Can Asthma Medication Cause Death?
Advair, the world's best-selling asthma medication packaged in that little purple puck, apparently does more harm than good for many asthma patients. Shelley Salpeter, a clinical professor of medicine at Stanford University, says, ‘[Advair and Servent] make asthma worse .…
Free Filter Promotion from Blueair
Prepare for spring allergy season and receive a free filter (a $147.00 value) when you purchase a new Blueair Air Purifier this month. Buy a new Blueair model 201, 402, 501, or 601 with Particle Filter or Deluxe with SmokeStop…
Golfer Paul McGinley suffers from hay fever at the Masters
Excerpted from Unison, an Irish Newspaper Augusta, GA – April 4 PAUL McGINLEY was last night praying that a medical remedy used by four-time Masters champion Arnie Palmer would help him get through 72 holes at Augusta National this week.…
Oral Allergy Syndrome
CNN recently aired a piece about oral allergy syndrome. Many people with hay fever (allergic rhinitis) develop itching around the mouth after eating certain fresh fruits and vegetables. This allergic reaction is known as oral allergy syndrome. It
Landmark Allergy Survey
Allergies in America: A Landmark Survey of Nasal Allergy Sufferers,the largest survey of its kind, reveals an overwhelming link between nasal allergies (allergic rhinitis) and serious quality of life and occupational consequences. These psychological and behavioral costs of allergies are…
Q&A with Dr. Keith Phillips
Dr. Keith Phillips, an associate professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and a specialist in allergy and immunology, recently spoke to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about allergy symptoms in children, the impact of pet dander in the home,…
Does Exposure Breed Allergy Tolerance?
A USA TODAY article explains that early exposure to pets, peanuts and intestinal worms might actually be good for you because they program the developing immune system to know the difference between real threats, such as germs, and non-threats, like…
Allergies and Depression Linked
Findings from a national survey of 3,032 U.S. adults, published this month in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine,suggest there is a relationship between depression, neurotic personality traits and allergies — and suggest that these associations are different for men and women.…
Jerome Bettis: Asthma Control Test Spokesman
Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Jerome ‘The Bus’ Bettis is an asthma sufferer, and he has recently become the spokesman for the American Lung Association's Asthma Control Test. The idea behind the test is that you a) take it, b) get…
Cheap Allergy Relief!
A new study finds that Sudafed 24 Hour is as effective at relieving hay fever symptoms as Singulair, a prescription drug that costs almost four times as much. Researchers at the University of Chicago conducted their study of 58 adults…
Power Plants and Asthma
Emissions from six Maryland power plants, three of them owned by an Atlanta-based company, are responsible each year for about 700 premature deaths nationwide, according to a report released Wednesday by the Maryland Nurses Association. The association, which is supporting…
Asthma and Overweight Individuals
Findings from a French study published this month in the journal Allergy indicate that asthma is more difficult to control in overweight individuals than in their leaner counterparts. The study observed over 400 asthmatics, and concluded that those with a…
Allergy History: Dr. Clemens von Pirquet
Ever wondered where the word allergy comes from? In 1906, Austrian Pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet first used the word allergy to describe the strange, non-disease related symptoms that some diphtheria patients developed when treated with a horse serum antitoxin. The…
Best Time Of Day To Take Allergy Medications
A National Jewish Medical Center News Release reports that allergy and asthma sufferers can maximize the benefit of their medications by taking advantage of their bodies’ natural circadian rhythms. Hay fever symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes,…
New Car SmellCan Be Toxic
A Michigan-based ecology group released a report this month that so-called ‘new car smell’ contains two toxic chemicals for drivers and passengers. The study called for tougher regulations to phase out the use of the chemicals, and also suggested that…
Allergies Affect Daily Performance
A press release from a Texas allergy practice details a few of the effects that allergies can have on daily performance – for both adults and kids. The article references the AAAAI's recent findings that up to 40% of children…
Classroom Pets Become Controversial Issue
In the wake of much debate about food allergies in the classroom, another rarely-discussed topic arises: pet allergies. In news article Policy Would Restrict Classroom Pets, some Wisconsin schools approach the issue of classroom pets, and their affect on students…
Book Giveaway Ends
Well, we've finally wrapped up our book giveaway. Congratulations to Heather, Mihaela, and Don, who each won a free copy of My House is Killing Me by Jeffrey C. May.Here's a bit about our three winners: Heather says: ‘I've lived…
Exercise-Induced Asthma
What's exercise-induced asthma?In this Q&A article from the Washington Examiner, ‘Sports Doc’ Steve Fahey explains the cause and effect of exercise-induced asthma. Dr. Fahey clearly explains some of the mechanisms which can cause an asthma attack, and how these may…
Pillow Talk on the Today Show
On January 11th, the Today Show did an interesting story on pillows
New Food Labeling Law in Effect
A new law, which came in to effect January 1st, mandates labeling changes to food containing major allergens such as egg, milk, wheat, nuts, and soy. This insightful article, New law means food allergies must be noted, explains the benefits…
Allergy Terms Defined
Q: What is the difference between hypoallergenic and anti-allergen? Which type of product is best to buy? A: Both terms are used frequently in the world of allergies, and their meanings are actually quite different. However, both types of products…
Random Allergy Tips
Random Allergy Tip #19Up to 50% of all household dust can be found on shelves, so try to keep indoor shelves to a minimum. Eliminating shelves can help reduce the over-all surface area and make your cleaning job easier. Random…
Three winners selected
As promised, the three winners of our book giveaway were selected by random drawing on January 5th. I've spoken with two of the winners, and mailed them their free copies of My House is Killing Me by Jeffrey C. May.…
New Ontario Law to Aid Allergic Students
Teen girl's legacy could be lifesaver _ _Recently, there has been a lot of news regarding legislation aimed to protect students with severe food allergies. This article is a particularly interesting one, highlighting the story behind what has been termed…
Research on asthma and nonprescription inhalers
Nonprescription inhaler effective for asthmaNew findings reported in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology suggest that nonprescription epinephrine inhalers may provide similar benefits to an inhaler containing a prescription drug like abuterol. Despite encouraging first results, a larger study…
January achoo! Review
The January issue of the achoo! Review went out yesterday. With three articles and six featured new products, it was packed full of cool allergy news and tips to start 2006 off the right way. If you're not signed up…
More tips for dealing with mold
Mold Spreads as Heavy Rains Pound CaliforniaHeavy rains over the weekend in many areas have left residents at risk for mold problems. This article from the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America contains advice on preventing and dealing with mold.
