Say Hello to Warm Weather & Spring Allergies
Dr. Mallika Marshall offers the following advice for springtime allergy sufferers on WBZTV in Boston: To limit your exposure to pollen, try to stay indoors in the morning when the pollen count is the highest. Avoid mowing the lawn and…
Household Dust: Not Just Dead Skin Anymore
While approximately 80% of household dust is dead skin, a new EPA study reveals that dust emanating from mattresses and televisions contains potentially hazardous polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), according to Medindia.com Health News. It is not yet clear how dangerous…
Does Your Child Have an Asthma Action Plan?
The Star Press reports that every year, hundreds of thousands of children visit the emergency room because of asthma attacks. Parents of asthmatic children should consider creating some sort of action plan. The columnist, whose child suffers from asthma, suggests…
achoo! ALLERGY Season Is Here Again
The Courier News announces that allergy season is here once again. And one allergist, Dr. Greg Sharon, is preparing for a busy season. ‘There has been a major paradigm shift, a huge genetic change,’ says Sharon. ‘We are pretty much…
Children with Asthma Should Get Flu Shots
ABC Health News reports that children with asthma should get flu shots, but only 3 in 10 actually receive the shots. ‘We were surprised at how low the number was,’ says Susan Brim of the U.S. Center for Disease Control…
Nearly Half of Hayfever Sufferers Also Sensitive to Non-Allergens
According to a new study cited by Reuters news bureau, hayfever sufferers who are sensitive to pollen are more likely to be sensitive to non-allergen triggers like cold air, perfume, smoke, and cleaning products. Specifically, 42 percent of seasonal allergy…
Asthma Linked to Hybrid Immune Cell
New Scientist reports that a recently discovered class of immune cell may hold the key to new treatments for asthma – and explain why existing therapies sometimes fail. Asthma occurs when immune cells go into overdrive and release inflammatory chemicals…
Pollen Allergy Season Already Hitting A High in Florida
If you're heading to Florida anytime soon, you may want to take a box of tissue – and maybe even a portable air purifier for your car. While most of the country is still thawing out and hearing the first…
Preventing Food Allergy in Children
If you have allergies or asthma, your child is more likely to develop a food allergy. The Mayo Clinic offers advice on preventing the development of food allergies in your children: Avoid peanuts during pregnancy and while nursing, especially if…
Allergies – Under-Diagnosed, Under-Managed in Urban Children with Asthma
At the 63rd annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) in San Francisco last month, investigators presented findings that children with asthma who live in urban settings often have under-diagnosed and therefore under-managed allergic disease.…
Do Not Take Allegra with Juice!
Allegra is a very common medication for those with allergies, and for many, the daily routine may be to take any of your medications with breakfast. You may want to pause before the next time you take Allegra with juice.…
New Austin Air Pet Machine – The Air Purifier for Pet Owners
The Austin Air Pet Machine Air Purifier was designed specifically for pet owners. What is in the new Austin Air Pet Machine air purifier that makes it different? The Pet machine has 60 square feet of Medical Grade HEPA along…
Astelin Antihistamine Nasal Spray Relieves Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Medical News Today reports that prescription antihistamine Astelin (azelastine HCl) relieved the major symptoms of pollen allergy, including sneezing, runny nose and congestion, within 15 minutes of application compared to placebo and maintained efficacy at all time points for 8…
Could Your Child Have Asthma?
Asthma expert and registered nurse Kathleen MacNaughton writes on about.com: ‘People often think of wheezing and shortness of breath when they think of asthma symptoms. And those are 2 of the most common asthma symptoms. However, a chronic cough is…
Spring Is Almost Here! Are You Ready for Allergy Season?
