Did you know that an estimated 60 million people are affected by allergies and asthma? That’s more than Parkinson’s, coronary heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and diabetes combined.
Did you know that asthma is one of the most common serious chronic childhood diseases and the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children under 15?
April is National Gardening Month, and this is a time for us to celebrate the benefits of gardening, such as stress relief, building a greener planet, improved attitudes toward health and nutrition and, of course, beautiful landscapes to admire. Gardening for allergy-sufferers, however, can be a frustrating activity — if not avoided altogether! Using the following tips and taking these simple precautions can help you enjoy all that gardening has to offer. Read more tips for gardening with allergies
Spring break season has officially begun. For many people, this is a time to travel and take a break from work, school, or both. Unfortunately for asthma- and allergy-sufferers, spring break isn’t exactly a break. In fact, traveling with allergies and asthma can prove to be hard work. Luckily, there are multiple mobile phone apps available to make traveling with allergies and asthma a little easier: Read more about mobile phone apps that can make traveling with allergies and asthma a little easier
Your pet isn’t just a potential source for allergies — in fact, your furry friend might be an allergy- sufferer as well. If your pet scratches or sheds incessantly, vomits, or has chronic respiratory problems, he or she may have an allergy.
Cockroaches. They’re creepy, crawly — and a leading cause of allergies and asthma!
Cockroach allergens are found in the feces, saliva, and body parts of the insects. They cause allergy symptoms, such as irritated skin, itchy eyes and nose, scratchy throat, and can exacerbate asthma conditions. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, there is a correlation between exposure to cockroach allergens and the development of asthma in children. Read more about controlling cockroach allergy symptoms and asthma
Yesterday afternoon, President Obama and the First Family welcomed their new furry, four-legged canine “Bo” to the White House. Bo, a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog, is a curly-haired, black-and-white puppy with a lion-cut tail and lots of appeal. Aside from his penchant for being a gentle companion, obedient, agile, and easily trained, Bo is considered to be hypoallergenic – a must for 10-year-old Malia Obama, who is allergic to dogs. But is there really such a thing as a hypoallergenic dog? Many allergists say no.
According to the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, Portuguese water dogs – or “Porties” – are considered hypoallergenic because they are single-coated and shed less hair than other breeds. However, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) says that the amount of hair a dog actually sheds is not the issue for allergy-sufferers. It’s not a dog’s hair that causes allergies. It’s a dog’s dander, or dead skin cells. Read more about hypoallergenic dogs
Spring pollen is back – and it’s in full force. As reported by CNN, ABC News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – and quite possibly, that thick layer of yellow powder on your car – this year’s spring pollen is apparently going to be worse than ever. (Let’s all let out a collective groan.) According to countless reports, we can expect higher than normal pollen counts in many parts of the country.
For instance, if you live in the Northeast, you can expect heavier pollen levels as a result of the area’s high population as well as the large number of pollen-producing plants in the region. The Midwest will also likely see a more severe allergy season, stemming from the late winter flooding and snowstorms, which have made the ground ripe for tree and grass growth. In the Southeast, there are conflicting predictions. While some numbers predict a less severe allergy season, allergists at the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic, say residents in the region should hunker down for a particularly tough season, based on recent pollen trends and weather patterns. Read more about the spring pollen forecast
This week, many of you are prepping your homes to host family and friends for the December holidays. Yet between vacuuming deliriously, setting out fresh linens, and baking scrumptious cookies, you might find yourself pondering some very important questions: “Isn’t Aunt Meta allergic to the cat?” “Wait, which one of my cousins has a peanut allergy?” Read more about hosting guests who suffer from allergies and/or asthma
Okay, I won’t lie. The first time I heard about a neti pot – let alone watched a video of one being used – I had to take a moment to reflect on the hilarity of it all (and maybe the “ick” factor too).
As the Obama family looks for a new hypoallergenic dog to take to the White House (the President-Elect’s oldest daughter suffers from asthma), Nurse Kathleen MacNaughton of about.com reminds us all that there’s really no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog.
“It’s a fact – All dogs have dander, even if they don’t shed,” writes MacNaughton. “It doesn’t matter whether the hair is long or short or even if the dog is hairless. But because dander often attaches to hair, dogs that shed less hair may also shed less dander. Dander is not something you can easily see. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there. And even though you can’t see it, it can still trigger asthma symptoms and asthma attacks.” Read more about hypoallergenic pets
There’s nothing like climbing onto a bed made with fresh, clean sheets. Ahhh. But don’t get too comfortable yet: unless you have impervious covers on your mattress and pillows, those clean sheets will soon be covered with thousands or even millions of dust mites.
If you have allergies or asthma, you’re probably already familiar with dust mites. For those of you who are not, these microscopic arachnids commonly live within the fibers of beds, furniture, and carpets. Their waste matter is a powerful allergen. Up to 80 percent of allergy sufferers are sensitive to dust mite allergen! Read more about AllerSoft bedding
I rarely watch television (I prefer online media), but when I do watch TV, one of my favorite shows is House M.D. Dr. House always considers all potential causes of illness, including environmental factors. In fact, in several episodes, the maverick diagnostician sends his interns to break into the homes of sick patients.
If you have allergies, you may want to put down that bottle of antihistamines and let your sneezes do their job. A new study from Cornell University suggests that allergies may protect against certain types of cancer by expelling carcinogenic particles from the body.
Allergies appear to protect against cancers that occur in organs that come in contact with environmental particles – the mouth, throat, colon, rectum, skin, cervix, pancreas, and glial brain cells. Read more about cancer and allergies
In the 2003 film Anger Management, therapist Buddy Rydell tells his patients that they can calm down by repeating the term Goosefraba and breathing deeply. In an old Seinfeld episode, George’s neurotic father uses a similar phrase – Serenity Now – to help calm his blood pressure. (Although he usually ends up shouting the phrase counterproductively!)
Most allergy sufferers are familiar with common allergens like pollen, dust mites, and mold – but here are some unusual allergy triggers that may surprise you:
Cell Phones – Dermatologists report that more people are having allergic reactions to nickel in their cell phones. Nickel is a metal also found in jewelry and belt buckles, and it can cause rashes and blisters. Among cell phone users, a rash may appear on the face. Read more about unusal allergies
May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, as well as MCS Awareness Month. That means it’s time to test your knowledge of asthma, allergies, and multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS):
April is 
Spring break season has officially begun. For many people, this is a time to travel and take a break from work, school, or both. Unfortunately for asthma- and allergy-sufferers, spring break isn’t exactly a break. In fact, traveling with allergies and asthma can prove to be hard work. Luckily, there are multiple mobile phone apps available to make traveling with allergies and asthma a little easier:
Your pet isn’t just a potential source for allergies — in fact, your furry friend might be an allergy- sufferer as well. If your pet scratches or sheds incessantly, vomits, or has chronic respiratory problems, he or she may have an allergy.
Cockroaches. They’re creepy, crawly — and a leading cause of allergies and asthma!
