Asthma and Allergies Solutions

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2008-09-11T17:07:00.001-12:00

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Know Your Food Allergies

2008-09-11T16:36:00.000-12:00

A food allergy is a potentially fatal response by a person’s immune system to a food or food component. After a susceptible person ingests a problem food, the immune system reacts with the release of histamines and other chemicals that trigger symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

Individuals who suffer allergic reactions to a particular food need to be especially cautious because a food allergy can trigger anaphylactic shock. This potentially life-threatening condition is characterized by difficulty breathing and a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

Milder symptoms such as itching, hives and swelling may also be experienced. However, there is no way to know whether a person with a food allergy is likely to have a mild or severe reaction after eating the problem food. Symptoms that begin as mild to moderate can quickly intensify, becoming much more severe. Therefore, the only effective treatment option for a food allergy is avoidance.

Avoidance involves the complete removal of harmful foods from the diet. It requires careful and constant consideration of packaged food ingredients as well as the cooking procedures and ingredients used at restaurants. The knowledge of alternate names related to a problem food is also essential.

Many individuals confuse food allergy with food intolerance, which is much more common and not as severe. Food intolerance involves the inability of the body to digest a food or food component, leading to symptoms of discomfort (e.g., stomach cramping) but that pose little danger. Food intolerance often allows the individual to eat small portions of a problem food without experiencing symptoms. With a food allergy, even a very small portion of a food allergen can cause an allergic reaction.

True food allergies occur in roughly 1 to 2 percent of adults and 3 to 8 percent of children, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. About 90 percent of all food allergies have been traced to the following foods:

1) Cow’s milk
2) Eggs
3) Peanuts
4) Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts)
5) Wheat
6) Soybeans
7) Fish
8) Shellfish

A physician can help to determine which food is causing a patient’s allergic reaction by using tests such as the skin test or the double blind oral food challenge. After successfully identifying the culprit food, a person must remove the food entirely from their diet.

Children Can Develop Tolerance to Egg Allergy

2008-08-05T21:44:00.000-12:00

Gradually exposing children with egg allergies to cooked egg could help them overcome the allergy, a new study reports.

In the Greek study, tiny amounts of cake containing heat-treated egg were feed to 94 children every day with the amount of cake gradually increased over six months. Eighty-seven children (90 percent) were able to eat the cake without allergy symptoms.

After six months, the children who did not display allergic reactions attempted to eat an egg not cooked to the same degree as the one in the cake. More than 95 percent experienced no reaction and were thought to have overcome the allergy.

The findings were expected to be published an upcoming issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

One in 17 children younger than age 3 has a food allergy, one of the most common being to hen eggs, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). Many children outgrow the egg allergy by school age, but until then, the only effective management is eliminating all egg from their diet.

There is no cure for asthma

2008-07-17T15:22:00.000-12:00

People with asthma experience intensified symptoms during an asthma attack, which occurs when exposure to allergens or other stimuli further inflame the airways, leading to an inability to expel trapped air from the lungs.

There is no cure for asthma. People with asthma have a chronic and variable, but controllable, condition. Patients can combine education, lung function measurement, avoidance techniques, lifestyle changes and appropriate medications to reduce the likelihood of experiencing symptoms. Such a comprehensive approach is known as asthma management.

The key goals in an asthma management plan include achieving the following:
• Minimal or nonexistent chronic symptoms
• Minimal or nonexistent flare-ups
• No restrictions on physical activity
• No missed work or school days due to asthma
• No emergency room visits or hospital room stays
• Minimal need to use short-acting inhaled beta-agonists
• Minimal or nonexistent side effects due to medications

Once an individual has been diagnosed with asthma, a physician will develop a specific asthma action plan to help the patient monitor the condition.

Asthma Attacks

2008-07-03T01:51:00.000-12:00

Asthma attacks occur when an allergen (a substance the body perceives as a threat, triggering an allergic reaction) or irritant triggers an exaggerated response in a person with asthma (chronically sensitized or inflamed airways). Shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing and wheezing (a whistling or high-pitched sound that results when breathing tubes are narrowed or obstructed) are among the symptoms that appear as the airways constrict and air becomes trapped in the lungs.

