Asthma & Allergies

New Asthma Gene Could Lead to New Treatments Reported July 6, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New treatments could be on the way after the discovery of a new asthma gene. Researchers from the United States, London, France, and Germany looked at more than 2,000 children. They found genetic markers on chromosome 17 that dramatically increase a child's risk for asthma. Children … [Read more...]

Pollution Linked to Pneumonia in Older Adults Reported December 23, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Older adults with long-term exposure to higher levels of pollution are at greater risk for hospitalization for pneumonia. "Our study found that among older individuals, long-term exposure to traffic pollution independently increased their risk of hospitalization … [Read more...]

Sleep apnea sufferers may have some more motivation to wear their breathing machines at night … it could improve their golf game. Golfers with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who received nasal positive airway pressure (NPAP) for their disorder lowered their golf handicaps by as much as three strokes. "More so than many sports, golf has a strong intellectual component, with … [Read more...]

Combined Therapy for Treating Asthma Reported July 20, 2006 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A combination therapy may be necessary to treat asthma. New research from Stockholm, Sweden, reveals asthma patients may need both inhaled corticosteroids and antileukotriene drugs. … [Read more...]

Pregnant smokers boost child cancer risk Reported January 12, 2009 Women who smoke during pregnancy greatly increase the risk their child will develop a life-threatening cancer, a new Australian study shows. Researchers assessed more than one million births recorded across NSW from 1994 to 2005, and found 948 cases in which the growing … [Read more...]

Cost-Cutting Allergy and Asthma Tests Reported March 24, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New information suggests that if patients' primary care physicians used blood tests more often to screen for allergies, they could eliminate the need for an additional doctor's visit. The national savings might equal the cost of that … [Read more...]

Extra Test Doesn't Help Kids with AsthmaReported January 12, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Adding an expensive test to standard symptom monitoring doesn't appear to help children with mild to moderate asthma. In a new study out of the Netherlands, researchers saw equally significant improvements for children whose asthma medications were adjusted based on … [Read more...]

New Asthma Guidelines Urge Daily ControlReported August 29, 2007 WASHINGTON (AP) -- Breathing easier without limiting activities is the goal of new government guidelines that urge more attention to asthma sufferers' day-to-day symptoms, not just their severe attacks. Some 22 million Americans have asthma, and guidelines updated Wednesday by the National Institutes of … [Read more...]

New Combo Therapy for Asthma Provides Relief Reported January 25, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- An inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide) coupled with a long-acting beta2-agonist (formoterol) can provide significant improvement of asthma symptoms with less reliance on high doses of inhaled steroid, … [Read more...]

Popular Cold Drug: Concern for KidsReported January 13, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows Vicks VapoRub, a popular cold and cough treatment, may create respiratory problems in infants and small children. Variations of Vick's VapoRub have been around for more than 100 years. The menthol compound is widely used to relieve cold symptoms and … [Read more...]

Smoke-Free Laws Keeping Lungs HealthyReported August 04, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A law that prevents smoking in public areas is having a positive impact on public health. Since March 2006, it has been illegal to smoke in any enclosed public place or workplace in Scotland. To see how the law has impacted public health, researchers used information from … [Read more...]

Tobacco Smoke Causes Breathing Problems in Healthy Adults Reported November 16, 2006 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- There is more proof that second-hand smoke can make non-smokers sick. Over 11 years, researchers in Switzerland studied 1,661 people who had never smoked. They report inhaling environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) can cause … [Read more...]

Risk of Pancreatitis Increases if You're a Smoker Reported March 24, 2009 Chicago, IL - infoZine - JAMA - The occurrence of pancreatitis (an inflammation of the pancreas usually characterized by abdominal pain) has increased in recent decades, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. In addition, the risk of developing the disease may be higher in those who smoke more. Acute … [Read more...]

All Asthma Devices Created Equal Reported January 11, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows all aerosolized medication delivery systems, or inhalers, are equally effective when used properly. Researchers say patient education on how to use them is key to control asthma and other respiratory conditions. For the first time, the American … [Read more...]

Asthma Affects Behavior in Kids Reported February 07, 2006 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- When treating a child with asthma, there may be more to consider than just the respiratory condition. A new study reveals a connection between asthma and behavioral problems. The study, published in this month's Pediatrics, … [Read more...]

Smoking could trigger depression Reported October 06, 2008 A study of more than a thousand women has found that females who smoke are more likely to develop major depression. Heavy smokers - those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day - have almost double the risk of developing diagnosable depression than non smokers. It has long been known … [Read more...]

