Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Texas Chapter Provides Free Newsletter
By Jim Rosenthal, 7/1/2006

Anyone Suffering From Allergies or Asthma Can Benefit From this Free Newsletter

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Texas Chapter produces an excellent free newsletter. This newsletter covers a wide range of topics concerning allergies, asthma and indoor air quality. Many of the articles are written by medical doctors and university experts. To subscribe, email your request to aafantx1@hotmail.com. You will receive your free newsletter about once a month. If you live in Texas, you can also take advantage of the many programs offered by this AAFA chapter. The following are excerpts from the July Newsletter.

DID YOU KNOW?

The FDA has a Website for patients and medical professionals in an easy to understand format providing information on the drugs it regulates including new drugs and also those removed from the market: www.fda.gov/cder/drug/default.htm.

Some people are allergic to antibiotics. Even though this is very rare, it can present a serious threat for those people when an antibiotic is the only treatment for a medical condition. Recently, physicians at Children's Hospital in Boston reported a limited campaign of antibiotic desensitization at their hospital. Desensitization involves giving small doses of the allergic antibiotics to patients until the antibiotic can be tolerated without adverse effects (the same principle as immunotherapy). A risky procedure which can have serious complications, including death, the physicians recommend the process only be performed in a controlled inpatient setting. If you are affected by antibiotic allergies, speak to your physician about this option.

Breathing and relaxation techniques can reduce the need to use Albuterol type rescue inhalers. Researchers in Australia studied patients 15 to 80 years of age who have mild to moderate asthma. They found that by using simple breathing techniques regularly as well as during an asthma episode they were able to reduce the need to use rescue medications by 80%. Contact AAFA-TX at 888-933-2232 for some simple breathing techniques.

Our eyes are one of the most sensitive organs in our bodies and allergies to pollent, pet dander, dust and some medicines can cause symptoms that leave our eyes burning, irritated, red and weepy. Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, can be caused by allergies as well as bacterial or viral infections. It is important to get a proper diagnosis since treatment for each type is different. Allergic conjunctivitis symptoms are redness and itching under the eyelid, excess watering and swelling of the eyeball. Viral or bacterial conjunctivitis have different symptoms. It feels like the eyelids are glued shut when you awake and there is pus on the eye surface as well as a burning sensation in the eye. See your doctor for a proper diagnosis if you have any of these symptoms.

The dry, recycled air in airplanes can aggravate allergies. Using a saline solution to rinse or irrigate the sinuses before and during the flight can help. This will help moisten the nasal passages and also wash away allergens.

News & Announcements

Children in Neighborhoods Near Highways and Railroad Intersections at Risk for Asthma
A study by Mayo Clinic shows that children living near traffic intersections at greater risk of developing asthma.

Tex-Air Filters Purchases Pure Air Filter Company of Dallas
The New Location of Tex-Air Filters at 2324 Merrell in Dallas Gives More Convenient Service to Metroplex Customers. Pictured above left to right are Benny Aycoth, Dallas Regional Manager, Stevan Brown, President and Jim Rosenthal, Chairman

Do Some Air Filter Materials React With Ozone to Create Building Related Symptoms?
Does a Recent Analysis of BASE Data Really Show a Connection Between Synthetic Air Filters and Building Related Symptoms?

Researchers Confirm Some Air Cleaners Generate Ultrafine Particles
A University of Texas Study confirms that some air cleaners actually increase ultrafine particles and formaldehyde.

Saline Rinse May Cut Cold and Flu Symptoms
Cold medications are out for children. Simple saline rinse could be the answer for quicker recovery from colds and flu.

Sorting Fact from Fiction on Health Effects of Mould
Leading Asthma and Allergy Experts Discuss the Most Recent Scientific Evidence on Health Effects of Mould

What is a Safe Level of Ozone for an Air Cleaner?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is trying to answer this question. Their study and the responses to that study highlight the complexity of the issue.

