BROADVIEW, Ill., April 30 /PRNewswire/ — If you are among the 60 million Americans who suffer from asthma or seasonal allergies (according to the Asthma And Allergy Foundation of America) and are dreading an upcoming long drive, you have better chances of enjoying a comfortable ride than you may know.

Most cars built since 2001 come factory-equipped with a cabin air filter that is designed to clean and protect the air inside the vehicle. It prevents pollutants such as ozone, particulates, pollen, dirt, dust and soot — that aggravate any respiratory condition — from entering the car through the heating and air conditioning vents.

“Over time, however, cabin air filters can get clogged and actually multiply the dangers from these pollutants when the heating and air conditioning system blows them around inside the car with no avenue for escape,” said Ramon Nunez, spokesman for Purolator Filters NA LLC. Purolator supplies high quality automotive filters to the North American aftermarket.

Simply checking and replacing your car’s cabin air filter every 12,000 to 18,000 miles is the easiest and least expensive way to ensure that you are not inhaling irritants and allergens that will compromise your driving comfort or that of your passengers.

A cabin air filter may also be called a pollen filter, air-conditioning filter, passenger compartment air filter, interior ventilation filter or dust filter.

Normally, the cabin air filter is located in the cabin air intake, under the dash or even behind the glove box. Replacing it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on its location and how difficult it is for a do-it-yourselfer or a technician to reach, Nunez said.

Approximately 45 million vehicles in the United States have cabin air filters, according to Nunez. Refer to your owner’s manual or check with your technician to see if your vehicle has one.

Children are especially vulnerable to seasonal allergies, so be prepared, expert says

SUNDAY, April 5 (HealthDay News) — Spring can be challenging if your child is one of the more than 35 million Americans with hay fever. But a bit of preparation can help the youngster enjoy being outside, one expert says.

This involves three steps, explained Dr. Clay Stallworth, a pediatrician with MCG Pediatric Primary Care Associates and MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center in Augusta, Ga.:

• Know if your child has allergies and what causes them.
• Find out when plant pollination will occur.
• Begin treatments before symptoms appear.

Allergies tend to run in families. If both parents have allergies, their children have a 75 percent to 80 percent chance of developing allergies, Stallworth noted. The risk drops to 40 percent if one parent is allergic. Children usually develop seasonal allergies at 5 to 6 years old, but they can develop them at any age, even as adults, he added.

Signs of allergies include:

• Sneezing more often than usual
• Eyes that continually water
• Cold symptoms that last more than 10 days without fever
• Repeated ear and sinus infections
• Prolonged loss of smell or taste
• Frequent throat clearing or hoarseness
• Persistent coughing

The best way to prevent allergies is to limit exposure, and Stallworth outlined some ways to do that:

• Schedule outdoor activities for late afternoon or after a heavy rainfall, when pollen levels are lower. Pollen index levels fluctuate from day to day, but you can find out what they are by checking local weather reports.
• Close windows and doors and use air conditioning instead of window fans. Air conditioning helps filter out pollen particles.
• When landscaping, choose plants that don’t aggravate allergies.
• Don’t mow lawns or rake leaves when children are outside because these chores can stir up pollen.
• Don’t hang clothes or sheets outdoors to dry because they’ll pick up pollen that will be brought indoors. Pollen can also be brought indoors by people or pets.

And women closest to traffic were 63 percent more likely to develop the disease, study says.

WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) — People exposed to high levels of traffic pollution have an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis, a new study suggests.

Researchers analyzed the records of 90,000 women in the Nurses Health Study and used special software to measure the distance between each woman’s home and the nearest major roadways. The results showed that women who lived within 50 meters (164 feet) of interstates or primary, multi-lane roads were 31 percent more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than those who lived more than 200 meters (656 feet) from a major roadway. Women who lived within 50 meters of the largest roadways had a 63 percent increased risk.

“Even after accounting for the effects of age, race, sex, socioeconomic status and cigarette smoking, the increased risk for women located near major roads remained substantially higher,” Jaime Hart, a research fellow in the Channing Laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said in a hospital news release.

The study was published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

It’s believed that genetic factors account for less than 50 percent of rheumatoid arthritis risk, and that environmental factors such as cigarette smoke may increase the risk of developing RA, according to the researchers.

“This, coupled with prior research that suggests air pollution from traffic can cause systemic inflammation, prompted us to study whether there was a direct relationship between air pollution and the risk of RA,” Hart said.

Further research is needed to determine the exact effect that specific, measured levels of pollution have on the risk of developing the condition.

There is no cure for allergies, but there are several types of medicines available — both over-the-counter and prescription — to help ease annoying symptoms like congestion and runny nose. These include antihistamines, decongestants, combination medicines, corticosteroids and others. Allergy shots, which gradually increase your ability to tolerate allergens, are also available.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines have been used for years to treat allergy symptoms. They can be taken as pills, liquid, nasal spray or eye drops. Over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops can relieve red itchy eyes, while nasal sprays can be used to treat the symptoms of seasonal or year-round allergies.

