Now that Thanksgiving has past, most of us are thinking about the next Holiday later this month. For those celebrating Christmas, consider that many traditions may worsen your underlying allergies and asthma. From Christmas tree allergy to holiday odors and scents, the Holidays can give you more than you bargained for — worsening allergy symptoms.

Read more:

• Christmas Tree Allergy
• Allergy to Holiday Scents
• Mold Season and the Holidays

How was your asthma over the Thanksgiving holiday? Did too much eating and family have an effect on your asthma? Take the poll and leave a comment.

=======================

While asthma can be difficult and discouraging at times, we all have a lot to be thankful for. Related to your asthma, what is it that you are thankful for?

Leave a comment or join the discussion in the Asthma Forum

=======================

The FDA recently approved a new non-narcotic patch for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, a very painful complication of a shingles infection. The name of the new patch is Qutenza and it contains 8% capsaicin, a substance found in chili peppers that causes a burning sensation when applied.

The interesting thing about this treatment is application of the patch to the affected skin for just 1 hour can actually give up to 12 weeks of pain relief.

Do you search the web for health info before talking with your doctor? Do you use the web to double check what you here at your doctor’s office? Take the poll and leave a comment.

=======================

Earlier this year I became intrigued by a neti-pot and was surprised that many of you used them for sinus allergies and symptoms. A study presented at the recent American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology meeting found that neti-pot use may actually increase your risk of infection.

Stopping neti-pot use was associated with a 62% decrease in sinus infections. The authors pointed out that neti-pots do provide relief of bothersome sinus symptoms, but that chronic use may wash away some of your bodies natural defenses and increase your risk of infection. What do you think?

=======================

Soon many of us will travel to see family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. These travels could lead to various exposures that could worsen underlying allergies. From hidden food allergens in the mom’s famous stuffing, to Aunt Edna’s pet cat, and from Uncle Ed’s cigars to Grandma’s dusty spare bedroom, your allergies could be in for more than you bargained for this Thanksgiving. Learn how to be prepared to prevent and treat food allergies, cat allergy, reactions to cigarette smoke and dust avoidance measures.

Read more:

• Preparing for Hidden Food Allergies on Thanksgiving
• How to Deal with Grandma’s Four Cats
• How to Survive a Dusty Spare Bedroom

A new study in the journal Pediatrics has found that approximately 4% of U.S. children under age 18 have a reported food allergy.

The researchers came to their conclusion after reviewing data from various government-run health surveys over the last several years.

They also determined that the number of cases of food allergies increased 18% from 1997 to 2007. However, the authors of the study note that the cause of this rise is unclear; it could be that some of this increase is related to increased awareness (and diagnosis) of food allergies by doctors and parents, rather than more kids developing allergies.

According to an article published in the November issue of CHEST, the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, acetaminophen use in both children and adults may be associated with an increase in asthma and wheezing.

The authors reviewed 19 different studies that collected data on both asthma and wheezing as well as acetaminophen use. Patients using acetaminophen were significantly more likely to have asthma than those that did not use acetaminophen. Similarly in children, acetaminophen use was more common in children during the year preceding a diagnosis of asthma and more common during the first year of life.

Researchers have several possible, but unproven explanations related to acetaminophen’s impact on the pathophysiology of asthma. First, acetaminophen lowers the levels of an antioxidant in the lung called glutathione. Antioxidants, as I have written about previously, in the diet have been associated with less development and symptoms of asthma. Likewise, acetaminophen may allow one of the key enzymes that causes inflammation in asthma, cyclooxygenase, to act unchecked. Finally, acetaminophen may cause increases in IgE levels.

As a parent, I was surprised there were enough children who had not received acetaminophen to even adequately study this. But I was also concerned given how commonly acetaminophen is used to treat fever and pain in kids. Importantly, many other common fever/ pain meds, like ibuprofen, have not been studied to see if similar relationships exist. I doubt many physicians or parents will change how they treat children’s fever or pain base on this one study, but it is an interesting topic to keep your eye on.

What do you think?

=======================

In a study that will be published in December in the International Journal of Primatology, investigators have found that the color of a person’s skin determines how healthy they appear. They also surmise that diet is a major factor that gives the skin that healthy appearance.

In the study Caucasian participants, using special software, were asked to change the skin color of male and female Caucasian faces to make them look the most healthy. The participants chose to turn up the redness, yellowness, and brightness of the skin.

If the skin is a little flushed with blood, this suggests the person has a strong heart and lungs. The investigators believe that slightly yellow skin comes from eating fruits and vegetables which have antioxidants that help fight off disease and soak up toxins.

The part of the study that warms my heart is the fact that the study participants didn’t make the skin tanner to make it look healthy, they actually lightened it.

I think this study reinforces what we already knew about “living right” — exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables, and use sunscreen to protect your skin.