An asthma attack targets the body’s bronchial tubes, which bring oxygen to the lungs when a person inhales and remove carbon dioxide from the body when a person exhales. The diameter of these tubes narrows dramatically during an asthma attack due to a combination of factors, including:

1) Inflammation and swelling of the lining of the tube
2) Mucus buildup in the tube
3) Smooth-muscle tightening around the tube

As a result, the person is less able to move air into and out of the lungs. A person experiencing an asthma attack must immediately take prescribed medication such as an inhaled bronchodilator or an injection of epinephrine contained in an allergy kit. The longer an attack continues, the greater the risk of severe health consequences. People experiencing an asthma attack who do not have medication or have symptoms that are not relieved with medication should seek immediate emergency medical care. In rare cases, asthma attacks can be fatal.

Childhood Asthma, Allergies Traced to Womb

2008-06-07T15:50:00.000-12:00

At least some of the biological risk for childhood asthma and allergies traces back to the womb, new research suggests.

Both the order of birth and even the way a baby is delivered have a significant impact on the long-term strength of a child's allergic defenses, scientists say.

The findings were recently presented during the American Thoracic Society's International Conference, in Toronto.

At the meeting, one team of scientists said it had evidence indicating that when a specific genetic marker for allergic and asthmatic development is present among a first-born child, it appears to raise the risk for allergic conditions as far as 10 years down the road. However, when the exact same marker is present in a family's second or third child, the gene seems to have exactly the opposite effect -- actually lowering such risk.

"This is the first time it has been demonstrated that birth order can affect the behavior of genes related to asthma and allergies, and that birth order can therefore affect the risk for developing one or the other," said study author Dr. Wilfried Karmaus, a professor in the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

Contact dermatitis

2008-05-23T03:29:00.001-12:00

Contact dermatitis is any inflammation that occurs when the skin’s surface comes directly into contact with an allergen (substances that trigger an exaggerated immune system response) or irritant. Though uncomfortable, the condition is usually not serious, although it should not be left untreated. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), contact dermatitis and eczema are responsible for over 7 million healthcare provider visits every year.

There are two types of contact dermatitis:

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Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). Caused by a chemical or substance that is naturally irritating to the human skin (e.g., cosmetics, detergents, soaps, food, medication, metals, plants). The most common form of contact dermatitis, it usually resembles a burn.

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Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Caused by an allergic reaction. The reaction varies from a mild irritation to redness and open sores.

Symptoms of contact dermatitis include a red, raised rash on the skin that often itches. Diagnosis of the condition is based the skin’s appearance and the patient’s history of exposure to allergens or irritants.

In a majority of cases, treatment of this condition involves identifying and avoiding allergen triggers that cause contact dermatitis. Effective self-care treatment remedies include:

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Calamine lotion and cool oatmeal baths to relieve itching
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Cold compresses
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Washing with cool, soapy water immediately after exposure
*
Moisturizers to help restore the skin’s normal texture

If contact dermatitis occurs frequently, an allergy specialist should be seen to help identify the underlying cause or rule out allergies. The physician may prescribe antihistamines and corticosteroid medications to treat any inflammation.

Asthma Tests

2008-05-08T22:05:00.000-12:00

Physicians use a variety of techniques to determine if a person has asthma, and to manage asthma treatment. These include tests that:

1) Measure how efficiently a patient’s lungs are working. This may include pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gas tests.

2) Identify allergens or other factors that might trigger asthma symptoms. Tests for this purpose may include bronchoprovocation tests and allergy skin tests. Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes that can lead to breathing problems.

3) Most asthma tests take place at a medical facility, but some – such as testing with a peak flow meter – can be performed by an individual at home. Experts agree that asthma tests present little or no risk of harm to the patient when done correctly.

4) The results of asthma tests may lead to a physician prescribing asthma medication and offering other preventative-care advice to individuals diagnosed with asthma. Once a person has been diagnosed with asthma, some tests will be repeated on a scheduled basis to monitor treatments.

