Children who suffer from severe, persistent asthma are nearly 32 times more likely to develop chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) in adulthood, according to a study spanning nearly half a century.
That conclusion is based on data from the Melbourne Asthma Study, which includes children born in 1957 who were recruited at age 7 and tracked…
Archive for May, 2010
Childhood Asthma Linked to Risk of COPD
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Up To 1 In 10 Americans May Suffer From Food Allergies
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
A review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and reported in the New York Times underscores the need for additional research on the prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of food allergy. One of the most important points suggested by the JAMA study as well as a New York Times article on the…
Health Tip: If You Have Nasal Congestion
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Nasal congestion, often called a stuffy nose, can be caused by a bacterial infection or virus, allergies or the common cold.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests how to help clear nasal congestion:
Take an over-the-counter decongestant or antihistamine.
Use a saline solution nasal spray.
Run a humidifier or vaporizer to increase humidity.
Drink plenty of fluids. Sip on…
How to Reduce Allergy Symptoms Naturally
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
In the spring, many suffer from seasonal allergies aggravated by the pollen in the air. Building a strong immune system and vital force is the best defense. There are many natural treatments including constitutional homeopathy that can help with that, along with good nutrition and exercise. Inheritance does play a link, as one in three…
Bee pollen superfood boosts immune system function
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
There are many superfoods that boost immune function, but few do it with as much potency as bee pollen. Through its unique combination of minerals, vitamins, amino acids and enzymes, bee pollen offers one of the most revitalizing natural superfoods in the world (especially when collected from local bees who are in tune with your…
Probiotics prevent asthma
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Did you know that probiotics help prevent asthma? It’s not one of those immediately obvious connections, but the more you look into it, the more you’ll see why it works.
Asthma is often the result of systemic inflammation caused by food allergies. Probiotics, it turns out, can help deal with food allergies, calming the inflammation and…
Meat Might Be Behind Many Unidentified Allergic Reactions
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
A carbohydrate in meat called alpha-gal may be the unrecognized cause of recurring severe allergic reactions in some patients, a new study suggests.
The study included 60 people in Australia and the United States who experienced the recurrent severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis with no known cause. Allergy tests revealed that 25 of the 60…
Eliminating the Source of Asthma-Causing Immune Molecules
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Asthma and other allergic diseases are caused by inappropriate immune responses. Soluble IgE molecules, produced by immune cells known as B cells, are key immune mediators of these diseases. Therapeutic targeting of IgE in the blood can neutralize its effects and is an effective treatment for moderate-to-severe allergic asthma. However, this approach does not halt…
Traffic Seems to Make Kids’ Asthma Worse
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
Air pollution from city traffic appears to increase asthma attacks in kids that require an emergency room visit, a new study reports.
The effect was found to be strongest during the warmer parts of the year.
The researchers who conducted the study, done in Atlanta, were trying to pinpoint which components of pollution play the biggest role…
Immune Response to Resistance Exercise
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
Resistance exercise produces transient perturbations in immunity, including alterations in circulating leukocyte numbers, cytokine concentration, and some measures of cell function. These changes are typically interpreted as being transiently detrimental to host defense.
The mechanisms responsible for these immune fluctuations appear to be neuroendocrine–mediated alterations in cell trafficking and function and microtrauma–mediated alterations in cytokine release….
