News
Mother’s Diet During Pregnancy Affects Child’s Allergies
New research further supports the link between a mother's diet during pregnancy and her child's risk of developing allergies, reports Medical News Today in Mother's Diet Influences Baby's Allergies. Published in The Journal of Physiology, the research found specifically that…
Sloane Miller on Emergency Allergy Action Plans
Last week we reported on the death of a local Atlanta teen who, though habitually vigilant about his peanut allergy, experienced a fatal allergy attack. Today in CNN.com article Deaths are a reminder of food allergy dangers, Sloane Miller, MFA,…
Bed Bugs On the Rise in Dorms, Day Cares
You may think that the resurgence of bedbug infestations has died down, but unfortunately that's not the case. In Bedbug infestations growing in certain settings, survey finds, the Washington Post reports that bedbug problems continue to plague people across the…
Local Teen Dies from Peanut Allergy
I've mentioned before the fact that writing about allergies has drastically expanded my awareness of all kinds of allergies and their repercussions. The most tragic consequence of allergies is death, as illustrated in yesterday's Atlanta Journal Constitution article Teen dies…
New Study Links Prenatal Pet Exposure, Birth Type, and Race to Childhood Allergies
Three key factors play a significant role in the development of early childhood allergy risk, reports Medical News Today in Prenatal Pet Exposure, Delivery Mode, Race Are Key Factors In Early Allergy Risk. Henry Ford Hospital researchers ‘found that babies…
MRSA Among Top Ten Reasons for Children’s Hospitalizations
The NY Times reports in More Children Hospitalized with Skin Infections on the continued rising incidence of MRSA. In fact, this rise in MRSA has altered the list of the most common reasons that children are admitted to the hospital,…
Dry Cleaning Chemical Labelled Toxic and Carcinogenic by EPA
Indoor air quality affects everyone’s health, but the repercussions of poor indoor air quality can be especially pronounced in individuals with asthma and allergies. While we may think of our homes as a haven from outdoor pollution like that from…
Breastfeeding Lowers Asthma Risk
In Asthma Risk Lower In Breastfed Babies, Medical News Today reports on a Dutch study which found that babies who are exclusively breastfed up to the age of six months have a lower risk of developing asthma-related symptoms in early…
Formaldehyde Danger for Hair Stylists, Embalmers, and Others
Formaldehyde, only recently officially declared as a carcinogen, has long been considered a health risk. Formaldehyde can trigger asthma and exacerbate symptoms of chemical sensitivity, including itchy eyes, sore throats, nosebleeds, and more. Even if symptoms are not apparent, formaldehyde…
Placebo Makes Asthma Patients Feel Better
We may take it for granted that frightening and serious conditions like asthma require medication. However, a study discussed in Time's article Study: For Asthma Patients, Placebos Feel Just as Good as the Drug calls this assumption into question
Cyclists Face Air Pollution Dangers, Including Cardiac Trouble
Scientific America’s article, Air Pollution Triggers Heart Risk for Cyclists, discusses the health concerns faced by cyclists who ride in heavy traffic areas. _The article highlights the effect of pollution from delivery trucks in New York City’s Garment District. One…
Germs Help Allergies More than Cause Them
Getting to the bottom of why allergies are on the rise involves consideration of several theories. One major theory is the hygiene hypothesis, which basically posits that our bodies are becoming more susceptible to harmless ‘invaders’
Herbal Treatment Shows Promise in Treating Asthma
Herbal Medicine Reduces Inflammation in Allergen-Induced Asthma We've talked before about alternative treatments for allergies, asthma, and related conditions like eczema. And we love spreading the word about natural remedies for allergies. Following is promising news regarding an Asian herbal…
Fighting Allergies with Food: Allergy Salad
Yesterday, in quick succession, I explored, joined, and became addicted to Pinterest, a ‘virtual pinboard,’ which lets users ‘organize and share all the beautiful things [they] find on the web.’ This morning I did a search for the term allergy…
Children with Food Allergies: Twice as Many as We Thought
Before I began writing for AchooAllergy.com, I had little involvement with allergies. I don't typically suffer from allergies myself (although I do have allergies when pregnant) and no one in my family has any food allergies. I wasn't writing about…
Repelling Mosquitoes without Chemicals
Last Friday in Are You a Mosquito Favorite? we explored what makes certain individuals especially attractive to mosquitoes. Today, as promised, we're going to look into ways to keeping mosquitoes away and preventing bites
Are You a Mosquito Favorite?
