Unlike many major diseases such as malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis, asthma is more prevalent in the United States and other developed countries than it is in less developed countries. There are different theories as to why. For example, the Hygiene Hypothesis states “excessive cleanliness interrupts the normal development of the immune system” leading to an increase in allergies and allergic diseases such as asthma.
Bad news for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients-- pseudomonas aeruginosa, the pathogen most important in CF patients, has evolved to survive antibiotic treatments and live longer in CF-infected lungs. These findings are the product of a joint study performed by scientists from the University of Ottawa and the University of Calgary in Canada.
You may think that pets are bad for asthma. And you’d be right. Sort of.
It’s true that pets are a common asthma trigger-- proteins in their skin, saliva, and urine cause allergic reactions in 30% of asthmatics. Not only that, their fur collects several other asthma triggers such as dust, pollen, and mold. So if your child already struggles with asthma, getting a dog or other furry friend is probably not the wisest choice.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleeping disorder in which one’s airways become blocked during sleep, causing pauses in breathing. This disturbs the sleeper’s rest and can lead to symptoms such as tiredness, lack of focus, and irritability throughout the day.
Cystic Fibrosis is a serious, progressive condition which requires professional treatment and medication to manage. Currently, there is no cure. However, there are some simple things those with the condition can do at home to minimize CF complications.
A new study from the European Respiratory Journal has shown that woman with asthma take longer to get pregnant than woman without asthma. A group of 15,000 women were surveyed. When asked if they spent over a year trying to get pregnant, 21% of women without asthma said yes whereas 27% of woman with asthma said yes. If their asthma went untreated, the percentage was even higher.
It’s not easy for children to use inhalers, and those who don’t use them properly don’t get the full dose of asthma medication they need. That’s why products like nebulizers and spacers are so popular. Spacers are used along with an inhaler. They hold the child’s medication so that he or she can inhale it in several breathes, instead of just one. But a new study has shown that most parents don’t know how to have their kid properly use a spacer.
For many parents with allergic kids, allergies aren't just annoying; they’re terrifying. Allergens including everyday foods like peanuts are everywhere, and a small mistake could lead to hospitalization or even death. That’s why a new bill requiring schools to stock epinephrine is uniting what’s been a particularly divided Congress.
Washington DC is one of the worst cities in the country for pediatric asthma. For one thing, it’s a city and cities are commonly filled with air pollutants. It’s also hot and humid, allowing mold and other allergens to grow freely. But one of the most serious problems is simply a lack of education.
A father is blaming his daughter’s death on a negligent school district. 12-year-old Laporshia Massey, daughter of Daniel Burch, died on September 25th of an asthma attack that started while she was in class at Bryant Elementary School.
Severaldifferentnewssites have written on the fact that the FDA is banning all inhalers which use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by the end of this year. This includes Primatene Mist, currently the only over-the-counter asthma medication in the US. And judging by the comments on these articles, asthmatics are furious.
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and instructed to use CPAP, you’re probably feeling a little overwhelmed. There are a lot of different masks out there, in styles and sizes accommodating a dizzying array of face shapes, facial hair, breathing methods, and sleep positions. From nasal pillow masks, to full face masks, to so-called “hybrid” masks, it can be difficult to determine just what model is right for you.