Spring is a beautiful time of year, but all those blooming trees and flowers aren't so pleasant for those of us who suffer from seasonal allergies. Some allergy sufferers are already feeling the impact of tree pollen from cedar, alder,…
Asthma Medication May Cause Anaphylaxis
Some people taking an injcted asthma medication marketed as Xolair have experienced a delayed and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis typcially causes hives, swelling of the mouth and throat, dizziness, and other symptoms. If not treated quickly,…
Asthma & Lung Cancer
Top Cancer News reports that asthma sufferers are at an increased risk for lung cancer, regardless of other risk factors such as smoking or even secondhand smoke. In their 10-year Center for Disease Control study of 9,000 people, it was…
You Can Have Pets Even If You’re Allergic
Kristine Sorensen of KDKA News from Pittsburgh reports: Think you can't have pets in your life because you suffer from allergies? Think again. Animal experts say there are ways to make it work. In fact, studies show that one-third of…
New Pending Food Allergy Legislation
According to The Boston Globe, the Massachusetts State Legislature is considering whether to step in to make restaurants safer for people with food allergies. Legislation pending at the State House calls for allergy training for restaurant workers, the addition of…
Best Allergy Relief Bedding Hits Market Today
Allergy Armor
Experts Say Your Pillow is Key to Great Sleep
TheRecord.com reports: Most of us think of our beds as havens, cosy retreats into which we sink nightly as we try to keep up with – or catch up with – our need for sleep. But if that bed is…
Eczema May Lead to Asthma
The New York Times reports: Researchers have long noted that many asthma sufferers also have atopic dermatitis – often called eczema – a chronic disease of the skin that can leave it red, raw, scaly, tender, oozy and excruciatingly itchy.…
Computer Biofeedback & Asthma Treatment
WLS-TV in Chicago reports that Anna Marsland, Ph.D., a psychologist at the University of Pittsburgh, is using computer biofeedback to help kids learn how to relax during an asthma attack. Biofeedback assisted relaxation teaches children how to calm down. A…
See Pollen Magnified 3,000 Times
This month's National Geographic magazine contains a colorized scanning electron micrograph showing different pollens at ‘roughly 3,000 times their itchy, sneezy life size.’ The beautiful photograph by David Scharf shows Bermuda grass in green, maple in red, and ragweed in…
How to ‘Winterize’ Your Skin
ScienceDaily reports that results of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) suggest that at least 81 million Americans experience dry, itchy, or scaly skin during the winter months due to blasts of colder, dryer air, winter sun exposure, and over-heated…
Diagnosing Asthma in Children
Sally Robinson, a professor of pediatrics at UTMB Children's Hospital in Galveston, TX, offers advice on diagnosing asthma in children in The Galveston County Daily News: Asthma is the No. 1 reason that children miss school in the United States…
Molecular Link between Inflammation & Cancer Discovered
According to bio.com, a study published in the January 26 issue of the journal Cell has found what could be a long-elusive mechanism through which inflammation can promote cancer. The findings may provide a new approach for developing cancer therapies.…
Starting the ALCAT Food Sensitivity Diet Plan
Yesterday I started a new diet plan based on the results of my ALCAT Food Sensitivity Home Test. My results indicate that the following foods trigger an immune system response in my body and should be strictly avoided for three…
Teens with Food Allergies Take Dangerous Risks
WFRV reports that many teens with food allergies are taking dangerous risks. A new survey shows that 54 percent of teens sometimes intentionally eat food they know may harm them, and only 61 percent always carry their Epi-Pen. Researchers blame…
Half of Britons Suffer Headaches due to Food Intolerance
Nearly half of Britons suffer from a food intolerance, reports Daily Mail. An estimated 45 percent of people develop digestive problems, migraines and skin complaints because of certain foods they eat. Only around two percent of the population has a…
Study Shows Correlation between Asthma & Obesity
Rates of asthma and obesity are both at all-time highs in America, and according to The Spectrum, researchers at the University at Buffalo in NY have found a link between the two conditions. Frank Cerny, professor and lead researcher, found…
Dust Mites Top List in Allergy Survey
In a recent survey of 10,970 allergy sufferers, dust mites topped the list of their allergy-related health concerns with 68 percent of survey participants indicating a problem with dust mite allergy. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and…
Atlanta Named 2007 ‘Asthma Capital’
According to WebMD, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has named Atlanta the worst city to live in for asthma sufferers in 2007. The top ten worst cities for asthma sufferers are as follows: Atlanta, GA (last year: 4th)…
Dental Allergy – Nickel Allergy
WQAD.com reports that people who are allergic to metals in jewelry may also be allergic to metal crowns and other dental implements. “For 80 percent of the people that have an allergy on their skin, they also have a problem…
Climate Change Could Make Seasonal Allergies Last All Year
Life Style Extra reports that allergy sufferers with hay fever may face year-long allergies as the climate changes. Lindsey McManus, spokeswoman for Allergy UK, says, ‘The pollen season gets earlier every year…’ ‘Most allergies have increased over the last ten…
Copying Machines Emit Harmful VOCs in Offices
According to the January newsletter from the Indoor Air Quality Association, indoor air emissions from dry-process photocopy machines include: VOCs, as well as ozone, and particles. These emissions can contribute to adverse health effects such as eye, nose, and respiratory…
Warm Winter Weather Prolongs Mold Allergy Season
WEHT NEWs 25 from Evansville, IN reports that rising winter temperatures are causing an increase in allergy problems. Doctor Jason White from the Allergy and Asthma Care Center in Evansville has had more allergy patients this winter than any other…
Are Steroids Safe for Asthmatic Children?
Paolo Pianosi, MD, an asthma specialist at the Mayo Clinic, weighs the risks and benefits of inhaled steroids for asthmatic children at ABC Health News. Dr. Pianosi references the new ads from Partnership for a Drug Free America which warn…
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,…
Antibiotics Mostly Useless for Sinusitis
The Washington Post reports that antibiotics won't necessarily speed your recovery if you develop a sinus infection this winter. ‘In the vast majority of cases, rhinosinusitis is a self-limiting disease,’ says Dr. An De Sutter, of Ghent University Hospital in…
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…
Decongestants May Aggravate Enlarged Prostate Symptoms in Men
keyetv.com in Austin, TX reports that decongestants may aggravate symptoms in men with enlarged prostates.
Soothe Sinus Inflammation & Lower Your Utility Bill with a Humidifier
A contributor on NBC's Today recently pointed out the fact that a humidifier will not only soothe irritated sinuses, but it will also lower your utility bill during the winter. The additional moisture in the air holds onto the heat;…
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…
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
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,…
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…