News
New Food Allergy Treatment Makes a Huge Difference
Newsday.com reports on a new food allergy treatment, similar to allergy shots, in which food-allergic children are given very small amounts of an allergenic food everyday in order to build up a tolerance. Don't try this experiment on your own,…
Oral Contraceptives Linked to Increased Allergies among Offspring
In the December 2006 issue of the medical journal Allergy, Finnish researchers published results of a study which suggest that babies are more likely to develop allergic rhinitis if their mothers had previously taken oral contraceptive pills. The results are…
Allergies May Cause Migraine Headaches
WFRV News in Haddenfield, NJ reports on the connection between allergies and migraine headaches: ‘If you do have nasal allergies, you're actually 14.3 times more likely to have migraine headaches than a person without nasal allergies,’ says Dr. Min Ku.…
Doctor Visits for Asthma Have Doubled in Last Decade – But Death Rate Among Kids Is Down
HealthScout reports that asthma deaths among American children have dropped since 1999, but rates of doctor visits for asthma have more than doubled over the past decade, according to a CDC report released on December 12, 2006. Some highlights from…
Wildfires Make Children Sick
The wildfires that swept through California in 2003 appear to have caused wheezing and other respiratory problems in many children, even those without asthma, according to a new study referenced on Yahoo! News. Asthmatic children suffered the most symptoms from…
Poinsettia Plants & Latex Allergy
Southern Medical Journal points out that natural rubber latex and poinsettia plants share some common allergen proteins, and people with latex allergies may develop cross-reactivity with poinsettia. The medical journal abstract references a latex allergy sufferer who developed a rash…
Pets Can Have Allergies, Too
In Hollister Free Lance, veteranarian Dr. Quick reports that allergies in pets are often misdiagnosed by sales people in pet stores who try to increase pet food sales by suggesting that pets have dietary allergies. In fact, only about two…
CDC Studies Effect of Carpet on Allergies
The Dalton Daily Citizen reports that Emory University, the Center for Disease Control, and the American Lung Association are working together on a $1.2 million study to determine whether the presence of carpets affects lung functions and allergy symptoms. Generally,…
Groundbreaking Asthma Treatment Tested in Houston
9/11 volunteer rescue worker Alvin Pieper has asthma because of the dust at Ground Zero. ‘The first two days there weren
Fall 2006 Allergy Capitals
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has released its list of the 100 most challenging places to live with allergies in the Fall of 2006. The rankings are based on scientific analysis of three factors: pollen scores, number of…
New Study Suggests Egg Allergy Treatment
ScienceDaily reports that researchers at Duke University Medical Center and the University of Arkansas have completed a study which suggests that children allergic to eggs can overcome the allergy by eating gradually-increasing amounts of egg. Most study participants, who took…
Are You Allergic to Sex?
No, this is not a bad joke. According to ABC News, some women break out in hives and experience breathing problems whenever they have intercourse with men. These women are allergic to certain proteins in semen and sometimes is more…
Are You Allergic to Ladybugs?
Reuters reports that as an exotic species of ladybug introduced from Asia in the 1970s increases in population, more people are developing allergies to the bugs. Published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in October 2006, Dr. Kusum Sharma…
I’m not a criminal. I’m a guy with allergies.
