This study sought to determine the influence of passive exposure to tobacco smoke during childhood on the results of genetic linkage analyses for asthma. A genome wide linkage screen for asthma and bronchial hyper responsiveness was performed in 200 families (containing 1183 individuals) from The Netherlands. A set of 266 polymorphic autosomal markers was used. Analyses were performed separately for the entire population and for the smoking exposed and non exposed families separately. (more…)

The guidelines for asthma management recommend the use of regular inhaled corticosteroid in patients with mild persistent asthma, but in clinical practice it has been observed that patients often do not feel the need to use their inhaled corticosteroid regularly, which may lead to poor compliance. One possible reason is that because there are no symptoms the patients are not reminded to use their medications. Hence, the use of intermittent inhaled corticosteroid during worsening of asthma may be an option that could be considered in these subgroups of asthmatics. (more…)

By definition, allergy is a condition where a person has hypersensitivity to an environmental, drug, or food antigen (allergen) caused by an altered or unusual immune system reaction to the antigen.

Allergenic foods can impact the lungs when an allergic reaction individual inhales food particles that may have been released when the food was cooked or that were dispersed in aerosol form. Allergy to the allergens in cooked food has been reported by highly allergic patients who were exposed to their allergenic foods (say, fish, shellfish, or eggs) in an enclosed area (for example, a restaurant dining room) or during meal preparation. Most cases of asthma triggered by aerosolized food allergens involve adults engaged in specific occupations that regularly expose them to the allergens. In contrast, most cases of asthma in children are triggered when the allergen is eaten, not inhaled.

Many experts believe that if a baby can be protected from becoming sensitized to the most highly allergenic foods when their healthy immune system and the digestive tract are in the most vulnerable stage for allergy to develop, the incidence of lifelong food allergy and potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to foods will be reduced and hopefully entirely prevented. When a baby has been identified to be at risk for developing allergy, measures to reduce allergic sensitization might be implemented at birth and the problems associated with future food allergy may be significantly reduced. However, as we shall see in later discussions, experts disagree on the best way to avoid this early allergic sensitization.

The reaction of asthmatics to these chemical compounds is not an allergy, but is more correctly described as allergy intolerance because the initial response is not a triggering of the immune system. The process involves an increase in the level of the inflammatory mediators that are responsible for the bronchospasm of asthma. These mediators include histamine and leukotrienes. They are released during the reaction to an allergen, and cause the muscular contractions that result in the difficulty in breathing and wheezing that are typical of asthma. By inhibiting (or turning off) other types of mediators, the chemicals in the food additives cause an increase in the level of antihistamine and leukotrienes. This results in increased bronchospasm, and a definite worsening of the asthma symptoms.

Oral allergy syndrome is an allergic reaction to food that is confined to the oral cavity (i.e., to the lips, and around the lips, roof of the mouth, tongue, hard and soft palate, and uvula) and adjacent structures. It differs from other food allergy in that its symptoms do not appear in any other location in the body, and always accompany respiratory allergy to inhaled allergens of plants, particularly plant pollens. Of course, symptoms in the mouth, throat, and upper respiratory tract can be part of a generalized reaction to foods, but in this case they are more accurately described as oral allergy symptoms. The term oral allergy syndrome applies specifically to pollen allergy (pollinosis) accompanied by reactions to certain raw foods when they are in direct contact with oral tissues. Individuals with Oral allergy syndrome typically have hay fever symptoms caused by allergies to trees, grasses, and weeds. They experience irritation in the mouth (lips, tongue, roof of the mouth) and sometimes the throat after eating specific types of raw fruits, vegetables, and sometimes nuts.

There have been concurrent increases in the prevalence of obesity and asthma in recent years in New Zealand and other countries. Two cross-sectional surveys performed in 1989 and 2000 were used to test this association in children of mean age 11.7 years. BMI was calculated as weight/height 2 (kg/m 2 ) and obesity and overweight defined according to an international standard. Standard questions were used to measure the prevalence of asthma symptoms. (more…)

It is very common in asthmatic children where overprotective parents prevent a normal level of exercise to their kids. However, a controlled sport appropriate to the course of their disease is very healthy.

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable bronchial obstruction and reversible, either spontaneously or with treatment, (more…)

Epidemiological studies of farm children are of international interest because farm children are less often atopic disorders, have less allergic disease, and often have less asthma pain than do non-farm children—findings consistent with the hygiene hypothesis. The investigators studied a cohort of rural Iowa children to determine the association between farm and other environmental risk factors with four asthma outcomes: (more…)

Asthma treatment has one main goal to maintain a normal and healthy lifestyle, including exercise and other physical activities. People with asthma are get benefit from regular exercise. Regular exercise helps increase lung capacity that allows the lungs to function more efficiently. There are many good medications for asthma and allergies on the market today. They have some disadvantages and some prescription drugs that only treat and reduce the symptoms of asthma during exercise. (more…)

Asthma as disease affects approximately 15 million people in the United States alone. Asthma affected 70 percent more women than men. One way to help ease asthmatic symptoms is by eating healthy and variety of foods that give your body a few health benefits. If these foods are healthy, so your body is. The vitamins, minerals and nutrients strengthen your body, so that the body functions efficiently and effectively. (more…)

If you suspect that certain foods trigger wheezing or asthma symptoms in your child, your first action should be a consultation with your pediatrician to determine the exact inventory of foods your child is allergies to. The doctor will probably refer you to a pediatric allergist, or may carry out the tests him-or herself to identify your child’s reactive foods. (more…)

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) as one of the popular pain reliever is among regular aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). Another kind of pain reliever those are popular as analgesic is acetametaphin (Tylenol). NSAIDs work by curbing the enzyme cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) or cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) or both of them at the same time. (more…)