About dust & dust mites and asthma

2008-04-30T17:21:00.000-12:00

About dust & dust mites

Dust is an unavoidable part of life. Practically every activity in life generates dust. A human sitting at rest generates 100,000 dust particles per cubic foot of air every minute. The act of walking generates another 10 million particles per cubic foot of air every minute.

Household dust contains tiny particles of pollen, mold, fabric fibers, dander and dust mites. Dust can produce symptoms in individuals who are allergic to any of these allergens. However, dust mites are the source of most dust allergies.

Relatives of the spider, dust mites are microscopic arachnids one-third of a millimeter long that live indoors in household dust. Between 100 and 500 dust mites typically inhabit a single gram of dust, though in some cases the number can soar to 19,000.

Dust mites do not bite, spread disease or actually live on humans. However, dust mite feces contain a protein that is a powerful allergy trigger for many people. Each mite produces waste that is up to 200 times its body weight. Over time, the waste dries up and turns to powder, allowing it to become airborne. When an allergic person inhales the powder, an allergic reaction or asthma attack often follows. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, about 20 million Americans are allergic to dust mites. The allergen is one of the most common causes of year-round allergy and asthma symptoms.

Dust mites are tough to eliminate because they have pads at the ends of their legs that allow them to firmly attach to the fibers in carpeting, upholstery and mattresses. They are found in great quantities in the bedroom, where they feed off the dead skin cells that people constantly shed. The average adult sheds enough skin each day to feed one million dust mites.

House dust mite populations tend to be smaller in areas at higher elevations (e.g., Rocky Mountain states), mostly due to the lack of moisture in these regions. Exposure to low humidity levels or extreme temperatures will kill most dust mites.

Dust springs from almost every corner of life. Matter that disintegrates eventually reduces to the particles that end up in dust, which can then become airborne. Many common allergens find their way into household dust, including:

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Molds
*
Cockroach debris
*
Dead dust mite debris
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Tobacco smoke and its toxic byproducts
*
Fibers
*
Food particles
*
Pollens
*
Plant and insect parts
*
Hair, animal fur and feathers
*
Dried pet saliva or urine
*
Flakes of human skin and animal dander

Dust mites are microorganisms that thrive in settings where moisture and dust are abundant. In the United States, dust mite populations tend to peak in the warm, humid weather months. However, their fecal allergens remain present at high levels for months afterward, into early winter and beyond. Dust mites tend to congregate in the following areas:

*
Mattresses and box springs
*
Drapes and curtains
*
Bed sheets, comforters, canopies and ruffles
*
Clothing
*
Upholstered furniture

How to fight seasonal allergies?

2008-04-10T19:40:00.000-12:00

Allergies don't have to take the wind out of your sails. Cutting back on activities you enjoy, such as exercise, will only leave you feeling worse. The trick is to find ways to minimize your contact with allergens while you pursue sports and hobbies.
Outdoor Activity

Even if you are allergic to pollens or molds, you can still enjoy being outside. Here are some tips for preventing symptoms:

* Remain indoors in the morning, when outdoor pollen levels are usually their highest. Be especially careful on windy days.
* Take your vacation during the time when the pollen is at its worst. Choose a location where your exposure will be minimal. The seashore, for example, may be good place to go if you have pollen allergies. The National Allergy Bureau provides information about pollen counts all over the country. For more information go to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Online.
* If you must work outdoors when pollen levels are high, wear a tightly fitting face mask designed to filter out pollen and keep it from reaching your nasal passages.
* Avoid spots where molds tend to be concentrated. For instance, let someone else mow the lawn and rake leaves.
* If you're going to stay at a cabin that has been closed up all winter, have someone air it out and clean it before you arrive.

Staying Fit And Symptom-Free

Exercise, which helps stimulate the cardiovascular system, is important for everyone. If you cut back on your exercise, you may end up gaining weight, feeling sluggish or getting the blues.

