News
Can Microwave Popcorn Damage Your Lungs?
The butter flavor in microwave popcorn contains the chemical diacetyl, which has been linked to lung damage, according to CBS News. In the past, factory workers have successfully sued popcorn manufacturers after getting ‘popcorn lung’ from inhaling diacetyl fumes all…
Top 10 Dirtiest Hotels in the U.S.
TripAdvisor has released their list of the Top 10 Dirtiest Hotel in the United States: Hotel Carter – New York, NY Ramada Niagara Falls – Niagara Falls, NY (now closed) Days Inn Vanderbilt / Music Row – Nashville, TN Red…
Household Chemicals Found in Humans
An article in this month's Newsweek entitled The Chemicals Within discusses how the potentially harmful chemicals in many common household prodcuts are actually being discovered in people's bodies. Two of the chemcials in question are used in plastic: BPA hardens…
Synthetic Fragrances Cause Skin Allergies and Asthma, Among Other Things
A Fox News Health video reports on how fragrances can cause skin allergies – and worse. Senior Editor of Body + Soul magazine, Hillary Geronemus, describes how there are 3,000 or more ingredients used to make fragrances, most of which…
Air Purifiers that Pollute the Air?
A recent article in The Wall Street Journal, entitled Air Purifiers Draw Scrutiny, discusses the mounting concern over ozone-releasing air purifiers that actually pollute the air while claiming to clean it. Although as a component of the upper atmosphere, ozone…
Child Given Zyprexa Instead of Zyrtec
According to msnbc.com,the U.S. Pharmacopeia report shows that the rate of drug name mix-ups has more than doubled since 2004, primarily because of new drugs with similar names to pre-existing drugs. One child was given the schizophrenia drug Zyprexa instead…
AllergyKids.com Mother Exposes ‘Big Food’ Industry in NY Times
The New York Times recently interviewed Robyn O'Brien on her view that the alarming increase in childhood food allergies stems from a profit-driven global conspiracy. (O'Brien has also been interviewed by CNN, CBS, and our own Allergy Consumer Report.) O'Brien…
Achoo! Annual Allergy Relief Bedding Sale
Don't miss the fantastic savings during our annual allergy relief bedding sale, which is going on throughout February. Allergy Armor ADVANCED, one of our most popular fabrics, is now available at a discount of 20-40% on pillow covers, mattress encasings,…
Family: Teen Daughter Died from Allergic Reaction to Toothpaste
Daily Mail reports that Francesca Sanna, 19, died after having what appears to have been an extreme allergic reaction to her toothpaste – read more. The toothpaste was Aquafresh Mild & Minty, according to her family. The coroner concluded that…
Boy with Rare Allergy Can Only Eat Deer Meat
The only protein 6-year-old Timmy Armstrong can eat is venison, Fox News reported this week. Young Timmy can also stomach small amounts of natural oats, salt, and sugar. He also receives an amino acid-based formula through a feeding tube. Timmy…
Sensors Test for Environmental Triggers of Asthma Attacks
Science Daily reported this week that researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed a sensor system that monitors the air around asthma-prone invidivuals. The sensor, which is worn inside the pockets of a vest, may help researchers…
Exercise-Induced Hives & Food Allergies
Mary Pickett, associate professor of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University, gives advice on dealing with exercised induced-hives at timesdaily.com: Exercised-Induced Anaphylaxis ‘If exercise causes large hives (usually a centimeter or more in diameter) along with throat swelling or…
Latex Banned from Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore has announced that it has banned latex products. ‘Latex hospital gloves were invented here, so it's only fitting that Johns Hopkins takes the initiative to promoting alternatives,’ says anesthesiologist Robert H. Brown, who chairs the…
The Difference Between a Cold and Allergies
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), many symptoms of the common cold could actually be signs of allergies. Anju Peters, M.D., Chair of the AAAAI's Rhinosinusitis Commmittee, says, ‘Millions of Americans think they are suffering…
FDA Warns Parents Against OTC Cold Meds for Young Children
Today the FDA will issue a public health advisory to warn parents not to give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to children ‘because serious and potentiall life-threatening side effects can occur.’ Last October, a similar warning was issued, which said…
Air Pollution Raises Risk of Preterm Birth
A recent study suggests that women who live in areas with high fine particle or carbon monoxide levels, such as that caused by heavy traffic, are up to 25% more likely to give birth to their babies before 37 weeks…
Combating Winter Allergies
Most people associate seasonal allergies, or hay fever, with the spring and fall, but winter allergy sufferers know all too well that winter brings on its own set of allergic reactions. Although many pollens may have left the air by…
Humidifiers Guard Against the Flu
We all know that flu season hits hardest in the winter, but have you ever wondered why? The New York Times reports that the flu virus ‘is more stable and stays in the air longer when air is cold and…
Will Cloned Livestock Increase Food Allergies?
