A patient recently asked me how to tell whether her EpiPen® was still usable. Knowing that other patients may have the same question, I’d be happy to provide some answers. An EpiPen® allows a person to inject epinephrine (adrenaline) into the body when a severe anaphylactic reaction takes place, often caused by a bee sting or food allergies. …
These are exciting times for the treatment of peanut and tree nut allergies in children. Protocols that aim to desensitize patients to foods have moved from being experimental to being available to patients across the country. In 2018, Oregon Allergy Associates performed desensitization for roughly 35 peanut- and tree nut-allergic patients. Results were highly successful …
Benzodiazepines are medications commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders and insomnia. Benzodiazepines have names, such as Alprazolam (Xanax®), Diazepam (Valium®), and Lorazepam (Ativan®), and have different timing of their action, often classified as short- or long-acting. Unfortunately, these drugs can cause both physical and psychological dependence along with withdrawal symptoms. Complications with benzodiazepines are more common …
Shellfish are one of many foods that can cause food allergy symptoms. An adverse reaction to a food can come from either a food allergy, which is immune mediated, or food intolerance, which is a digestive system response. Many people think these two terms mean the same thing, but they don’t. What is food intolerance? Food intolerance …
Pesky rashes are a common complaint among those who come to see us at our allergy office. However, patients often arrive with misconceptions about the rash that’s got them irritated. Today, I will delve into the most common triggers for this itchy condition. What are hives? Hives are a result of histamine, which is released by …
“Fifty Shades of Grey” is a hugely popular erotic best seller with a film version recently released. This book, which started out as “Twilight” fan fiction, is the U.K.’s fastest-selling paperback book of all time. Dubbed “mommy porn,” the book has surpassed even “Harry Potter” in sales, with over 100 million copies worldwide. One reason for its …
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the lungs, causing coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Here are 10 reasons why Asthma Awareness Month is so important: More than 25 million Americans have asthma. Asthma is the most common chronic condition among children. Asthma is more common among children (7-10%) than adults …
Gluten is a protein found in many grains, such as wheat, barley and rye. As awareness increases, it’s become more and more common for people to ask to be evaluated for a gluten allergy or intolerance. Yet, many people are confused about what differentiates a wheat allergy, gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Here’s a quick …
Most of us would agree that life can be stressful at times. Generated by adversity or unfortunate life circumstances, stress can often lead to distress. It also occurs, albeit in a different form, from a positive response to stressors, known as eustress. Much on-going research is dedicated to uncovering ways to identify stress within our bodies and …
After your doctor diagnoses sleep apnea, the next step is treating it. The first and usually most important way to treat it is to try the following self-help options, especially if you have mild sleep apnea. These may help you avoid nocturnal breathing devices. However, if your sleep apnea is moderate to severe, additional measures …
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