Dr. Kevin Pho blogs about how the pseudoephedrine crackdown is affecting everyday allergy sufferers. One allergy sufferer voices his frustration: Now I have to go to a Wal-Mart or CVS or whatever every 10 days, as opposed to buying a…
Adverse Drug Reactions Send 700,000 Americans to E.R. Each Year
WebMD reports that, according to expets from the CDC and FDA, more than 700,000 people visit U.S. emergency rooms each year due to adverse drug reactions, including allergic reactions to drugs and accidental overdoses. People over 65 are most at…
Millions Face Food Allergies Every Day
North Texas e-News reports on food allergies: ‘Approximately 6 percent of children are affected by food allergies,’ says Dr. Carol Rice, Texas Cooperative Extension health specialist. ‘The eight most common food allergies are milk, egg, peanut, tree nut
Exposure to Sunlight Could Reduce Asthma
According to ScienceDaily, Australian researchers have discovered that exposure to ultraviolet light (such as sunlight) significantly reduces asthma-like symptoms in mice. ‘This research clearly shows that controlled exposure to ultraviolet light markedly limits the development, incidence and severity of asthma…
Register to Win a Free, Autographed Copy of Pain & Inflammation Matters
In Pain & Inflammation Matters, Dr. Gloria Gilbere explores natural health solutions for pain, inflammation, and accompanying disorders like arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, lupus, colitis, tendonitis, gingivitis, angina, leaky gut, gout, scleroderma, generalized chronic pain, and more. Pain & Inflammation Matters…
National Georgraphic Explores Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
The current October 2006 issue of National Geographic magazine explores the issues chemical pollution within our bodies and the increasing rates of multiple chemical sensitivity. The author of the article, Peter Essick, underwent extensive testing and discovered that he's carrying…
New Allergy Vaccine Reduces Fall Ragweed Allergies
The Examiner reports that Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine researchers proved that a DNA-based vaccine protected study participants against fall ragweed allergies (hay fever) for at least two full seasons. After just six injections over six weeks, participants experienced…
Halloween: Scary Time for Latex Allergy
Norwich Bulletin recently ran a story about Teresa Huber, a 38-year-old mother of two with severe latex allergies. ‘This is just one more way my life was altered,’ says Huber, who could go into anaphlyaxis by walking into a store…
NC Town Lifts Chemical Haze Alert
CNN reports that 17,000 residents have returned to Apex, NC, after a fire at a hazardous materials plant forced them to stay away from home for two nights. Environmental officials advise residents to clean off all surfaces, wash all clothing…
Dust Mites Make People Vulnerable to All Allergens
According to Yahoo! News, a new study to be published in Investigative Dermatology concludes that an enzyme in dust mite feces destroys the protective barrier of the skin, leaving it vulnerable to other allergens and irritants. Toshiro Takai of the…
Now You Can Test for Food Allergies at Home
Yahoo Finance News reports ‘ALCAT Worldwide Introduces Fingerstick Screen for Food Allergy Testing.’ This new food allergy screen, which costs $99, allows you to test for sensitivities to apples, barley, beef, broccoli, cane sugar, carrot, corn, cow's milk, garlic, gluten,…
Poor Air Quality Increases Risk of Death by Stroke
According to the LOHAS Weekly Newsletter, a Japanese study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine shows that high hourly rates of particulate matter (air pollution) are associated with more than a doubling in the risk of death from…
Anaphylaxis Hospitalizations Up 700 Percent!
ScienceDaily reports that, while hay fever and eczema rates seem to have stabilized over the past decade, hospital admissions for anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) have risen by 700% since 1990. Hospitalizations due to food allergy have increased 500%. Urticaria…
Infants and Food Allergies
The MomSquawkBlog features an entry about a mother and her infant's food allergies. The Blog entry contains a link to a chart that suggests the proper age for introducing certain foods to infants. The Blog entry also illustrates that, if…
Scientists: Food Allergy Cure within a Decade
According to the United Kingdom's Guardian Unlimited, scientists say a wide range of cures for food allergies will be available in less than a decade. ‘Therapies for food allergy will be on the market within seven to 10 years,’ claims…
EPA Scientist Warns of Dust Danger from 9/11
A scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claimed in a letter to members of the New York Congressional Delegation that test reports in 2002 and 2003 distorted the alkalinity, or pH level, of the dust released when the twin…
Was Ground Zero Dust Poisonous?
Several newspapers have reported on the possibility that the dust from Ground Zero in NYC was toxic, even though NYC citizens were initially told that the dust was harmless. According to the New York Post, a nun who spent six…
Do You Know What’s Sharing Your Bed With You?
