Author: Ali McDonald
Body Piercings Increase Nickel Allergies
I've blogged about temporary tattoos that could bring on allergies, and now, according to the CourierPost Online, the popularity of body piercing has led to a rise in nickel allergies. Nickel is often one of the metals present in piercing…
Are Genetically Modified Foods Behind the Increase in Food Allergies?
The Non-Toxic Times Newsletter reports that some people in the scientific community think that the startling, inexplicable rise in food allergies in recent years can be traced to genetically modified foods. Thirty years ago, food allergies were rare, but now…
Nurses at Higher Risk for Occupational Asthma
Nursing in Practice reports that nurses are twice as likely as members of the general public to suffer from occupational asthma. A nine-year, global study showed that nurses had a 122% excessive asthma risk. Researchers say that this increased risk…
Sick Children May Be Better Off Without Antibiotics
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…
Planning a Vacation for a Child with Asthma
The Moorpark Acorn recently published an article about planning family vacations for a child with asthma. Here are some tips: Check the weather at the destination. Extreme hot and cold can trigger asthma attacks. Check pollen and mold counts, too.…
Geographic Differences in Auto Injector Prescriptions – Sunlight, Vitamin D & Allergies
A study published in the July 2007 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggests strong variation in the occurence of anaphlyaxis between northern and southern U.S. states, reports the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Southern…
Nasal Tube May Replace Mask for Sleep Apnea Treatment
According to medpage today, nasal cannula may replace bulky continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks in the treatment of sleep apnea. The nasal cannula delivers warm, humidified air, which can significantly reduce the symptoms of mild obstructive sleep apnea. ‘We…
Gas Ovens & Indoor Air Quality
More than half of kitchens with gas ovens exceed the World Health Organization guidelines for annual exposure to nitrogen dioxide.
Why Are Yawns Contagious?
Even though this topic is not directly related to allergies, I just have to blog about it because this is something I've wondered about my entire life, and I've never heard a satisfactory explanation until now… (And, while this topic…
If You’re Allergic to Nail Polish…
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…
Natural Allergy Relief Tips from WebMD
WebMD's Allergies Health Center examines several natural allergy relief methods: 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…
Study Suggests One in Four People Allergic to Cats
In a shocking article, PetClub UK reports that a recent study at Imperial College in London suggests that household cats trigger allergic reactions in 25% of people! Cat dander is one of the smallest, lightest, and stickiest allergens. Researchers admit…
Breathing Exercises Cut Asthma Symptoms by a Third
According to The Independent, breathing exercises can cut asthma symptoms by a third. The Papworth Method is a sequence of breathing and relaxation exercises that was developed in England in the 1960s. The technique was recently test in a randomized,…
One Out of Ten North Americans Now Has Asthma
Medical News Today reports that one out of ten people in North American now suffers from asthma. (That's around 35.5 million people!) Since the 1960s, the rate of asthma among North American children has increased each decade by as much…
Birch Pollen & Soy Allergy Cross Reactions
Newsfood.com reports that certain proteins in birch pollen and soy beans are so similar that people who are allergic to birch pollen may experience an allergic reaction after eating soy; this is known as cross allergy or oral allergy syndrome.…
Cat Dander May Be Harmful to All Allergy Sufferers
Live Science reports that cat dander may be harmful to adults with any type of allergy – even if they're not specifically allergic to cat dander. ‘Exposure to cats is more of a problem than was thought,’ says study author,…
Animal Lovers Overcome Pet Allergies with Environmental Control
eMaxHealth published one of our recent press releases and reports that pet owners can reduce pet allergies with new environmental control products like Allergy Armor Ultra bedding, the Pet Machine air purifier, and the Dyson DC17 Animal vacuum cleaner. Visit…
Ozone & Smog Exacerbate Asthma, Lead to Attacks
CBS News reports that ozone pollution (smog) is making breathing difficult for children who have asthma. ‘On days of high levels of ozone, people with asthma are more likely to have symptoms or shortness of breath,’ says Dr. Homer Bouchley…
Have You Subscribed to Allergy Consumer Report Yet? (It’s Free!)
Web traffic here at the Allergy Relief Blog has increased dramatically over the past couple of months. Welcome, newcomers! In light of all the new visitors, I'd like to take this opportunity to let all the ‘newbies’ know about Allergy…
Aerosol Cleaners May Cause Asthma
News-Medical.Net reports: The use of home cleaning products in the form of aerosols, at least once a week, is related to the appearance of respiratory difficulties and asthma in adults. This association is even strong when aerosol cleaning products (glass…
Caring for a Child Who’s Allergic to Eggs
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…
AMA: Kids Should Be Allowed to Take Anaphylaxis Meds to Schools
The American Medical Associated (AMA) has voted to lobby for laws that would allow severely allergic children to take life-saving medicine to school, The Daily Journal reports. Many school districts and 18 states have bans that do not allow children…
Artificial Nose Helps Sniff Out Asthma
Health and Age reports that an artificial nose (known as the Cyranose) has successfully been used to diagnose tuberculosis and lung cancer, based on the volatile gas patterns in expired breath from patients. A recent pilot study suggests that the…
Is Non-Stick Teflon Making Your Allergies Worse?
