Midwesterners will have to sniffle through the day for the first time in the history of allergy reporting season as a spring snow storm freezes the scientific equipment used to create the Gottlieb Allergy Count, the official allergy count of the Midwest.
Spring cleaning can be more than a daunting chore for those with allergies and asthma. Dust, pet hair and cleaning supplies can leave you reaching for the tissues instead of the broom. But according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), spring cleaning can also help you avoid allergy symptoms.
More than 45 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, primarily occurring in spring and fall, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Food allergies are closely linked to spring allergies, says Dr. Joseph Leija, who performs the official allergy count for the Midwest for Loyola University Health System. "Birch pollen often also means allergies to apples, peaches, carrots and celery while grass allergies can trigger melon, tomatoes and oranges reactions," says Leija. :Ragweed, the most noxious allergen, is also linked to allergies to bananas, cucumber and cantaloupe."
Pharmacist Clark Kebodeaux, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at St. Louis College of Pharmacy shares some practical tips for patients choosing an allergy medication.
A pill a day keeps spring allergies away. In a perfect world, it would be that easy. And for those suffering from an allergy to some grasses, the Food and Drug Administration‘s (FDA) approval of the oral dissolvable tablets designed to help treat symptoms may be beneficial. But for the majority of seasonal sufferers allergic to pollens from the more than 30 other pollinating species, relief isn’t that easy.
Stress doesn’t cause allergies, but easing your mind might mean less allergy flare-ups this spring. According to a study published in the April issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, allergy sufferers with persistent stress experience more allergy flares.
A pollen vortex thanks to the polar vortex is predicted as the official allergy count for the Midwest began on Mar 31. Allergist, Dr. Joseph Leija, predicts this sneezin' season will be as memorable as this past extreme winter.
Most parents of kids with and without nut allergies don’t support schoolwide bans on nut-containing products, according to a new University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.
The return of spring marks the end of the cold and flu season, but the warmer weather and longer days present a different set of health issues. For many people, spring means itchy, watery eyes or runny, congested noses due to allergies. Knowing your specific allergy will help determine whether you can expect problems during this time of year.
This winter has been one of the coldest on record, but spring allergy season is already beginning and it’s time for sufferers to start preparing now. An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, which are commonly called hay fever.
The spring 2014 allergy season could be the worst yet, or at least that is what you might hear. Every year is coined as being the worst for allergy sufferers, but are spring allergies really on the rise?
An enzyme that helps maintain immune system function by “throwing away” a specific protein has a vital role in controlling symptoms of allergic asthma, new research in mice suggests. The finding suggests the enzyme could be a target for drugs used to treat allergic asthma.
In the largest, most comprehensive, nationwide study to examine the prevalence of allergies from early childhood to old age, scientists from the National Institutes of Health report that allergy prevalence is the same across different regions of the United States, except in children 5 years and younger.
Spring allergies aren't the only thing to worry about these days. More people are developing an itchy, painful rash in an effort to stay clean. An Ohio State dermatologist says a preservative in many pre-moistened wipes is linked to a dramatic rise in allergic reactions.
Children’s food allergies are gradually increasing, but they may be as much as doubling among black children. According to a study published in the March issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), self-reported food allergy nearly doubled in black children over 23 years.
Some children who outgrow one type of food allergy may then develop another type of allergy, more severe and more persistent, to the same food. The more severe allergy is eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), which has been increasing in recent years.
Lone star tick bites are likely the cause of thousands of cases of severe red meat allergies that are plaguing patients in Southeastern states including Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia and spreading up the Eastern Seaboard along with the deer population.
A study by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center shows vitamin D as an add-on therapy could provide some relief for chronic hives, a condition with no cure and few treatment options.
Women that are pregnant may want to take extra precaution around those that are sniffling and sneezing this winter. According to a new study published today in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the more common colds and viral infections a woman has during pregnancy, the higher the risk her baby will have asthma.
There is more to seasonal allergies than a little congestion and sneezing. If you notice eating watermelon, cantaloupe or avocado make you cough and itch, it may be a symptom of ragweed allergy. But more help might be on the way for some of the 23 million hay fever sufferers.
Can’t find relief from your asthma symptoms? The way you communicate with your allergist can be the root of your problems. According to two papers published in the January issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, in order for treatment to be effective, asthma sufferers need to ask questions and feel as if they have open communication with their allergist.
Urban children with asthma are fighting a daily battle to breathe. Their families are finding little help to remove the mold and cockroach infestation in their homes, which can cause asthma attacks. But according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) there is help for these families – help which shouldn’t be kept a secret.
Children appear to be less at risk for developing peanut or tree nut (P/TN) allergies if their mothers are not allergic and ate more nuts during pregnancy, according to a study published by JAMA Pediatrics, a JAMA Network publication.
Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine found that two on-the-rise esophagus conditions are so similar that even a biopsy is not enough to distinguish one disease from the other.