Natural Foods Merchandiser reports that the FDA may soon declare that meat and milk from cloned animals is safe to eat. Some experts are concerned about ‘the unpredictability of cloning, the higher risk of animal birth defects, and unresolved issues…
Cost of Asthma Inhalers to Double
According to The Detroit News, many low-income asthma patients across the country will be at-risk of missing doses of their asthma medication beginning in 2009, when CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) inhalers will become prohibited. The FDA is probiting the use of CFC…
Can Your Home’s Humidity Affect Your Mood?
According to ScienceDaily, your home's humidity can indeed affect your mood. A groundbreaking study found a connection between damp, moldy homes and depression. The 2007 study, led by Brown University epidemiologist Edmond Shenassa and published in the American Journal of…
MRSA Kills More Americans Than AIDS
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was responsible for an estimated 94,000 life-threatening infections and nearly 19,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2005, reports WebMD. In the same year, roughly 16,000 Americans died from AIDS. The number of deaths from MRSA doubled…
Immune Systems, Body Odor & DNA Dating
WCVBTV in Boston reports that a new dating service is the first to use DNA analysis for match-making. ScientificMatch.com uses DNA technology to find people dates who have ‘a natural odor you'll love, with whom you'd have healthier children and…
Las Vegas: Not Very Hypoallergenic
Greetings from Las Vegas! I’m here in the city that never sleeps with Craig Avramovich (achoo! ALLERGY’s web developer) for PubCon Las Vegas 2007. PubCon is the leading search engine and internet marketing conference. Keynote speakers include Craig Newmark, founder…
Eating Fish May Reduce Allergy Risk
According to The Local, a new Swedish study shows that eating fish reduces the risk of developing allergies. Researchers found that children who eat fish more than once a week are less likely to have allergies. Earlier studies have suggested…
Flu Shot Finder: Find A Clinic Near You
Medical News Today reports that November 27 to December 2 is National Influenza Vaccination Week. Since the flu is especially dangerous for people with asthma, the CDC recommends that all asthma sufferers get a flu shot. The Asthma and Allergy…
It’s National Sleep Comfort Month!
(Really. I'm not making this up. November is actually National Sleep Comfort Month.) Apparently November is full of bizarre & unique holidays. To ensure that you have a happy National Sleep Comfort Month this year, treat yourself to the most…
Bed Bugs Found in Fox News Channel Newsroom
Mediabistro.com reports that part of the Fox News Channel newsroom contained evidence of bed bugs, and an exterminator was brought in late last week to treat the problem. An employee of Fox News most likely unknowingly transported bed bugs into…
The Appendix & The Hygiene Hypothesis
The hygiene hypothesis is a hot topic among allergists and immunologists; it suggests that the prevalence of allergic diseases in modern societies is related to our overly hygienic lives. For example, kids who grow up on farms usually have lower…
Childhood Food Allergies on Cover of Newsweek
This week's cover story for Newsweek expores the problem of children's food allergies at school. Peanut allergies among children under five doubled between 1997 and 2002. Kids are developing allergies to all sorts of foods like sesame and kiwi, and…
Is Your Asthma Really Under Control?