Study on Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) Raises Questions About Formaldehyde as a Byproduct in Indoor Air
Research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory finds that Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) reduces indoor VOC's but could produce formaldehyde as a byproduct.

Study Finds RCI Devices Increase Indoor Ozone and Are Relatively Ineffective at Particle Removal
This study shows that the RCI (radiant catalytic ionization) Air Cleaning Devices produce fairly significant levels of ozone and are less effective than a standard air filter at removing 2 micron sized particles.

Improving Indoor Air Quality in Classrooms Leads to Higher Test Scores
This study shows that improved indoor air quality in classrooms leads to higher test scores for students.

Study Shows Increased Inflammation in Asthmatics Exposed to Air Pollution
Fine particles in air pollution shown to increase nasal inflammation in asthmatic children.

Studies Show Improved IAQ Leads to More Productivity
Numerous studies show that improving the Indoor Air Quality will lead to higher worker productivity. Measures to improve IAQ don't cost - they pay!!

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Texas Chapter Provides Free Newsletter
Anyone Suffering From Allergies or Asthma Can Benefit From this Free Newsletter

The Indoor Air Thickens - New Study Confirms Links with Ozone, Cleaning Agents and Air Contaminants
Fine particles, formaldehyde and other air contaminants are created when common cleaning agents are exposed to indoor ozone.

Isn't it Ionic? Air Purifiers Make Smog
Another study confirms that ionizers and ozone generators can create unhealthy levels of ozone in poorly ventilated rooms.

Bleach Found to Neutralize Mold Allergens
We have known bleach kills mold. This study shows that bleach also reduces allergenic properties of mold.

Dust Mite Symptom HELP!
If you experience allergy symptoms at night, the first control steps are effective, safe and easy-to-do.

Do Air Filters and Air Cleaners Provide Health Benefits?
Air cleaners and air filters alone have not been shown to be clinically effective at reducing allergy symptoms.

Alchemy, Indoor Air and the Black Box
Be wary of excessive marketing claims for products to take care of indoor air.

Free Radicals Are NOT "Friendly Oxidizers"
Some new air cleaning devices are using free radicals or Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) to "oxidize" indoor air. Free radicals have been shown to be damaging to human health. Testing is lacking on the by-products of the reactions between free radicals and the components of indoor air.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Leads to Asthma Problems
This study links higher levels of exposure to ETS to increased levels of hospitalization for asthma attacks.

Ozone-Generating Air Purifier Shown to Increase Particles Indoors
This University of Texas study confirms ozone/terpene reactions create small particles in residences.

The Real Health Risks of Mold in Buildings
Up-to-date information on the health effects of mold exposure. Can mold be more than an allergen?

"I Only Smoke Outside" . . . Yeah, Sure!
Hair samples of children with mothers who smoke raise questions about claims of only smoking outdoors.

Avian Flu Filtration Precautions
Proper filtration can help to minimize the risk of spreading the flu virus.

What is well controlled Asthma?
Guidelines for what constitutes well controlled asthma recently updated by AAAAI and ACAAI

Is there such a thing as Toxic Mold?
Study does not confirm "toxic mold syndrome" in patients

Allergen Avoidance Measures Work to Prevent Asthma
Early childhood allergen avoidance reduces asthma onset by 50% in at risk children

HEPA Air Cleaners Shown to Reduce Asthma Symptoms When Used in Conjunction with Other Control Measures
Inner City Asthma Study shows effectiveness of comprehensive environmental controls including air purifiers to control asthma.

Removing Pets from the Home Improves Asthma
Removing pets very effective at controlling asthma in dander allergic individuals.

Holes in the Hygiene Hypothesis
Early childhood exposure to dust mite and dander increases allergies in infants

Ragweed Allergies and Sinus Irrigation (Sinus Rinse)
Sinus rinse removes allergens and improves allergy symptoms.

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