Examples of antihistamines include:

• Over-the-counter: Benadryl, Claritin, Chlor-Trimeton, Dimetane, Zyrtec, and Tavist. Ocu-Hist is an OTC eye drop.
• Prescription: Clarinex and Allegra. Astelin is a prescription nasal spray. Eye drops include Emadine and Livostin.

How Do Antihistamines Work?

When you are exposed to an allergen — like ragweed pollen — it triggers your immune system to go into action. Immune system cells known as “mast cells” release a substance called histamine, which attaches to receptors in blood vessels causing them to enlarge. Histamine also binds to other receptors causing redness, swelling, itching and changes in secretions. By blocking histamine receptors, antihistamines prevent these symptoms.

What Are the Side Effects?

Many over-the-counter antihistamines cause drowsiness. Non-sedating antihistamines are available by prescription.

Decongestants

Decongestants relieve congestion and are often prescribed along with antihistamines. They come in nasal spray, eye drop, liquid or pill form. Nasal spray and eye drop decongestants can be used for only a few days, since long-term use can actually make symptoms worse. Pills and liquid decongestants may be taken longer safely.

Some examples of decongestants include:

• Over-the-counter: Zytec-D, Sudafed tablets or liquid, Neo-Synephrine and Afrin nasal sprays, and Visine eye drops.
• Prescription: Prescription decongestants include drugs like Claritin-D and Allegra-D that combine a decongestant with another allergy medicine.

How Do Decongestants Work?

During an allergic reaction, tissues in your nose swell in response to contact with the allergen. That swelling produces fluid and mucous. Blood vessels in the eyes also swell, causing redness. Decongestants shrink swollen nasal tissues and blood vessels to relieve the symptoms of nasal swelling, congestion, mucous secretion and redness.

What Are the Side Effects?

Decongestants may raise blood pressure, so they are not recommended for people who have blood pressure problems or glaucoma. They may also cause insomnia or irritability and restrict urinary flow.

Combination Medicines

Some allergy medicines contain both an antihistamine and a decongestant to relieve multiple symptoms. There are also other combinations, such as those between an allergy medicine and asthma medicine and an antihistamine eye drop with a mast cell stabilizer drug (see below).

Some examples of combination medicines include:

• Over-the-counter: Zyrtec-D , Benadryl Allergy and Sinus, Tylenol Allergy and Sinus.
• Prescription: Allegra-D, Claritin-D, and Semprex-D for nasal allergies. Naphcon, Vasocon, Zaditor, Patanol and Optivar for allergic conjunctivitis.

Steroids

Steroids, known medically as corticosteroids, reduce inflammation associated with allergies. They prevent and treat nasal stuffiness, sneezing, and itchy, runny nose due to seasonal or year-round allergies. They can also decrease inflammation and swelling from other types of allergic reactions.

Steroids are available as pills, for serious allergies or asthma, inhalers, for asthma, nasal sprays, for seasonal or year-round allergies, creams, for skin allergies or as an eye drop, for allergic conjunctivitis. Your doctor may prescribe a steroid in addition to other allergy medications. The drugs are highly effective, but they must be taken daily to be of benefit — even when you aren’t feeling symptoms. In addition, it may take one to two weeks before the full effect of the medicine can be felt.

Some steroids include:

• Nasal steroids: Beconase, Flonase, Nasocort, Nasonex, Rhinocort , and Veramyst used to treat nasal allergy symptoms.
• Inhaled steroids: Azmacort, Beclovent, Flovent, and Pulmicort used to treat asthma. Advair is an inhaled drug that combines a steroid with another drug to treat asthma. Inhaled steroids are available only with a prescription.
• Eye drops: Alrex and Dexamethasone
• Oral steroids: Deltasone, also called prednisone.

What Are the Side Effects?

Steroids have many potential side effects, especially when given orally and for a long period of time.

Side effects with short-term use include:

• Weight gain
• Fluid retention
• High blood pressure

Side effects with long-term use include:

• Growth suppression
• Diabetes
• Cataracts of the eyes
• Bone thinning osteoporosis
• Muscle weakness

What is the incidence of allergies?

You take food to enable you to live and be nourished. But what if the food that you take will be the cause of your death? What if you are allergic to your favorite food?

Most people experience allergy symptoms only as a minor annoyance. However, a small number of people are susceptible to a reaction that can lead to multi-organ failure, shock or even death.

“Anaphylaxix is the most severe allergy reaction and is potentially life threatening. It is rare. The symptoms may vary from hives, tongue swelling, and vomiting, to shock. If you are at risk, avoidance is the best form of treatment,” said Dr. Rosa Ong at the 18th medical forum, ‘Allergic Emergencies’ sponsored by the Association of Asia Brewery Medical Scholars and the TanYan Kee Foundation.