Smoking and Asthma

2008-03-28T03:15:00.000-12:00

Smoking has been proven to be extremely harmful to the respiratory system. For people with asthma, tobacco smoke frequently tops the list of the most common triggers of an asthma attack. An asthmatic does not have to smoke to be affected, as even second-hand smoke can trigger asthma attacks or cause permanent harm to the airways, making it easier to have an asthma attack in the future.

Tobacco smoke is usually inhaled from a cigarette, cigar or pipe, and a number of chemicals in tobacco smoke have been proven to harm the lungs, as well as the arteries and other parts of the body. Asthmatic children are the most susceptible to tobacco smoke – particularly second-hand smoke. Children have smaller airways, so the airway constriction and mucus buildup that occurs after inhaling tobacco smoke can cause a severe asthma attack in a child. Children should avoid people or situations in which smoking is common.

Anyone with an asthmatic condition who smokes should immediately quit. Smoking can greatly complicate an asthmatic condition by damaging the lungs, even if it does not trigger an attack. In addition, many health risks have been linked to smoking, including cancer, respiratory infections and types of heart disease.

For a multitude of reasons, expectant mothers should not smoke. Low-birth weight and a host of medical problems have been linked to smoking. For instance, children born to mothers who smoked while pregnant are 10 times more likely to develop asthma.

Allergy Shots Are Effective Treatment for Symptoms

2008-02-16T15:50:00.000-12:00

Immunotherapy allergy shots are helpful for those having allergic asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis or stinging insect allergies according to American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

Immunotherapy is a form of treatment that aims to decrease sensitivity to substances called allergens.

Patients who receive immunotherapy are injected with increasing amounts of an allergen until the target therapeutic dose is reached. These allergens include pollen, mold or animal dander which could trigger allergy symptoms when an allergic person is exposed to them.

Immunotherapy is an effort to build resistance to specific allergens. Relief of allergy symptoms can last long after completion of treatment and that immunotherapy helps prevent the development of new allergies and may prevent the progression of allergic rhinitis to asthma.

While immunotherapy is recommended for people with allergic asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and stinging insect allergies, it's not recommended for those with food allergies, according to the AAAAI. The best option for people with food allergies is to avoid foods that pose a danger.

People should see a doctor about immunotherapy if they:

1) Have a clear relationship between asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and exposure to an allergen,
2) Have a poor response to allergy medication or avoidance measures,
3) Have a long duration of allergy symptoms (most of the year),
4) Are a child with rhinitis, because of the potential role of allergen immunotherapy in the progression of allergic disease.

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2007-11-05T01:09:00.000-12:00

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2007-10-05T20:10:00.000-12:00

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Some tips to prevent dust allergy

2007-08-28T20:31:00.000-12:00

1) Carpeting makes dust control impossible. Although shag carpets are the worst type for the dust-sensitive person, all carpets trap dust. Therefore floors made from hardwood, tile, or linoleum floors are preferred. While treating carpets with some chemicals could eliminate some dust mite allergen, the most effective way is removing the carpet.

2) If possible do not keep more than one bed in a bedroom. Most importantly, encase box springs and mattress in a dust-proof or allergen-proof cover (zippered plastic). Always scrub bed springs outside the room.

3) Do not put animals with fur or feathers inside the room. People allergic to dust mites often are also allergic to cats, dogs, or other animals.

4) Sheets, blankets, and other bedclothes should be washed frequently in hot water. Lower temperatures will not kill dust mites.

New FDA approved drug for allergy

2007-08-28T20:21:00.000-12:00

the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Xyzal (levocetirizine dihydrochloride, by UCB and Sanofi-Aventis) for treating nasal allergies and chronic hives in people 6 and older.

Based on clinical testing involving more than 2,000 people, the drug was found to significantly reduce symptoms of sneezing, itchy and runny nose, and itchy eyes. Among people with chronic urticaria or hives, it reduces the severity of itching.

Asthma affects more on the Obese

2007-05-26T14:55:00.000-12:00

Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta , USA reports that severe asthma is more likely to hit obese individuals than people with normal weights. Also, the association between obesity and asthma severity is stronger in women than in men.