Two-thirds of adults report that their disease is under control, according to WebMD. However, more than half experience asthma symptoms at least once a week. Even more telling, one in three adults say they use a rescue inhaler at least…
Californians Face Polluted Air from Wildfires
The wildfires in Southen California may be retreating, but they've left behind high levels of airborne particulate matter and a strong odor of smoke. ‘It's vital that people who live in the affected areas equip themselves with tools that offer…
Have a Happy, Healthy Halloween!
Halloween can be an scary time of year – especially for children with food allergies and their parents. According to HealthNewsDigest.com, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) offers the following advice: When classroom parties are planned, parents…
Osmond Blames Allergies, Poor Air Quality for Fainting
According to accessatlanta.com, Marie Osmond blames her allergies and the poor air quality in Los Angeles for her fainting spell during a performance on the ABC TV show Dancing with the Stars. ‘Right at the beginning . . . I…
Deciphering the Secrets of the Immune System
Earlier this month, in the article Allergy & Cancer: Is There A Connection?, I wrote: Maybe one day scientists will crack the code of the intricate immune system, and diseases like cancer and allergies will be things of the past.…
Is Britney Spears Allergic to Underwear?
Fox News reports that allergies may play a role in Britney Spears' aversion to wearing panties. A source in the wardrobe industry claims that Britney has suffered from allergic reactions to underwear in the past: ‘Britney has sensitive skin all…
California Bans Ozone Air Purifiers
LATimes.com reports that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has banned popular in-home ozone air purifiers because studies show that these air purifiers can worsen respiratory conditions like asthma, which marketers claim they help to prevent. The ban takes effect…
Pesticide Exposure Linked to Asthma Among Farmers
Reuters UK reports that exposure to common pesticides appears to increase the risk of asthma. According to a study at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in North Carolina, a history of high pesticide exposure among farmers doubles the…
Allergy Drops Work Better Than Allergy Shots, Less Painful
Sublingual allergy drops constitute a form of immunotherapy – just like allergy shots – but the drops are not injected with a needle. Rather, one drop is placed under the tongue three times a day, and the drops can be…
One in Three College Athletes Has Exercise-Induced Asthma
According to washingtonpost.com, one of out three college athletes has exercise-induced asthma. The Ohio State University study found that exercise-induced asthma typically occurs between five minutes and 20 minutes after intense physical exertion. Symptoms may include wheezing, chest tightness, coughing,…
Dust Bunnies Aggravate Allergies
Yahoo! News reports that 75 percent of homes have unwated ‘dust bunnies’ that aggravate allergies. In an air quality survey, more than half of residents said that someone in their home suffers from allergies, yet only 25% of households report…
Allergy Alert: ‘Death by Chocolate’ Cookies Recalled
In an ironic twist, Atlanta-based company Bella Cucina has recalled its ‘Death by Chocolate’ cookies because of undelcared walnuts. People who have an allergy to walnuts are at-risk for life-threatening allergic reactions if they eat these products. According to the…
Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) vs. Asthma
According to HULIQ.com, new research shows that some children are likely being misdiagnosed with asthma. Asthma is, without a doubt, the most common chronic condition facing children, but many children who are diagnosed with asthma in emergency room settings may…
Penicillin Allergy More Common in Women
Scientific American reports that penicillin allergy is more common in women than men, according to the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. The study found than penicillin allergy is more likely to develop in women, even after factoring in the…
Laser Printers & Indoor Air Quality
The Indoor Air Quality Commission Newsletter reports that some laser printers can generate the same amount of ultra-fine particles as tobacco smoke! Breathing in these tiny particles can irritate the lungs and, over time, lead to more severe conditions like…
Atlanta Air Quality Hits Danger Zone with Ozone
For the third day in a row, the city of Atlanta (home of achoo! ALLERGY) faces a Code Red smog alert, which means that the air is unhealthy for everyone. With temperatures in the high 90s and heat indexes over…
Researcher Discovers Drug That May Cure All Allergies
According to Daily Express and ScienceDaily, researchers have discovered a ground-breaking drug – a protein that blocks the inflammatory action of mast cells and has the potential to cure all allergic diseases. Mast cells are found in the eye, nose,…
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…