Now once again a nationwide epidemic, Bed Bugs have infested hotel suites, college dorms, luggage, and maybe even your bedroom. Previously an epidemic in the 1950s, bed bugs were once controlled and eliminated with pesticides. However, as travelers stream in…
Protect Yourself Against Deadly Allergic Reactions
American experts are launching a
Don’t Let Peak Allergy Season Peak Your Allergies
This time of year is peak allergy season for many allergy sufferers. Allergens such as ragweed and mold are everywhere this time of year. With moisture levels rising during these hot and humid days, conditions are perfect for mold growth.…
Ragweed Got You Sneezing?
Although summer is winding down, school is not the only thing starting again. Weed pollen is at its peak this time of the year; ragweed pollen in particular can cause the most trouble. Rob Russ, an environmental specialist in the…
New Information Source for Asthma and Allergy Sufferers
MediLexicon reports that the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and The HealthCentral Network have teamed together to create a new online research center for people struggling with asthma and other allergic disorders. ‘This partnership with The HealthCentral Network…
Are Our Schools Prepared for Asthma?
The Atlanta Journal Constitution recently discovered that many Georgia Schools may not be armed with the knowledge or the medications that are needed to fight asthma attacks for young asthma sufferers. Although there are many ways to fight the disease,…
The ClassicBed by Tempur-Pedic
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Clinical Trials Underway for Seasonal Ragweed Allergy Drug
According to The Pharm Voice, Cobalis Corp. has begun clinical trials for PreHistin, a seasonal treatment for ragweed allergies. Approximately 2,000 patients in total will be randomized into the twin studies to receive either placebo or 3.3 mg sublingual PreHistin…
Allergy Drops Allow Man, 61, To Finally Get a Puppy
Sublingual immunotherapy (‘allergy drops’) may soon totally replace allergy shots. The liquid drops are placed under the tongue, and the best part is: no needles are involved. This
Milk. It does a body bad?
My last blog entry about the connection between milk allergy and ADHD was so interesting that I had to continue reading about the health risks associated with drinking milk — and a lot of evidence seems to be saying that…
Oregon Drug Law Affects Allergy Sufferers
The Associated Press reports: Allergy sufferers in Oregon are now required to have a prescription to buy allergy medicines that contain the decongestant pseudoephedrine. These medicines, which include Sudafed, Claritin-D, and NyQuil, were previously sold over-the-counter. The new law represents…
Mold Spores Increase Risk for Multiple Allergies
MedicineWorld reports that exposure to certain airborne mold spores can make children more susceptible to developing multiple allergies later in life. A research team at the University of Cincinatti (UC) found that infants exposed to certain fungal spores were more…
Can Nasal Sprays Kill Your Sense of Smell?
Dr. Andrew Weil reports that a number of lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers of Zicam and Cold-Eeze nasal sprays. The lawsuits allege that the zinc gluconate in the nasal sprays causes people to lose their sense of smell. The…
Does Your Doggie Have Allergies?
The Daily Advertiser reminds readers that pets can have allergies, too. Dog owners often think their pet’s itchiness is due to a standard flea problem when it’s really an allergy. All breeds of dogs are prone to common respiratory and skin…
Mothers and Others for Clean Air
According to Mothers and Others for Clean Air, 11% of Georgia's children are asthmatic, and they are impacted by air pollution every day. Asthma is the top reason for admission to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. In 2000, Georgia children missed…
Scientists Breed Allergy-Friendly Cats
According to Yahoo News, a biotechnology firm in Sand Diego claims to have bred the world's first hypoallergenic kitten. After identifying the genes that produce allergenic feline proteins, scientists created the allergy-friendly kitty using a selective breeding process that spanned…
Kids’ Insect Stings Go Untreated Too Often
MedlinePlus points out a new study which found that only 14% of children who have moderate to severe allergic reactions are taken to the hospital for proper treatment. Moderate to severe allergic reactions to insect stings may include hives, breathing…
Big Business Corrupts the Science Behind Medical Research
According to Yahoo News, a new study has found that clinical trials funded by drug companies are more likely to report positive results. The study, led by researchers at Harvard Medical School, appears in the May 17 issue of the…
Kids Who Live Near Major Roads at Higher Risk for Developing Asthma
Children who live within 250 feet of a busy road are 50% more likely to develop asthma, reports the May issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Girls who have lived near busy roads since before age 2 had the…