Asthma & Allergies

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...]

Smokers Kicking The Butt Reported August 24, 2008 With statistics coming in from all around, there is an encouraging piece of good news for the anti-smoking groups, thanks to whose campaigns, the smoking rates for adult smokers has dropped down a teeny bit, this year, to 21.9% from the earlier 23%. In a survey conducted by the Gallup Korea on behalf … [Read more...]

New Guidelines for Pregnant Women With Asthma Reported January 12, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New guidelines for managing asthma during pregnancy reflect medications that have recently emerged and update treatment recommendations. The guidelines, established by the National Asthma Educational Prevention Program, … [Read more...]

Sniffing Out Asthma Reported May 23, 2007 SAN FRANCISCO (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- An "electronic nose" may one day be used to diagnose asthma, say researchers out of the Netherlands and Italy presenting the results from a new study. The device contains chemical vapor sensors that react to volatile organic compounds in a person's exhaled breath that may be used as markers of … [Read more...]

Asthma can be controlled, not curedReported July 10, 2009 HOUSTON -- (July 10, 2009) -- Medications and lifestyle changes help manage asthma, but they will not actually cure it, according to an expert at Baylor College of Medicine. "You still have airway inflammation that needs to be treated," said Dr. Nicola Hanania, associate professor of medicine at BCM. Environment, … [Read more...]

Allergies and Sleep DisruptionReported December 17, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Allergy sufferers often complain of bothersome nasal blockages, but those allergies alone don't account for increased risk of nighttime breathing problems. A stuffy nose can lead to trouble sleeping, which in turn can lead to daytime drowsiness. Researchers at the University of … [Read more...]

Better Asthma Control With Allergists Reported November 21, 2005   (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- You may be able to better control your asthma if you're seeing an allergist. New research shows asthma patients who go to an allergist have fewer asthma control problems and less severe asthma than those seeing a primary care physician for the condition. Kaiser-Permanente researchers … [Read more...]

Baking Soda Treatment for Life-Threatening Asthma Reported March 17, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, may be a treatment for life-threatening asthma in children, according to a new study in CHEST. Researchers from the Netherlands evaluated 17 children with … [Read more...]

Cats Trigger Allergies Reported July 5, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Allergy patients may want to reduce their exposure to cats, even if they're not allergic to the felines. Researchers from the United Kingdom were surprised to find increased exposure to cat allergen was associated with greater bronchial responsiveness (BR) in allergy patients even if they were not … [Read more...]

Daily Treatment may be Unnecessary for Asthma Sufferers Reported April 14, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People with mild, persistent asthma may need to inhale anti-inflammatory steroids only during periods of bad symptoms rather than daily, as current guidelines recommend. A year-long study comparing … [Read more...]

Hair Dye Allergies on the Rise Reported February 6, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- As hair dyeing becomes more popular among the younger generation, allergic reactions also become more common. British researchers warn coloring your hair can lead to dermatitis on the face. It can also leave you with a swollen face in severe cases. … [Read more...]

Lemons for Asthma Reported December 23, 2004 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Millions of Americans suffer from asthma, and the key to their relief could be found in a lemon. A new study shows citrus oils help prevent asthma symptoms in animals. Researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology conducted a study to … [Read more...]

Artificial Lung Saves Lives   Reported September 06, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Athletes expect to be a little out of breath at the end of a strenuous workout. But for many, it's more than just a little breathlessness. It's exercise-induced asthma (EIB). That's the key finding of Ohio State University investigators in Columbus who ran about 100 varsity athletes from the … [Read more...]

New Tool Promotes Safe ImmunizationReported September 04, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Pediatricians now have a new tool to ensure nearly every child can be safely vaccinated against deadly diseases, including those who are allergic or suspected of being allergic to vaccine components. Developed by vaccine safety experts and researchers at Johns Hopkins, the … [Read more...]

Prenatal Exposure to Pollution Linked to Future AsthmaReported February 18, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Children born in areas with high traffic-related pollution may have a greater risk of developing asthma due to genetic changes that occur in the womb, a new study found. Researchers examined umbilical cord blood from New York City infants and discovered … [Read more...]

Snoring Linked to ChildhoodReported August 26, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Your childhood environment may determine whether you will snore when you are an adult. A new report from Sweden shows childhood risk factors such as having pets, early respiratory or ear infections and growing up in a large family can all play a role on adult snoring. Researchers asked … [Read more...]