Recently, I saw advertisements for 2 new over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. These eye drops are marketed under the Claritin and Zyrtec brands, but neither contain the same medicine that the pill form that goes by the same name does. Rather, Claritin and Zyrtec eye drops contain ketotifen, which is an antihistamine also found in other OTC allergy eye drops such as Zaditor. While ketotifen is an effective topical antihistamine for the treatment of eye allergies, I think that branding this drug under the name Claritin or Zyrtec is misleading.

Learn more about:

• Allergic Eye Disease
• Eye Drops for Allergies
• Pink Eye or Eye Allergies?

Scientists have found that combining isothiocyanates, chemicals found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or cabbage, with selenium may inhibit the development of melanoma. Isothiocyanates by themselves are not very potent, but exchanging a sulfur bond with selenium changes everything. This combination has the potential to inhibit the growth of tumors in mice by 50 to 60 percent.

This combination targets the Akt3 protein that is used in the development of melanoma. Blocking this protein reduced the growth of tumors in mice but did not work equally on 3 different melanoma cell lines.

There is still much more research to be done but the investigators believe their findings may lead to an IV drug that could treat melanoma or an additive to sunscreen to prevent melanoma.

How many of these myths have you heard of before?

Have you heard of any other myths? Leave a comment or post in the forum

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There are millions of people around the world and in the United States that suffer from food allergies. Interestingly enough, the very first time that an offending substance is ingested, there is no reaction from the body. It is the second time that it is taken in that the body reacts with symptoms of an immune system gone haywire.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to ingested ingredients vary from person to person and can include anything from minor tingling of the tongue to massive anaphylactic shock and death. The most common food that causes allergies in this country is the peanut, and the number of sufferers continues to increase every year. Other symptoms of this or any other food allergies include numbness and tingling of the mouth and lips, trouble breathing, swelling of the throat, vomiting, upset stomach, and loss of consciousness. Which symptoms a person reacts with depends on the severity of the case and on the individuals themselves.

Although many people can be allergic to many different foods, some of the most commonly reported offenders are eggs, milk, peanuts and tree nuts, fish, wheat, soy, and different types of shellfish. A whopping 90% of all cases of allergic reactions can be attributed to the aforementioned foods! Fortunately, manufacturers, restaurants, and companies are now required by law to clearly state if any of those ingredients are found in any of the items that they produce, serve, or make available. If any of these are used in their cooking processes, by law they must state so. The FDA in many peoples’ opinions has done a pretty good job at making everyone aware of the dangers of this condition.

If you are one of the millions of people that suffer with food allergies, it is extremely important that you read the ingredients labels of everything you purchase in the grocery store. If you go out to eat at a restaurant, don’t hesitate to ask if the offending ingredients are used in any of the dishes that you are interested in ordering. If you suffer from severe symptoms, be sure that you ask if the ingredients are used in the same pans or near the food that you will be eating. Ask that your meal be prepared completely separately with all clean utensils and dishes.

If you suspect that you may have food allergies, it is very important that you talk to your doctor about different tips and pieces of good advice to keep you happy and healthy without the dangers that those foods present to you.

Some physicians and patients believe that spinal misalignment may lead to asthma symptoms. As a result, spinal manipulation, a therapeutic intervention preformed on the joints of your back, may improve asthma symptoms such as:

• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough

However, a recent review of randomized controlled trials examining the use of spinal manipulation for the treatment of asthma concluded that spinal manipulation was no more effective than sham or placebo treatments. Spinal manipulation failed to demonstrate differences in lung function or symptoms in comparing patients receiving spinal manipulation compared to sham manipulation.  Additionally, there is some risk of side effects associated with spinal manipulation and a significant cost due to the number of required treatments.

While a number of other research reviews seem to contradict this study’s findings, most of the other reviews included not only spinal manipulation, but other types of manual therapy including massage therapy– making it difficult to compare to this review of only spinal manipulation.

While some may still believe in the benefits of spinal manipulation for asthma, this review does not demonstrate that spinal manipulation decreases signs or symptoms of asthma.

Have you ever had spinal manipulation for your asthma? Leave a comment or go to the forum and participate in the discussion.

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I have recently blogged about getting ready for back to school and we have had a poll about how accommodating your child’s school is. This video from the Center’s For Disease Control highlights how parents and schools can work together to get asthma under control.

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While pets are often associated as a potential asthma trigger, identifying your asthma triggers and learning how to manage triggers is an important part of your asthma care plan.

Interestingly, this study demonstrated that exposure to dogs, but not cats, in the first year of life decreases the risk of atopy in children. In addition to providing loving companionship, some pets may, in fact, decrease our risk of developing asthma and allergy.

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With all the debate over healthcare in recent weeks, I have been doing looking into politicians with asthma. I found this very interesting, although slightly morbid, website called The Political Graveyard. You can check out all of our former legislators who have had asthma.

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Xyzal (levocetirizine), a low-sedating prescription antihistamine available for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and urticaria, has now been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for children as young as 6 months of age (Previously, Xyzal was indicated for ages 6 years and older). The dosage is based on Xyzal solution (liquid), and is 1.25 milligrams (one-half teaspoon) every evening for children 6 months to 5 years of age.

This additional indication of Xyzal for lower age groups gives parents with allergic children an additional treatment option. Xyzal, in my opinion, is one of the better antihistamines available, particularly for the treatment of urticaria. Antihistamines, such as Xyzal, may also be useful for the treatment of itching due to atopic dermatitis.

Learn more about Xyzal: A State of the Art Antihistamine

Your doctor needs to be an important part of your asthma team. Unfortunately, effectively communicating with your doctor can be difficult and, when poor, can lead to you wishing you hada new doctor.

So how attached are you to your doctor?

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