Category: Allergies
Know Which Medication Is Right for Your Seasonal Allergies
An allergy is your body’s reaction to an otherwise innocent substance that it has identified as an invader. If you have allergies and encounter a trigger (allergen), your immune system fights it by releasing chemicals, such as histamine (hence the term “antihistamine”). Histamine causes symptoms, such as runny nose, itchy nose, sneezing, and itchy and watery eyes.
Most people who think they are allergic to penicillin aren’t
About 6% of people in the UK are wrongly labelled on their medical records as being allergic to penicillin. This figure is concerning because being labelled as allergic to this class of highly effective antibiotics is associated with an extra six deaths per 1,000 patients a year after being treated for an infection. If patients received the right antibiotic for their infection, many lives could be saved.
Virtual Clinics Embrace Allergy Drops as an Alternative to Shots
An under-the-tongue treatment is popular in Europe, Canada, and Latin America. Why don’t U.S. allergists offer it?
Women Now Drink as Much as Men — And Are Prone to Sickness Sooner
Women in their teens and early 20s now report drinking and getting drunk at higher rates than their male peers
What causes hangovers, blackouts and ‘hangxiety’? Everything you need to know about alcohol these holidays
Prevention is better than cure.
Overdose Prevention Should Include Alcohol Too, Study Suggests
Alcohol ramps up the effects of drugs that act on the brain and nervous system, and vice versa, which increases the risk of overdose.
Research reveals link between high pollen counts and low crime rates
Reported violent crime fell 4% on high-pollen days, about the level of crime reduction that would come with a 10% increase in the size of a city’s police force.
Still sneezing? Climate change may prolong allergy season
The dates that were traditionally considered the start and end of pollen seasons have become obsolete: seasons are generally starting earlier and ending later.
Kids should get dirty, but how dirty?
Let your kids play outside, get dirty, try new foods and be exposed to a variety of things. Have them go outside recess time in school as much as possible.
Pollen is getting worse
But you can make things better with these tips from an allergist
Will I Always Face The Threat Of A Peanut-Laden Kiss Of Death?
When I see a report touting peanut allergy treatments, I devour it, an occupational hazard for a journalist whose reporting and medical history intertwine.
Charge for allergy test: $48,329
Her doctor had warned her that the extensive allergy skin-patch testing she needed might be expensive, but she wasn’t too worried: she had good insurance.
Itchy mouth? It could be an allergy.
Does your mouth itch when you eat certain fruits and vegetables? You may be having an allergic reaction to proteins related to tree, grass and weed pollen