Houseplants and Mold
A few days ago, we looked at an article about the benefits of houseplants in improving indoor air quality. Indoor pollution like VOC's and other toxins can be broken down and minimized by houseplants, improving indoor air quality. Today's question…
Clean the Air with Houseplants?
Give the gift of fresh air: Buy a houseplant.According to this article, indoor houseplants can help fight indoor air pollution. In research by NASA scientists, indoor house plants drastically reduced toxic chemical levels inside. The author explains a few common…
Green School is Health and Allergy Friendly
State-of-the-art school readyThis green building is not only a great learning environment for kids, it's a leader in building design for environmental sustainability. It's also allergy and MCS friendly!
Sinusitis is a High Incidence Disease
Sinusitis: One of the Most Diagnosed Diseases in the United States.According to this press release from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 35 million Amercians are affected by chronic sinusitis each year. Article discusses sinusitis symptoms, warning signs,…
Getting Rid of Mold
To break house mold, eliminate at the source.This article from Newsday.com shares information from the Mayo Clinic on how to best get rid of house mold — plus information on the potential health risks. According to the authors, the incidence…
Allergies and Cold Weather
Q: My allergies often feel worse after I’ve been outside in chilly weather. How does the cold affect allergies? A: Most of us feel sniffly after being outside in the cold for too long. But for allergy sufferers, the combination…
Random Allergy Tips
Random allergy tip #16Dust regularly to cut down on allergy symptoms. If you have severe dust allergies, wear a mask. Use electrostatically charged dusting cloths which trap dust instead of simply spreading it around. Random allergy tip #24Alcohol can stimulate…
New 100% Cotton Pillow
achoo! ALLERGY's newest product addition is a 100% cotton pillow. At first, I wasn't sure what to think about this pillow — it seemed a little plain and firm, maybe even a little lumpy. However, I brought one home to…
Dust vs. The Dust Mite, Explained
Q: I hear a lot of talk about the difference between dust and dust mites. Is the one a fancy term for the other? Or are they different? A: This one confuses everyone at one point or another. Much like…
Product Review: M1 Housewash
On Saturday, the dreaded day had come: it was time to catch up on my house cleaning. In preparation for my epic day of winter cleaning, I had armed myself with a bottle of M1 House Wash. I was eager…
Dust Mite Exposure During Pregnancy
Mom's Dust Mite Exposure Shared With Her FetusAccording to asthma and allergy researchers, moms who test positive for dust mite allergens are more likely to have infants whose umbilical cord blood tests positive for the allergen as well. Since childhood…
Children Visit DC to Discuss Food Allergies
'Ambassador,' 9, talks of allergiesInteresting article about two children from New York who recently visited Washington DC, for the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network Kids' Congress. The child profiled in the article has a milk allergy, and his younger brother…
Book Review: My House is Killing Me
Although I had heard what a great book this is, only recently did I get a chance to read it for myself. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy to read it is. The author, Jeffrey C. May, does a…
Pining for a pine: Allergy no-no?
Q: I am considering getting a live Christmas tree, but I’m worried about my allergies. Is a Christmas tree safe for an allergy-friendly living room? Do pine trees cause allergies? A: Many people start to sniffle, wheeze and start to…
Asthma and Household Dust
Study: High Allergen Levels in U.S. Homes.A new study associates endotoxins, a bacterial allergen commonly found in household dust, with asthma. The study was conducted by the University of Iowa Environmental Health Sciences Center, and included nearly 2500 people in…
achoo! Review sent today
The achoo! Review, achoo! ALLERGY's monthly email newsletter, went out to subscribers today.The newsletter includes articles and a few featured products. It's too late to receive this issue in your email… but it's not too late to read it on…
Short and Sweet Allergy Tips
Rolling the dice in the allergy tip bank: Random allergy tip #22If your child has allergies, don’t let them take a non-washable stuffed animal to bed. These are breeding grounds for dust mites. Substitute a washable stuffed animal or cotton…
Some News Tidbits
A New Sort of CAT Scan Reveals Effects on LungsNews article about the effects of cat dander on lung function in people with asthma. According to UCLA researchers, new tests show patients still have constriction and inflammation in airways even…
Inaugural Post – Achoo!
Achoo! The Blog kicks off today with its inaugural posting. Of course, we’re all anxious to get to the good stuff (allergy news, tips, discussion, and fun!), but first things first. Background: One of the guiding principles at achoo! ALLERGY…