A recent review paper outlines the many risk factors for asthma including those that are psychological, social, and lifestyle-related. The most common chronic illness that affects children in the United States is asthma. Approximately 14.5% of children have this disease and it adversely affects their physical and psychosocial health. Many environmental, psychological, and social factors

Asthma is a complex chronic disease with environmental and genetic factors influencing prevalence. A recent study examined epigenetic data from children to determine the importance of epigenetics in childhood asthma. Asthma is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and swelling of the airways which can lead to wheezing and shortness of breath. In 2009, it

The impact of swimming in chlorinated water on childhood asthma is controversial. Researchers determine whether the controversy is due to citation bias in the current scientific literature. Childhood asthma is a common chronic disease. Swimming is an accepted way to relieve symptoms, which include shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. However, a study challenging this

A phase II trial of Tazepelumab – an asthma medication developed by pharmaceutical companies MedImmune and Amgen – yielded exciting results for many patients with uncontrolled asthma. Over 315 million people across the globe are affected by asthma – a long-term inflammatory disease of the lungs. Most cases can be controlled by using glucocorticoids administered

Researchers investigate the differences in asthma management and severity between different ethnic groups in Britain, in order to improve services to all groups. One million children receive treatment for asthma in the United Kingdom. Healthcare practitioners have noticed a difference in asthma management between children of different ethnicities. Children of South Asian heritage were experiencing

The skin prick test has several flaws, prompting researchers to investigate into alternative molecular allergy diagnostic tests. Skin prick tests involve pricking an extract of a suspected allergen onto the surface of the skin. Redness and swelling at the test site indicate a Type I allergy, which is caused by the antibody IgE. This is

A recent study investigates whether consumers are subjected to frequent exposure to fragrance contact allergens through cosmetic products and if these products are infrequently labelled with the allergens most commonly involved in contact allergies. Fragrance chemicals are primary contributors to the incidence of contact allergies in European adults, with 120 types inducing skin sensitization. Twenty-six

A study examined if the new lung function algorithm, aimed at improving asthma diagnosis in children, should be implemented and recommended. Asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases; an estimated 1.1 million children receive asthma treatment in the United Kingdom alone. Clinical asthma diagnosis is typically based on a pattern of signs

For individuals with uncontrolled asthma, the risk of asthma attacks or exacerbations is a constant concern. A recent clinical trial reported a significant reduction in the rate of asthma exacerbation in patients treated with azithromycin. It is estimated that over 50 million people around the world suffer from moderate to severe uncontrolled asthma. Chronic airway

A chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, asthma affects approximately 315 million people worldwide. With 5 – 10% (≈15 – 31.5 million) of these people suffering from severe asthma, research into treatments for the disease is ongoing. A study recently looked at an alternative treatment to help manage severe asthma in patients relying upon oral

A common asthma symptom is an exercise-induced bronchoconstriction – the constriction of the airways. Researchers investigated the potential of fish oil to improve asthma symptoms. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a prominent and common symptom in individuals with asthma. It even affects up to 50% of elite athletes, making it a concern

Many patients with severe asthma have difficulty in controlling symptoms with standard treatment consisting of high dose steroid inhalers or steroid tablets. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine investigated the use and effect of the drug Imatinib on airway hyper responsiveness and mast cell quantities in patients with severe asthma.

Nowadays, probiotic products are grabbing more and more attention of both general population and the scientific community for their potential health benefits. A group of scientists examined the effects of a combination of probiotics on the quality of life of patients with hay fever. Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis or seasonal allergies, can

A novel study published in the British Journal of Nutrition investigated the association between diet quality and changes in the severity of asthma symptoms. Results established that a significant association exists between a healthier diet and improved asthma symptoms among participants who never smoked over several years. Past research has proposed

A clinical study of adult patients with an asthma diagnosis suggests that follow-up reassessment may be warranted. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association investigated whether asthma can be ruled out and medications can safely be stopped in some adult patients.According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI),

Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease managed by medications which are delivered through inhalers. A new study published in Primary Care Respiratory Medicine showed that attaching personalized labels to inhalers promotes the use of proper technique and could lead to better health outcomes. Asthma is a disease in which there is long-term inflammation in the

A Danish research group found that Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy reduced the risk of asthma and wheezing disorders in the offspring and the effect was even greater in women with lower baseline blood Omega-3 fatty acid levels. Western diet has changed in the past decades as the consumption of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids

A new study takes a novel approach when examining the effects of cured meats on asthma symptoms, as well as determining the relationship of one’s body mass index (BMI) in regards to these factors. The results of the study identify a positive correlation between an increase in the consumption of cured meats and the severity

A Japanese research group found that a stepwise, two-dose introduction of heated egg powder from 6 months of age with extensive eczema treatment was more effective than placebo in the prevention of egg allergies in infants with higher risk. Food allergies are getting more and more common, and one of the most prevalent amongst them

A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association Pediatrics observed a clinically significant association between exposure to mouse allergens and an increase in asthma symptoms as well as diminished lung function. Asthma is a pervasive health concern in the United States, however, asthma tends to disproportionately affect low-income groups and minorities residing

A recent study published in the journal Thorax has shown that living on a farm in childhood is associated with a lower risk of developing allergic diseases later as an adult, and strong lungs in women, compared to being brought up in an urban or rural area. There has been a sharp rise in the

A comprehensive review of scientific literature suggests a possible link between early introduction of allergenic foods and reduced likelihood of some allergies, although the evidence is not conclusive. Both popular and scientific literature have discussed the relationship between early introduction of certain foods to infant diets and the subsequent development of allergies or autoimmune problems.

A new study has found that using azithromycin as a treatment method among adults for asthma attacks has a rather clinically neutral benefit. Azithromycin is defined as an antibiotic used in the treatment of infections that are bacterial in nature. Asthma is a respiratory condition which greatly affects key organs such as the lungs, which

80% of patients who believed that they were allergic to penicillin received more effective therapy after penicillin skin allergy testing. Penicillin is a common antibiotic that is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Up to 15% of patients admitted to hospitals report that they have an alleged allergy to penicillin. While penicillin allergies can

The number of nasal allergies is increasing over time, however, asthma symptoms among adults tend to remain stable. Although past research investigating the prevalence of asthma and allergies among adult populations is relatively scant, information that does exist tends to suggest two trends: first, that asthma symptoms tend to remain stable over time, and second,

According to a new study published in the Pediatrics journal, children who bite their nails or suck their thumbs are less likely to develop allergic sensitivities later in life. Those who have both habits have even a lower risk of developing allergies. Nail-biting and thumb-sucking are common habits among children, often seen as undesirable and