Allergy-Associates – Page 32 – 6294 1st Ave N., St Petersburg, FL 33710 (727)345-1900

Asthma, stress and depression in women studied

December 9, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

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…

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Anaphylaxis episodes stats in schools show need for emergency supplies

December 9, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

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;…

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Common fungus no allergy friend

October 8, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

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…

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Allergic to one drug, maybe to all – or maybe not

October 8, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

Cephalosporins constitute a large family of antibiotics. They are “kissing cousins” to the penicillin family, but are unique in their own right. Until recently it was thought that if a person was allergic to one cephalosporin, they would be allergic to the entire family. Several research groups have questioned this conventional wisdom. Most recently the Italian Ministry for University Research did a large population study on this issue. They did both skin testing and clinical challenges (giving the patient a…

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Dear Doc: My wife says if I don’t wear my hearing aids I’ll get dementia. Could she be right?

October 8, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

The answer to your question is yes; and, furthermore, I personally always follow the mantra: “Happy, wife; happy life.” Unfortunately, hearing loss is very frequent: 3 in 10 over age 60; 1 in 6 aged 41-69 (Baby Boomers), and 1 in 14 aged 29-40 (Generation X). However, untreated hearing loss leads to loss of gray matter (the thinking part of our brains). Also, the extra effort used by people straining to hear interferes with normal cognition. Finally, the social isolation…

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Water sports draw attention

October 8, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

The School of Sports Science in Australia recently completed a research study on Olympic athletes regarding aquatic sports and asthma. They found the highest incidence of asthma in aquatic athletes as compared to all other Olympic athletes. Among aquatic athletes pool swimmers had the most asthma, and among categories of swimmers it was the endurance swimmers who again had more asthma than the sprint and intermediate swimmers. After pool swimmers, the water sports associated with asthma in decreasing order of…

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Roach dust has value? Who knew?

October 8, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

Just when you think the wacky world of immunology can’t get any crazier, new research turns another corner. Readers of this newsletter have previously been exposed to the hygiene hypothesis of allergy; that is, because we are “so clean,” our idle immune systems find a mischievous outlet in the form of allergic diseases. Now researchers at the University of Texas have looked into the role exposure to cockroach dust might play in this regard. As it turns out, exposure to…

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Q – Tips: Asthma and Shingles

October 8, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

Mayo Clinic researchers have found that having asthma increases the risk for developing shingles almost two-fold. This is true both in children and adults.

Q – Tips: Respiclick

October 8, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

Respiclick is a new format for albuterol inhalers. Opening the protective mouthpiece arms the inhaler so it automatically delivers the albuterol spray once the patient starts inhaling.

Q – Tips: Hereditary Angioedema

October 8, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

A new treatment for hereditary angioedema has become available: Ruconest. It is a recombinant (man-made) C1-esterase inhibitor, and the first available not derived from a blood product such as plasma. Infusion of Ruconest replaces the deficiency of C1-esterase inhibitor which is the cause for hereditary angioedema attacks.