I went outside this morning for a little quiet time before the day got rolling
Jeep Enthusiasts Lament their Allergies
A conversation recently encountered on JK-Forum.com, ‘The Ultimate Jeep JK Wrangler Bulletin Board,’ reveals yet again just how much allergies affect quality of life. Below are some choice quotes from a comment thread entitled ‘Being a Jeeper with Seasonal Allergies…
Danby Dehumidifier to the Rescue
We just moved to Tallahassee, FL, and while I haven't verified this fact, it sure seems hotter and more humid than ‘Hotlanta’! We are temporarily living in an apartment, and with unpacking, setting up (and rearranging) furniture, and at least…
Pesticide Expsoure Triggers Allergies, Asthma
The FoxNews article, Pesticides on Playing Fields, discusses the effects of pesticides on playing fields used by children. Because spring and summer sporting activities are often more crowded than other times of year, pesticides used on playing fields pose an…
Deadly E. Coli Outbreak May be Caused by New Strain
A ‘super-toxic’ strain of E. coli that broke out in Europe has killed 18 people, sickened more than 1,600, and spread to more than 10 European countries. Raw tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce are believed to be the carriers of the…
Germiest Spots at Home
Staying allergy free is ultimately about keeping you and your family healthy. So when I saw Fox News’s recent piece on the Germiest Places in Your House, I considered it perfect news to share with our allergic readers. Without further…
Why I Love My Danby Dehumidifier
We live in Atlanta in a home with a basement, so we experience our fair share of humidity inside our house. A couple years ago, we invested in a Danby dehumidifier, and we couldn't be happier with it. Here are…
Peanut Allergy Triggered by Blood Transfusion
Children and adults with life-threatening allergies know all too well that precautions against an allergic reaction must be taken in every aspect of life. An extraordinary case of an allergic reaction related in the NY Times emphatically illustrates this point.…
Bed Bugs May Spread Disease, Study Finds
Though universally regarded as a repulsive nuisance, bed bugs have not been considered a major health threat
Worst Allergy Season on Record
If you feel like your allergies have been worse than ever this year, it could be because ‘2011 could end up being the most extreme allergy season on record,’ as reported in this video Worst Allergy Season Ever? by Fox…
BPA Exposure During Early Pregnancy Linked to Infant Wheezing
We've been keeping a close eye on news about the relationship between BPA and asthma and allergies. We've talked about this subject before. (See BPA, Allergies, and Asthma and BPA, Triclosan Linked to Allergies.) A new study seems to provide…
New Cat Allergy Vaccine is Safer, Quicker
Good news! Allergy treatment really is improving. As The Washington Post reports in Cutting Allergy Shots, advances are being made in immunotherapy that uses isolated proteins that make up specific allergens. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology published a…
Green Homes and Indoor Air Quality
I had the opportunity to speak with a builder last week. All of the houses he builds are certified green and Energy Star rated. This means that the materials he uses are low toxicity, such as low VOC paint and…
Top Three Spring and Summer Allergy Relief Products
The worst of spring allergies, at least here in Atlanta, is waning, along with the decrease in the yellow river of pollen we endure every year. But with summer coming up, now is a good time to prepare for the…
Summer Brings Stinging Insect Allergies
_My little girl has been enjoying playing out on our sun porch as the weather has gotten nicer. But last week, I noticed that wasps were buzzing around, looking perhaps for a place to build their nest. My husband promptly…
Food Dyes, Allergies, and ADHD
As the number of cases of both allergies and ADHD disorders are on the rise, it’s particularly interesting to examine factors that may be increasing the incidence of both conditions. One somewhat controversial such factor is the consumption of food…
Radiation Treatment and Allergies
In the wake of Japan's disaster, many of us have spent some time considering the dangers of radiation. Sales of potassium iodide, the main treatment for radiation exposure, have soared, even here in the United States. In 2004, the American…
Discrimination Against Those with Allergies?
