Coping with the Common Dust Mite Allergy

Coping with the Common Dust Mite Allergy

Allergies and asthma are often triggered by dust mites, tiny insect-like pests that live in dust, feeding on flakes of skin shed by people and pets.(1) Dust mites can live anywhere there is dust – and particularly in these household areas: mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture, carpets, and curtains.(2) The allergic reaction, which can include congestion, […]

Allergy Diagnosis in Later Life

Allergy Diagnosis in Later Life

While most people with allergies develop them as children, a growing number of adults in the U.S. are getting diagnosed with allergies for the first time. This could mean an allergy starting in young adulthood (20s) to older age (70s-80s).(1) Researchers do not know what causes some adults to develop allergies, but there are a […]

Allergies and Pregnancy

Allergies and Pregnancy

Approximately one-third of pregnant women who have allergies report their allergy symptoms worsen during pregnancy, according to Allergy and Asthma Network. Another third reports their symptoms remain about the same, with the final third finding their symptoms actually improve during pregnancy.(1) Women need to be cautious about any medicine taken during pregnancy, and this applies […]

Food Intolerance and Food Allergies

Food Intolerance and Food Allergies

food intolerance is the result of a person’s inability to break down a food, because of enzyme deficiencies, sensitivity to food additives or chemicals in the food that are naturally occurring. People with a food intolerance are often able to eat a small amount of the food they are sensitive to without a problem.(2) There […]

Dealing with Dog Allergies

Dealing with Dog Allergies

The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that 38% of households in the U.S. own at least one dog. With allergies to pets quite common, affecting three out of 10 people, many families wonder if they can still have a dog, even with a family member with an allergy. People with dog allergies have over-sensitive immune […]

Coping with Allergies During the Holidays

Travel, eating at other people’s homes, decorating, lighting candles – for many people, these are a few fun holiday traditions. For people with allergies, though, some of these customs can trigger allergic reactions or an asthma attack. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology both offer timely tips […]

When Allergies Affect Sleep

When Allergies Affect Sleep

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that 5.2 million children and 19.2 million adults in the U.S. have allergic rhinitis, also referred to as hay fever. The most common outdoor/indoor allergic triggers include tree, grass and weed pollen, mold, animal dander and dust mites.(1) Allergic rhinitis can have a significant impact on a […]

EPA Marks Mold Awareness Month

EPA Marks Mold Awareness Month

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) marks each September as Mold Awareness Month, to raise awareness of the many health effects associated with mold exposure.(1) Molds are part of the natural environment and are found everywhere. When molds begin growing inside, they can have a negative impact on indoor air quality, which can affect health.(1) Avoiding […]

Keeping Asthma at Bay in September

Keeping Asthma at Bay in September

Approximately 25 million people in the U.S. have asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). This figure equals one in 13 Americans, including 7% of children and 8% of adults.(1) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that each year 1.6 million visits to the emergency departments are due to […]

For Allergy Sufferers, Ragweed Packs a Punch

Ragweed Packs a Punch

The end of summer can be the most uncomfortable time for the millions of Americans who have an allergy to ragweed. A ragweed plant lives a single season, but just one plant can produce one billion grains of pollen.(1) Ragweed flowers mature and release beginning in mid-August. While ragweed  mainly grows in rural areas, its […]