An act recently signed by President Obama will make it easier to provide epinephrine to children with severe food allergies in schools, even without a prescription. Physicians at Nationwide Children’s Hospital hope the act will encourage the remaining 20 states to pass legislation, incentivizing and, in some cases, requiring that schools to have this medication available for all students since up to 6 percent of children in the United States are now diagnosed with a food allergy.
Summer allergies are over but winter allergies are in full bloom, says Joseph Leija, MD, allergist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital who performs the official allergy count for the Midwest.
A team of scientists looking into the interplay of the immune system and cancer have found a link between a history of airborne allergies – in particular to plants, grass and trees – with risk of blood cancers in women.
Food allergies are on the rise, and so is the likelihood that one or more of your holiday guests may have a food allergy, food intolerance or celiac disease—an autoimmune disorder that reacts to gluten. Keep guests safe this holiday season with tips from the Home Food Safety program, a collaboration between the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and ConAgra Foods.
The holiday season can gift you with more than you’ve wished for if you have allergies and asthma. Holiday traditions, such as Christmas trees, menorahs and poinsettia plants can cause symptoms. Those hosting holiday gatherings can also unknowingly present guests with the gift of sneeze.
Do marshmallows make your tongue swell? Gummy bears make you itchy? If you’ve answered yes and are allergic to gelatin, you will want to take some precautions when getting the flu shot.
Expecting mothers who suffer from allergies may want to consider another vaccination in addition to the flu shot and Tdap. A study being presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) found pregnant women who receive allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, during pregnancy may decrease their baby’s chance of developing allergies.
There are many differences between men and women. And when it comes down to health, one gender seems to be more prone to allergies and asthma, according to a presentation being given at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
People with asthma traveling to pet friendly homes for the holidays may want to pack allergy medication along with their inhaler. A study being presented this week at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting reveals the number of people with asthma that are also allergic to cats has more than doubled over an 18 year period.
Oral allergy syndrome sufferers that take high blood pressure medications may experience extreme facial swelling and difficulty breathing the next time they bite into a juicy apple. When patients with oral allergy syndrome take angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for hypertension and congestive heart failure, they are at an increased risk for a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, according to new research.
Asthma is the most common chronic illness and is responsible for 2.1 million emergency room visits annually. But according to a study being presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), these costly visits can be reduced by 55 percent when inhalers contain a simple dose counter.
If you think your child’s stuffy nose is due to an autumn cold, you might want to consider allergies, especially if you live in the southern region of the United States. A study being presented this week at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) found hay fever is more prevalent in children living in the southeastern and southern states.
Not only can bone marrow transplants be life-saving for children with acute lymphocytic leukemia, they may also cure peanut allergies. According to research presented during the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting, a 10-year-old boy no longer had a peanut allergy after undergoing a bone marrow transplant.
Have food allergies? If you answered yes, you know the best way to prevent a severe allergic reaction is to totally avoid the offending food. But according to a presentation at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), you may no longer have to avoid the food entirely.
According to a study being presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Baltimore, Nov. 7-11, anaphylaxis due to shrimp is rare in children, under 8 percent.
Reed instruments, such as the clarinet and saxophone, can be detrimental to your health if not properly cleaned. In a study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Baltimore, Nov. 7-11, researchers noted that musicians can develop allergic pulmonary disease to specific funguses that collect over time in the instrument’s reed.
According to a study being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Baltimore, Nov. 7-11, allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, can improve quality of life for insect sting allergy sufferers.
From gluten allergy and hypoallergenic pets, to avoiding the flu shot because of an egg allergy, there are a lot of common myths and misconceptions about allergies. Many might be shocking due to a great deal of false information in the media and on the Internet. And some of the misconceptions can be damaging to your health.
Patients with non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS) and other food sensitivities showed clinical, laboratory and histological characteristics suggesting they may be suffering from a non-IgE-mediated food allergy, according to the article, “Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity as an Allergic Condition: Personal Experience and Narrative Review,” published online today in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Fall allergies and rapidly changing temperatures send many people reaching for pain relievers or other remedies to deal with runny noses and other symptoms associated with sinus and allergy problems.
John Fahrenholz, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine who practices at the Vanderbilt Asthma, Sinus and Allergy Program, says that this time of year can be a real challenge for people with allergies—and for the rest of us, too.
The scary reality is that food allergies are becoming more and more common in the United States. In the past 10 years there has been an 18 percent increase in children with food allergies. In fact, 6-8 percent of children have at least one food allergy. That means, on average, two students per classroom have a food allergy. Halloween parties and trick-or-treating are just a few of the end-of-fall activities that can heighten the danger for kids with food allergies.
Indiana University School of Medicine emergency medicine faculty hope to improve the way childhood asthma is medically managed in Marion County through an innovative program that incorporates the skills and flexible schedules of specially trained Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services paramedics.