In a world-first study, Hunter medical researchers have found a simple blood test may be all that’s needed to diagnose asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
Lead researcher Peter Gibson says currently people suspected of having asthma have to undergo a complicated series of clinical tests to determine lung function and response to medication.
Professor Gibson says the…
Archive for March, 2011
Asthma diagnosis breakthrough
Friday, March 25th, 2011
Birth Order Linked to Allergies, Study Says
Friday, March 25th, 2011
Food allergies afflict more than three million children in the United States, with peanuts, shellfish, milk, and eggs topping the allergy list.
A recent study was just released that studied the relationship between birth order and allergies. Researchers found that firstborn children were more likely to have hay fever and pink eye due to a food…
Allergists Dispel Myths To Fight Spring Allergy Misery
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
Millions of Americans sneeze and wheeze March through June when they use misinformation to manage their spring allergies. To separate fact from fiction and help allergy sufferers feel good all season long, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) and its allergist members, doctors who are experts at diagnosing and treating allergies and…
Iron During Pregnancy May Lower Asthma Risks for Baby
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
Elizabeth Triche, PhD was the lead author of the study. She said, “We found there is a link between anemic pregnant women and their children’s wheezing and asthma.”
Asthma is a condition that makes breathing difficult. During an asthma attack, muscles around the airways constrict which makes breathing passages smaller and allows less air to enter…
Reduced-Allergy Peanut Developed by Scientists
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
More than 3 million people who suffer allergies to normal peanuts may now be able to enjoy the popular food thanks to scientists in Greensboro.
Scientists at N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro developed what they called a hypo-allergenic peanut. The breakthrough reduces the top two allergens in peanuts.
The peanut will not cure peanut allergies, but…
Extensive Survey Shines Spotlight on Severity of Asthma, Allergies and Impact on Patients and Their Families
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
Survey conducted by Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) reveals uncertainty allergy and asthma patients face daily
Today Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) released a first-of-its-kind survey detailing the impact of asthma and allergies on the people who cope with it every day. The survey confirms what many already know: asthma…
Spring weather ushering in pollen, allergies
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
With the lovely spring weather comes the aggravating allergy problems – runny nose, coughing, sneezing and watery red eyes.
The culprit? Pollen from trees, which can start pollinating anytime from January to April, depending on the climate and location. Trees that are known to cause severe allergies include oak, olive, elm, birch, ash, hickory, poplar, sycamore,…
Asthma Drug Cuts Seasonal Flares for Inner-City Kids
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
A monoclonal antibody improved asthma symptoms and reduced the need for other controller medications among inner-city children, researchers say.
Omalizumab (Xolair) also appeared to significantly reduce seasonal exacerbations, William Busse, MD, of the University of Wisconsin, and colleagues reported in the March 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
“This tells you that indeed this…
La. study to look at roach control, asthma links
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
A Tulane University researcher is gearing up to study whether exterminating roaches can alleviate asthma symptoms in children who live in public housing.
Pest control programs have helped improve asthma problems, but this study will look at what affect specifically targeting roaches will have on the children, said Felicia Rabito, an associate professor of epidemiology in…
Traveling with Allergies – Planning Your Trip
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
If someone in your family has asthma or allergies, planning a trip requires some extra planning to keep sneezing, coughing, and wheezing to a minimum.
Allergies are reactions by the immune system to something in the environment that the body perceives as harmful. That trigger substance is your allergen. When an allergen comes in contact with…