Although the actual reason for this association is not known it could be that severe asthma would normally lead to reduced physical activity which would tend to result in weight gain. The hormone leptin is thought to be another factor.
Leptin which is produced by fat cells may also contribute to airway inflammation in asthmatic persons.

Apples for mothers may prevent asthma in kids later in life

2007-04-22T01:43:00.000-12:00

A new study found that the plant chemicals, Flavonoids, found in apples, are believed to be responsible for protecting children whose mothers ate the fruit during pregnancy from developing asthma and wheezing by the time the children were 5 years old.
Therefore pregnant women who eat apples may help their children avoid asthma later in life.

New Heat Technology Helps Asthma Patients

2007-04-17T01:36:00.000-12:00

A new technology that uses radio waves to burn off overgrown muscle in the airways of asthma sufferers helped them breathe better, have fewer symptoms and use less medication, researchers report.

The technique, called bronchial thermoplasty, now is being tested in a larger trial that could lead to its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"This is the first trial that shows a fairly remarkable response," said co-researcher Dr. John D. Miller, an associate professor of surgery at McMaster University in Canada. "It also is the first non-drug treatment for asthma to be developed recently."......Click HERE to read the whole article.

A DRUG-FREE, MEDICALLY-PROVEN, HOME TREATMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED BY AN EX-ASTHMATIC WHO CURED HER OWN ASTHMA

2007-04-03T20:11:00.000-12:00

"It has changed my life. Before, I could barely walk up stairs now I can manage a 10 mile hike. I was using my puffer four times a day as well as steroids and now I'm off all drugs" - Dr. John Stanely

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New Heat Technology Helps Asthma Patients

2007-04-03T17:28:00.000-12:00

A new technology that uses radio waves to burn off overgrown muscle in the airways of asthma sufferers helped them breathe better, have fewer symptoms and use less medication, researchers report.

The technique, called bronchial thermoplasty, now is being tested in a larger trial that could lead to its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"This is the first trial that shows a fairly remarkable response," said co-researcher Dr. John D. Miller, an associate professor of surgery at McMaster University in Canada. "It also is the first non-drug treatment for asthma to be developed recently."

Click here to get more details.

Is Your Asthma Inhaler Full of Nothing but Air?

2007-03-31T21:24:00.000-12:00

If you're having an asthma attack, you assume that with each puff of your inhaler you are getting relief. But, in many cases, it seems inhalers are being used long after they have run out of medication.

Asthma inhalers, or portable pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs), are the cornerstone of asthma treatment. But a new study reveals that patients using pMDIs do not know how to monitor the number of puffs they have taken out of their inhalers. Some didn't realize they needed to monitor their inhalers at all.

Click here to read the whole article.

Most Asthmatic Children Don't Control Symptoms

2007-03-29T12:31:00.000-12:00

Only one in five asthmatic children has control of their conditions despite advances in treatment and medications.

Almost 80 percent are suffering unnecessarily. They may be experiencing unnecessary symptoms, missed school days, and restrictions on activity.
Click here to read the details.

Are You In Control of Your Asthma? Thinking You are May Help

2007-03-27T14:29:00.001-12:00

A study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, suggests that people who believe they have control over their asthma are likely to report better asthma-related health status.

The researchers found that greater perceived control was associated with better physical health status, better asthma-related quality of life, fewer days of restricted activity due to asthma and lower asthma severity scores. Greater perceived control was also associated with significantly decreased prospective risk of emergency department visits and asthma-related hospitalizations.

2007-02-27T15:41:00.000-12:00

People whose asthma attacks are triggered by physical exertion may have to skip those workouts at the gym or take precautions to prevent their symptoms.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), exercise-induced asthma (EIA) produces wheezing, coughing, chest tightening and shortness of breath during or shortly after strenuous physical activity. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, approximately 20 million people have been diagnosed with asthma, and 9 million of these patients are children. Children are more likely to experience EIA symptoms and the condition is often seen among Olympic-quality athletes.

Click here to read the whole article.