Cat Allergen Wreaks Havoc on Asthmatic Lungs Reported November 30, 2005   (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers have discovered cat allergens can weaken lungs of people with asthma for more than 22 hours after contact. Nearly 15 million Americans have asthma. Cat allergen exposure can greatly add to their morbidity rate. Those affected by the allergens can experience … [Read more...]

Could Emphysema Start in Childhood?Reported May 20, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Everyone knows secondhand smoke can hurt young lungs, but most of the time the risk is associated with asthma or later development of lung cancer. New research out of Columbia University suggests early exposure might also lead to an earlier diagnosis of emphysema, even in people who have never … [Read more...]

Farm Living Could Mean no More AllergiesReported May 21, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Pregnant mothers who spend time on farms may be protecting their newborns from developing allergies. Researchers in Germany recently studied 18 farming mothers and 59 non-farming mothers and discovered that exposure to farms affects a baby’s T regulatory cells. These cells are … [Read more...]

New Risk for Asthma, Allergy FoundTHURSDAY, Dec. 23 THURSDAY, Dec. 23 (HealthDayNews) -- Do you have the guts to resist allergies and asthma?A University of Michigan study says changes in the bacteria and fungi (microflora) in the gastrointestinal tract may intensify immune system response to common allergens inhaled into the lungs. This can result in an … [Read more...]

Kids Diagnosing ThemselvesReported September 17, 2009 LAS VEGAS (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- "Mommy, I don't feel good." Many parents hear that and think their child is whining. One kid diagnosed herself with a scary disease before the adults noticed anything wrong.   Josie Somerlott is usually bouncing around, but the spring was taken out of her step while watching a movie.   … [Read more...]

Time for asthma patients to go to newer inhalers, U.S. FDA saysReported May 30, 2008 WASHINGTON - Old-fashioned asthma inhalers that contain environment-harming chemicals will quit selling at year's end - and the government is urging patients not to wait until the last minute to switch to newer alternatives. Patients use inhalers that dispense airway-relaxing albuterol … [Read more...]

New Discovery Could Offer Allergy Relief Reported March 31, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A molecule made up of cat and human proteins to block cat allergies successfully prevented allergic reactions in laboratory mice and in human cells. Researchers say this discovery could lead to a new therapy for cat allergies as well … [Read more...]

Potential Drug Therapy for Quitting SmokingReported November 25, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers have uncovered information that may lead to a new medical treatment for nicotine addiction. Cigarette smoking is one of the most widespread preventable causes of death and disease in developed countries. Annually, the habit is responsible for about 440,000 … [Read more...]

Smoking Vaccine Being DevelopedReported June 18, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) For smokers who are having trouble kicking the habit, science is working to find help. Although it’s still in the very early development stage, research on an antinicotine vaccine is in preliminary trials. The vaccine stimulates the immune system to develop antinicotine antibodies. … [Read more...]

Many Smokers Don't Tell Docs About Their HabitReported April 02, 2009 THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- More than half of smokers aren't fretting over their personal health, and almost a quarter of those who have health-care providers haven't discussed their tobacco use with that person, a new online survey shows. The survey of more than 1,000 adult smokers, … [Read more...]

Asthma Treatment Guidelines in Six Months Reported May 05, 2009 DUBAI - The UAE is expected to come out with guidelines to manage asthma treatment and diagnosis within six months, according to a senior health official. The guidelines are also expected to be unified at the GCC level at a?later stage. The guidelines will be based on those outlined by the Global Initiative … [Read more...]

Bacterial 'Playground' for Cystic FibrosisReported December 17, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New insight into ancient bacteria may spur the development of a novel cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment. People who have CF suffer from an over-production of thick, sticky mucus in the lungs that traps bacteria. The lung infection Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the leading … [Read more...]

Cat Allergen Wreaks Havoc on Asthmatic LungsReported November 30, 2005 Women living in country Victoria will now have access to state-of-the-art cancer technology, thanks to a $1.9 million grant from the Bracks Government. The funding will go to BreastScreen Victoria's Regional Digital Mammography Project, which will see women across … [Read more...]

Rhinitis Linked To Adult-Onset AsthmaReported October 07, 2008 Adult-onset asthma can be predicted by the presence of rhinitis, both allergic and non-allergic, according to an article released on September 19, 2008 in The Lancet. To investigate the potential implications of both allergic and non-allergic rhinitis on adult-onset asthma, … [Read more...]