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Climate Change and Pollen

Climate change is driven by increased levels of carbon dioxide and pollutants in the atmosphere.  Thinking back to your grade school biology, you may remember that we breathe oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, but plants do the opposite.  Plants use the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to “breathe” and release oxygen as a by-product of their metabolism.  It turns out that plants really like it when there is more carbon dioxide in the air!  In greenhouse experiments, increasing carbon dioxide levels has increased pollen production by 61% to 90% in some types of ragweed.  Another study has shown that a doubling in carbon dioxide levels, from about 300 to 600 parts-per-million, induces an approximately four-fold increase in the production of ragweed pollen.  Similar studies have shown equally troubling results in birch trees.  More pollen means more symptoms.  The impact of climate change on our pollen counts does not stop there, though.  With increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, surface temperature rises.  A “mild” winter means an early start to the allergy season as the trees will pollinate sooner than if the winter had sustained colder temperatures.  This is not experimental-we are actually seeing a trend of longer pollen seasons over the last 30 years.  Longer pollen seasons then lead to an increase in allergy symptoms, including nasal congestion, itchy eyes, and asthma.  There are many reasons to fear climate change, but this is one that is not often reported- as pollution and temperature increase, so do your allergy symptoms.  While we might not be able to reverse the environmental changes that have already occurred, we at Allergy Consultants are always here to help alleviate your symptoms.

 

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Alternative Medications

One in two adults takes a vitamin pill. Over half of the patients that we see are on some "alternative medication" - minerals, vitamins, etc. According to a recent article in the New York Times, alternative medications have sales in this country of over $30 billion dollars a year. It is largely an unregulated industry, and a New York Times op ed noted that these medications have been found to be contaminated with arsenic, other toxic metals, and even androgenic steroids. 
 
Does the potential benefit outweigh the potential harm? Not according to controlled studies. They do not prevent cancer, heart disease, or prolong life.
 
For those who are interested in a reasonable discussion on alternative medications, we highly recommend the new book "Do You Believe in Magic" by Dr. Paul Offit. Dr. Offit is a Pediatric Infectious Disease physician at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. 
 

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Statins and Asthma

Statins are a class of medications widely used to lower cholesterol and prevent heart attacks and strokes. Recent studies have found that they also have beneficial effects on the immune system, and in fact adults with asthma on statins have less emergency visits for asthma, and lower needs for oral corticosteroids to treat asthma flares.  


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Food Allergy Risks

A significant problem for parents with young children with food allergies is assessing the relative risks. In all cases, food allergy must be taken seriously by everyone involved - the child, parents, relatives, and all caretakers. However over concern can create other problems, so a perspective is needed. The following risk assessments may be helpful.
 
A recent article (Journal of Clinical and Experimental Allergy) reviewed risks of fatal reactions from food allergy, and compared with other risks of fatality.
 
Death rate from anaphylaxis to food allergies (all ages) -  1.81 per million people per year
In those younger than 19 years - 3.25 per million people per year
 
Death from accidents - 399 per million people per year
Chance of dying from a car accident - 109 per million people per year
U.S. murder rate - 53 per million people per year
Chance of being shot 36 per million people per year
Death rate from anaphylaxis to food allergies (all ages) -  1.81 per 1 million people per year
Peanut allergic children - 4.25 per million children per year

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