This video on CNN Health raises the debate about how far others should go in accommodating those with allergies. In this particular instance, parents at a Florida public school are protesting their children's ‘inconveniences,’ policies put in place to protect…
Three Surprising Spring Cleaning Tasks Every Allergy Sufferer Should Do
Though it's best for allergy sufferers to maintain a cleaning regimen throughout the year in order to minimize indoor allergens, spring cleaning is an excellent opportunity to tackle some special projects that will help keep allergies at bay. Here are…
How to Enjoy Spring Without Allergies
If you're like me, it's almost impossible to resist going outside to enjoy the beauty and soft warmth of spring
Iron Supplements While Pregnant May Help Prevent Childhood Asthma
With early childhood asthma and allergies on the rise, researchers are always on the lookout for reasons for this surge. In addition to a lack of vitamin D, iron deficiencies may also account for problems in infant and childhood breathing,…
Bedbug Chemicals Dangerous Too
As we've covered in the past, bedbugs have made a huge resurgence in recent years. While the bedbugs themselves are not actually harmful unless you have an allergic reaction to their bites, the mental toll and loss of sleep can…
New Food Allergy Test: Greater Accuracy, Less Risk
Researchers have developed an online calculator that predicts in seconds whether a person has three of the major food allergies, reports Science Daily in Easy, Accurate Way to Predict Food Allergies Developed, Study Suggests. This ‘Cork-Southampton calculator’ is 96 percent…
What Do Printers, Photocopies, and Receipts Have to Do with Allergies?
My family and friends know that I write for an allergy relief company, so I'm often asked for advice about which products to buy or about allergies in general. This week, my mother asked me why her eyes were itching.…
Vitamin D May Prevent Allergies in Children
We've talked before about vitamin D levels and allergies, and a study recently published in the online version of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology confirms the association. ScienceDaily reports on this in Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to…
Allergy Covers Aren’t Just for Allergies
Allergens are the biggest threat to hotel guests, reports CNN in a new article called A microscopic look at hotel hygiene. But allergens are not the only danger for travelers. Germs abound in many hotel room hotspots and it's enough…
Flu Season Not Over Yet
The Washington Post warns today in Flu Season Heats Up that it is still flu season. ‘Don't let the warmer, brighter days fool you,’ writes Leslie Tamura. ‘Flu season is not over.’ In fact, director of the office of epidemiology…
Solve Dryness Problems: Moisturizing Tips for Your Beauty Routine
The end of winter signals the approach of spring and relief from the many effects of dry air. Indeed, it's at this juncture that many of us are experiencing
Good News About Allergies and Brain Tumors
Is it possible that having allergies could be a good thing? We might not go so far as to say yes, but CNN reports today on a correlation between having allergies and a decreased likelihood of developing brain tumors. In…
Vacuuming Tips for Cleaner Indoor Air
We talked last week about how some ways to reduce indoor allergens during winter. Vacuuming more frequently is one sure-fire way to minimize the allergens in your home. But, as with many tasks, there's an alright way to do it,…
RoHS – What It Means For Your Health
RoHS (pronounced rohas), or The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, was implemented in the European Union in 2006. It is a standard that limits the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical…
New Law Passed To Help Schools Manage Food Allergies
On January 4, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act became law as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act. It mandates the creation of voluntary food allergy management guidelines to apply to schools across the United States. While voluntary,…
Humidifiers Solve Winter Dryness Problems
Have you noticed you're waking up every morning with a sore throat? Does your skin seem especially dry? Dry air is most likely the problem. Luckily the solution is simple: humidification. With winter weather in full swing, you're probably noticing…
Toxic Chemicals Found in Almost All Pregnant Women
A blog post entitled Nearly all pregnant women harbor potentially harmful chemicals in today’s Washington Post discusses the presence of toxic chemicals in pregnant women’s bodies. Of most concern, of course, are chemicals that cross the barrier of the placenta…