According to Life Style Extra, the non-stick chemical Teflon could be making people more prone to allergies. The chemical Perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA), found in Teflon, has already been identified as a likely carcinogen, and it is also a known immunosuppressant.…
Hay Fever Drugs Cost Students An Exam Grade
TimesOnline reports that hay fever drugs often cost students an exam grade. In a study funded by the drug firm Shering-Plough, researchers found that students who have hay fever symptoms are 40% more likely to drop an exam grade –…
Dry Skin May Cause Asthma, Hay Fever, Allergies
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;…
Child Snoring May Be Sign of Allergies
Reuters reports that an Austalian study found that, among five-year-olds, risk factors for snoring were very similar to those for allergic disorders. Such risk factors include cigarette smoke in the first year of life, asthma, and eczema. In adults, snoring…
Overscrubbing Skin Could Cause Allergies
Excessive scrubbing with harsh soaps can strip a protective layer of oil off the skin, leaving the skin barrier vulnerable to allergens, according to the UK’s Telegraph. Overscrubbing could cause skin allergies. ‘We are not saying that people should not wash,…
Asthma Sufferers at Greater Risk for Anaphylaxis
eMaxHealth reports that asthma is the single greatest factor that increases risk of death from anaphylaxis (allergic shock). Anaphylaxis affects the entire body and is responsible for 500 to 1,000 deaths in the U.S. each year – and most of…
Common Childhood Asthma Myths
Asthma Editor Amy Cuebas of BellaOnline points out the following six Myths about Childhood Asthma: 1. Yoga / Swimming / Herbs will cure asthma. Nothing can turn off the switch that's responsible for the inflammation associated with asthma, but certain…
Use of Antibiotics Increases Asthma Risk
According to Nursing in Practice, the use of antibiotics for non-respiratory infections doubles a one-year-old's risk of developing asthma by the age of seven. ‘Antibiotics are frequently prescribed for young children for both respiratory and nonrespiratory infections,’ said Mark Roser,…
GoodBacteria, Asthma & Allergies
The previous post discusses how the use of antibiotics increases the risk of asthma among children. Why is that? Well, based on everything I've been reading, it seems as if the ‘good’ bacteria in the human body support the immune…
See What Microscopic Dust Mites Look Like
Dust mites are the #1 cause of perennial allergic rhinitis. Check out our new, informative dust mite video presentation to learn more about dust mites and see what they look like under a microscope!
Peanut Free Zone at Padres Baseball Park
I loved going to Atlanta Braves games when I was a kid, and I remember singing ‘buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks’ at every game. I’ve never thought of a baseball park as a dangerous place, but it can…
Allergic Rhinitis & Its Impact on Asthma
mediLexicon reports that ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) urges doctors to consider the strong link between allergic rhinitis and asthma. ARIA is a worldwide non-governmental organization that works in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to…
ASPCA: One Out of Five Dogs Suffers from Allergies
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) warns that summertime allergies affect animals, too, and that about one out of every five dogs nationwide suffers from some form of allergy. Animal allergy symptoms commonly include licking,…
Teaching Teachers About Asthma
In Wales (United Kingdom), three children in every class have asthma, according to icwales. Wales has one of the highest asthma rates in the world with one in 10 children suffering from the disease. An asthma charity launched a training…
Toxic Indoor Swimming Pool Chemicals Harm Children’s Lungs
It seems as if a new theory to explain the rise in childhood asthma pops up every week. According to health columnist Julie Deardorff of the Chicago Tribune, the ‘pool chlorine hypothesis’ asks whether the rise in childhood asthma stems…
Asthma Patients: Do You Know Your IgE?
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…
Cosmetic Allergy & Makeup Allergy
Allergist Dr. Daniel More, M.D., of About.com explains that cosmetic allergy is usually contact dermatitis rather than a true allergy: ‘Contact dermatitis is not due to a true allergy, and no allergic antibodies are involved. Instead, the reaction is caused…
Research Group Studies Chitin As Suspected Cause of Allergies & Asthma
MSN Health & Fitness reports that a University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) research group may be making headway in the fight against asthma and allergies. Dr. Richard Locksley leads the team, which is looking at the possibility that chitin…
Protect Yourself from TB, Bacteria & Viruses on Airplanes
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,…
Aspirin Hypersensitivity Common Among Asthma Sufferers
EARTHtimes.org reports that the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN) recently published a paper on the diagnosis of aspirin hypersensitivity. While most people tolerate it, aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can trigger violent allergic reactions, asthma, sinusitis,…
Cigarette Use May Explain Childhood Asthma Epidemic
According to ScienceDaily, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that increased cigarette use may explain the childhood asthma epidemic. ‘We have identified parallel increases in childhood asthma and cigarette use among adults during the past century…
Allergy Armor Ultra Featured in Women’s Health Magazine
achoo! ALLERGY's exclusive allergy relief bedding, Allergy Armor
Question for Asthma Sufferers, Family & Friends
Do you agree with the FDA's decision to ban all CFC inhalers after 2008? If you have asthma and have not heard about the new HFA asthma inhalers that will be mandatory after 2008, please see New HFA Asthma Inhalers…
Key Word for Allergy Relief: ‘Avoid’
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
Can Dust Mite Allergy Cause Death by Anaphylaxis?
According to a 2003 PubMed abstract from the International Journal of Legal Medicine, a 47-year-old farmer was found dead in his bathroom around midnight. He had been previously diagnosed with an allergy to house dust mites and sometimes had episodes…
Tips on Using a Humidifier
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…
South Georgia Wildfire Smoke Pollutes Air in Atlanta
When I left my house this morning to go to work it looked very foggy outside. Only thing is it wasn't fog, it was smoke from the wildfires in South Georgia. Not only was visibility really bad, the smell of…