Declare your Independence from Allergies!
This 4th of July weekend is a time to celebrate our country’s freedom, liberty and independence! That means getting outdoors and enjoying fireworks, baseball, parades, rodeos, and firing up the grill for hot dogs. In Montana, individuals with grass pollen allergy may cringe at the …
Mosquitoes; how to prevent them from biting!
It is mosquito season as I sit on my porch watching these mini-vampires hover over me and my laptop. The problem with mosquito bites is: Transmission of infections: West Nile Virus: there are more than 1 infection per 100,000 people in Montana. St. Louis encephalitis …
Pollen it’s everywhere!
In the summer 2014 issue of Montana Parent magazine, I review the finer points of pollen. I highlight the following: Pollen: How big is it? Where does it come from? Where is it found? How can one avoid pollen? Let’s be practical, this is NOT …
Birch Tree Allergy: Pollen is in the Air!
Do you see them? The catkins on the birch trees are a sure sign of spring and a warning to all those birch-allergic patients. The catkins are those long pendulous structures drooping from the small branches. Each male catkin can release 6 million pollen grains …
A New Treatment for Grass Pollen Allergy that is NOT a Shot!
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first sublingual (under the tongue tablet) allergen extract called Oralair. This is for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (hay fever), with or without conjunctivitis (eye itching, swelling, redness, puffiness), that is caused by grass pollens. …
Gold, Silver and Bronze Allergies
Gold: Gold allergy was found to be present in up to 9% of patients with dermatitis who underwent allergy patchy testing. Most of these individuals were women with rashes on the hands, face and eyelids. About 1/3 of these patients also had nickel allergy and …
Even Presidents deal with asthma and allergies!
In Honor of President’s Day, let me share some information on U.S. Presidents (or family members) with asthma or allergies. Allergies and asthma can affect all ages, races, genders and even political parties. Let’s take a look back in history… Malia Obama (President Obama’s daughter) …
OTC Nasacort is here! Over-the-counter nasal steroid spray for treating allergies now available.
Yes, it is true! A nasal corticosteroid for treating allergies (hay fever) is now available without a prescription for the first time. Nasacort (triamcinolone acetonide) became approved as a prescription nasal steroid in the U.S. back in 1957. During my allergy training in the early …
Asthma wellness is within reach and without a prescription!
In this month’s issue of Montana Parent magazine, I discuss a few lifestyle changes that can improve your child’s lung health that does not require a prescription! To read the article go to page 36 at http://digital.turn-page.com/i/252493. This month’s edition has many excellent articles and these …
Ménière’s disease and allergies. Is there a connection?
What is Ménière’s disease? This is a disorder of the inner ear resulting in severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness, plugging or congestion in the ear. It usually affects only one ear. In severe cases, it …