Even if a product claims to be "dairy-free," you should still check the ingredients, and you should read the label every time - because food manufacturers often change ingredients.
People with food allergies should also beware of the "May Contain" label, which was developed for possible cross-contamination of foods. For instance, chocolate may contain trace amounts of peanut if it's produced in the same factory that makes chocolates that contain peanuts.
"The truth of the matter is that nobody really knows what that label means," says Elizabeth Matsui, a pediatric allergist at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. "The 'may contain' labeling could mean anything from there's no allergen in that food to there is actually a great deal of allergen from cross-contamination."
Munoz-Furlong says, ""Teens who have survived reactions, they're telling us they ignored the 'may contain' label because it's on so many things, and they don't believe the label. We need to make these labels believable."
Chealth.com offers the following tips to allergy sufferers on the road:
Make sure your destination is not populated with the specific type of plants to which you are allergic. If you are going to a place where there are a lot of allergy-inducing plants, talk to your pharmacist or doctor to see if you should take some preventative medication.
Keep in mind that dust mites and airborne pollens are more common in tropical climates.
If possible, try to avoid travelling during peak pollen season for the region that you will be visiting.
The air quality in airplanes can be a nuisance for allergy sufferers; put your allergy medication on your carry-on bags in case you need it during the flight. (You can also improve the air quality on airplanes by using a Plane Clean Air filter.)
If you are travelling by car and your car is slightly dusty, open the windows and put on the air conditioning for about 10 minutes before departing on a lengthy journey. (You can also filter the air in your car with an Amaircare Roomaid air purifier with an auto adapter kit.
Once you get to your destination, be aware that dust mites and irritants of all kinds can be hidden in bed sheets and in dusty upholstery. If you're worried about the dust mites in your room, bring your own sheets. (The portable Blueair AirPod air purifier also makes a great travel companion; it's perfect for dusty hotel rooms.
If you don't read you pharmacy package inserts, then you should start, says Amy Ritchart, writer of a weekly health and wellness column in The Leaf Chronicle.
"Once, when reviewing a package insert that accompanied a new prescription for my son, I read that the incidence of serious allergic reaction was much higher for children than adults," says Ritchart.
She also recommends talking with your doctor and pharmacist about any medicine you take, as well as researching the medicine on sites such as drugdigest.org.
HealthNewsDigest.com offers the following tips for allergy sufferers who want to exercise outdoors during pollen season:
Inhale through your nose when you exercise. When you inhale through your nose, you warm the air (especially important for asthmatics). Cold air constricts smaller air passages, and this can mean less air, less oxygen delivered to our cells. Your nose is also lined with hair that can help to filter some of the smaller microscopic particles.
Avoid environmental pollutants. Pollutants like second-hand smoke, disinfectants, dust, and even aerosol sprays can make the mucus lining of your airways more permeable and inflamed. This can then worsen your allergy symptoms and/or make you more susceptible to respiratory difficulties over time and repeated exposure.
Eat some good fat! Cold water fish like salmon contains important omega-3 fatty acids that help inhibit the inflammatory response which is known to cause runny noses and teary eyes in response to harmless allergens.
Eat your fruits and veggies. Many studies suggest that antioxidants like Vitamin C and bioflavonoids help suppress the inflammatory response. Raw pineapple contains the anti-inflammatory enzyme Bromelain.
detnews.com also reports on outdoor exercise for allergy and asthma sufferers.
"It's good for the brain, good for the heart, it's good for the bones and good for the soul," says Immunologist Henry Fishman.
Fishman suggests listening to your body; if you feel faint, cease and desist. You can wear a mask or bandanna to block allergens. Try to exercise outdoors in the early morning hours, when pollen counts are lower. Wash your hands the minute you walk in the door and deposit clothes directly into the wash. Shower as soon as possible. Hypoallergenic makeup remover pads work well for removing allergens from eyelashes, where they tend to get stuck. Use a saline nasal rinse or saline spray to clear the allergens from your nostrils.
Daily Southtown reports that asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood yet one of the most under-recognized, under-diagnosed, and under-treated childhood diseases.
Signs of an asthma attack include wheezing, coughing, gasping for air, and struggling to breathe.
A persistent cough, especially late at night, is the most common symptom of childhood asthma.
Allergist Dr. Amee Majmundar says, "Any child who coughs after running, crying or exposure to cold air, or has a recurrent cough or respiratory infections, should be evaluated for asthma. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, especially during exercise; chest congestion; chest tightness and a high-pitched wheezing sound when breathing. In infants, look for a rattling cough, rapid breathing and an excessive number of chest colds, or recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis."
CBS News reports that allergy and asthma drugs should be taken at specific times for the best effects.
Dr. Richard Martin, MD, suggests that you take your allergy pills before bedtime and your asthma medication in the late afternoon.
"Taking your allergy medication at night assures that it will be circulating in your blood stream when you most need it, early the next morning," Dr. Martin says.
Asthma symptoms, however, peak around 4 AM, and patients who take oral steroid drugs should take them around 3 PM. Steroid inhalers, for less severe asthma, should be used between 3:00 PM and 5:30 PM.
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 little furballs.
The most interesting session I attended at AAAAI 2008 was entitled "Neuroimmunologic Consequences of Allergic Inflammation."
Dr. Mehmet Oz, frequent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, recently spoke with Dr. Rubin Naiman, a clinical psychologist and sleep specialist who says that most sleep problems could - and should - be treated without medications.
In 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advised mothers of children with a family history of allergies to avoid cow's milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, and tree nuts while breast-feeding.
I just moved into a new home here in Atlanta and had to do quite a bit of remodeling. The floors were in really bad shape, and I decided to rip up the remaining carpet, pull up all the nails and tacks, sand the original wood floors, and refinish them. I am very happy with the results! Now the 
Dr. Daniel More of 
Since I blogged about the possibility of 
Don't let your allergies ruin your big day! To make sure you say, "I do" instead of "achoo," follow these wedding planning tips from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI):
According to 
If you're allergic to nail polish, you can still have great-looking, healthy nails without using it.
