Blog Archive
The most popular type of preventative nose sprays for allergy contains small amounts of steroids. Examples include Flonase, Nasacort and Nasonex. For the past several years, Flonase and Nasacort have been available without a prescription (OTC). A couple years ago, Rhinocort also went OTC. One advantage of Rhinocort is its...
It is estimated that 4 percent of American children and 1 percent of American adults have a true food allergy (not just a food intolerance). In 2015, the LEAP study was published, proving that feeding peanuts to infants at high risk for developing food allergy significantly decreased the risk...
In April 2017, the AARP Bulletin wrote about allergies, and since it’s an AARP publication, it focused on adults age 50 and over. Before the 1990s (like when Drs. Engler and Malick were training), it was taught that allergy was an ailment of the young and usually got better as...
A few years ago, I wrote about whether there really was such a thing as a hypoallergenic dog. The answer was “sort of.” Breeds claimed to be hypoallergenic, like a Bichon or Poodle, produce just as much dog allergen per square inch of body-surface area as Golden Retrievers. But Goldens...
“What kind of air filter should I buy for my allergy?” The answer is “it depends on what you’re allergic to.” If you are allergic to cat dander or grass pollen, we recommend investing in an advanced filter. These allergens are small; thus, they are lighter than air and stay...
Allergy shots are unique in that they make you less allergic to the pollen, dust mites, mold and/or animal dander you’re allergic to. They do this by helping your body to switch from an “allergic” response, to more of a “tolerance” response. In essence, your body no longer tries to...
Many patients with persistent asthma use an inhaler every day called a maintenance inhaler. The medications in these inhalers are either inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or a combination of ICS and long-acting beta agonists or LABAs. Those of us who keep a magnifying glass handy may have read the fine print...
It is uncommon for individuals to develop a food allergy in the adult years of life, especially if that allergy is to red meat or pork. As we know, however, the world of medicine is full of exceptions. Alpha gal sounds like a strong female leader, but it’s actually one...
Doctors often seem to have their own language, speaking in scientific medical terms that often confuse those trying to understand them. Even when a doctor says, “I don’t know,” it can come out as, “The precise mechanism has yet to be fully elucidated.” Seriously, I heard a speaker use those...
Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a miserable condition. Itching brings on the scratch, which spreads the rash, and a vicious cycle ensues. Many rashes itch, but with eczema, the rash does not appear until after you scratch it. Thus, instead of being a “rash that itches,” it is known as...
Claritin, Zyrtec, Xyzal, Allegra, Nasonex, Flonase, Singulair. All treat allergy symptoms, but none actually makes you less allergic. You stop the medicine, and it soon stops working. Allergy shots are unique in that if taken at the right dose for at least three years, they can continue to provide beneficial...
Don’t let asthma control you Susana came to us as a new patient last year for another opinion on her asthma. She was still experiencing asthma attacks in spite of using her maintenance inhalers daily. Overall, though, she thought her asthma was “pretty well controlled.” Asthma is a chronic condition...
Dust mites are the small creatures that make many people allergic to dust. They love heat and humidity, so they feel right at home in the Houston area. Since dust mites are such a common cause of allergy in this area, it’s exciting news that a new form of allergen...