Dear Dr. K: I don’t seem capable of getting just one sinus infection. Once I get the first one, I seem to get two or three more before it’s all over. Can anything be done? At the risk of sounding smart-alecky, first and foremost, don’t get the first infection. By this I mean try to avoid catching colds or URIs (upper-respiratory infections). In general people don’t “catch” a sinus infection; it usually occurs as a sequel to a viral cold/URI…
Stanford researchers found an interesting paradox: Individuals with venom allergy (bees, wasps, etc.) are less likely to die from the toxic poison effect of venoms, such as from hundreds of bee stings or snake bites (!) Reason: The chemicals released by mast cells (the allergy cells that cause allergic symptoms), inactivate the biologic poison of the venom.
German scientists have found that ingesting blue-green algae spirulina reduces occurrence of fever blisters. Spirulina inhibits herpes virus from attaching to skin cells.
New research in children reveals that those with allergies tend to have higher lipid levels. The connection: both are signs of inflammation in the body.
Research emanating from Sydney, Australia reports the use of a form of Vitamin B3 (Niacin) to prevent skin cancers. With the pharmacy name Nicotinamide, it is the “amide” form of the vitamin and as such, doesn’t cause the unpleasant side effects of niacin. These include flushing, itching, headache and changes in blood pressure. Nicotinamide has been used for its anti-inflammatory properties in some other types of skin conditions such as eczema and pemphigus. It seems to work in preventing skin…
EoE is the acronym for eosinophilic esophagitis. Once thought to be an uncommon condition, it is now recognized as one of the most common reasons for feeding problems in infants and for dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and food impaction in adults. Until the early 1990s EoE was lumped in with the GERD diagnosis (gastroesophageal reflux disease). But in the ‘90s researchers started to recognize that EoE was a different critter. The clinical symptoms were different from classic GERD, and the patients…
Dear Dr. K: What can you tell me about the new asthma drug, Nucala? It is just newly released by the FDA, seems very promising; unfortunately, it is not for you. Because I’ve helped you with your asthma for several years, I am aware that you don’t have eosinophilic asthma, and thus, would not be a candidate for this new drug. Nucala’s pharmacologic name is mepolizumab is a monoclonal antibody whose target is interleukin–5 (IL\-5). It is delivered in a…
Asthma worse? Being female and a list of other factors might be the cause — based on Columbia University’s recently published data on research about women and asthma. They found that a number of factors led to greater difficulty with asthma including: hormones, obesity, stress, depression and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). The researchers note that hormone levels (especially estrogen) impact the Th-2/ Th-1 balance that has been previously discussed in this newsletter. High estrogen leads to Th-2 predominance, which…
The Journal of Allergy and Asthma Proceedings contained a study survey of more than 6,000 schools and the occurrence of anaphylaxis. The numbers reflect how frequently this scary condition threatens lives, and which forms of treatment were most effective. There were 919 reported events over a one-year period. Ninety percent of the events were in students and 10 percent were in teachers and/or staff. Sixty percent of the events were due to food allergy; twenty percent to an unknown cause;…
Alternaria is one of the most common airborne funguses. Found indoors and out, it is typically the fungus most prevalent in the daily “pollen count” done by this office. It has been known for many years to be a major contributor to respiratory allergy, both upper airway (rhinitis) and lower airway (asthma). New research done by the National Heart and Lung Institute in the U.K. has revealed a second mechanism whereby it causes respiratory mischief. In addition to its “allergenic…