“If you have history of serious allergic reaction, always have an epinephrine kit available and a consultation with an allergist is vital.” Advised Ong, the forum’s resource person and the association’s past president.

The most common causes of anaphylaxis are medications like Penicillin, Cephalosporin, insect stings, food like peanuts, treenuts, fish, eggs, milk, soy, wheat; vaccines, animal proteins like horse serum; hormones; latex; preservatives, and x-ray (dye).

Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction may occur within seconds of exposure, or be delayed up to 15 to 30 minutes, or even an hour or more after exposure. Symptoms includes flushing, itching, hives, a feeling of ‘impending doom’, anxiety, rapid and irregular pulse, followed by throat and tongue swelling, difficulty in swallowing and breathing. About 25 percent of the time, there will be  a drop in blood pressure, lightheadedness, or even loss of consciousness,” Ong said.

Once you think that you might have had an anaphylactic reaction, seek emergency care. If the acute reaction has been treated, you should follow-up with your doctor and see an allergist. If you suspect that you are with someone who is having an anaphylactic reaction, call emergency services immediately. Place a conscious person lying down and elevate the feet if possible. Stay with the person until help arrives. If trained, begin CPR if the person stops breathing or doesn’t have a pulse,” Ong said.

“Food allergy is not common, but can be serious. It differs from food intolerance, which is far from common. Children can outgrow their food allergies, but adults usually do not. It is treated primarily by dietary avoidance.

In adults, the most common foods that cause allergic reactions are shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster and crab, nuts from trees; fish; eggs; peanuts – a legume that is one of the chief food to cause anaphylactic reactions. While in children, eggs, milk, peanuts, fruits, particularly tomatoes and strawberries are the ones that cause allergic reactions.

Peanut allergy is the most common cause of death from food allergy. It affects 1.3 percent of the population worldwide. It can be characterized by more severe symptoms, such as gastrointestinal, skin and respiratory symptoms, than other food allergies and by high rate of symptoms on minimal contact.

source: Philippine Star
Health&Medicine

To help answer this question, let’s look at a common houseold example. A few months after the new cat arrives in the house, dad begins to have itchy eyes and episodes of sneezing. One of the three children develops coughing and wheezing, especially when the cat comes into her bedroom. The mom and the other two children experience no reaction whatsoever to the presence of the cat. How can we explain this?

The immune system is the body’s organized defense mechanism against foreign invaders, particularly infections. Its job is to recognize and react to these foreign substances, which are called antigens. Antigens are substances that are capable of causing the production of antibodies. Antigens may or may not lead to an allergic reaction. Allergens are certain antigens that cause an allergic reaction and the production of IgE.

The aim of the immune system is to mobilize its forces at the site of invasion and destroy the enemy. One of the ways it does this is to create protective proteins called antibodies that are specifically targeted against particular foreign substances. These antibodies, or immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD), are protective and help destroy a foreign particle by attaching to its surface, thereby making it easier for other immune cells to destroy it. The allergic person however, develops a specific type of antibody called immunoglobulin E, or IgE, in response to certain normally harmless foreign substances, such as cat dander. To summarize, immunoglobulins are a group of protein molecules that act as antibodies. There are five different types; IgA, IgM, IgG, IgD, and IgE. IgE is the allergy antibody.

(In 1967, the husband and wife team of Kimishige and Teriko Ishizaka detected a previously unrecognized type of immunoglobulin in allergic people. They called it gamma E globulin or IgE.)

In the pet cat example, the dad and the youngest daughter developed IgE antibodies in large amounts that were targeted against the cat allergen, the cat dander. The dad and daughter are now sensitized or prone to develop allergic reactions on subsequent and repeated exposures to cat allergen. Typically, there is a period of “sensitization” ranging from months to years prior to an allergic reaction. Although it might occasionally appear that an allergic reaction has occurred on the first exposure to the allergen, there must have been a prior contact in order for the immune system to be poised to react in this way.

IgE is an antibody that all of us have in small amounts. Allergic persons, however, produce IgE in large quantities. Normally, this antibody is important in protecting us from parasites, but not from cat dander or other allergens. During the sensitization period, cat dander IgE is being overproduced and coats certain potentially explosive cells that contain chemicals. These cells are capable of causing an allergic reaction on subsequent exposures to the dander. This is because the reaction of the cat dander with the dander IgE irritates the cells and leads to the release of various chemicals, including histamine. These chemicals, in turn, cause inflammation and the typical allergic symptoms. This is how the immune system becomes exaggerated and primed to cause an allergic reaction when stimulated by an allergen.

On exposure to cat dander, the mom and the other two children produce other classes of antibodies, none of which cause allergic reactions. In these non-allergic members of the family, the dander particles are eliminated uneventfully by the immune system and the cat has no effect on them.