Pregnant mom’s stress may affect baby’s asthma risk

Stress during pregnancy may increase the risk of the baby developing asthma. Researchers studied 557 pregnant mostly ethnic minority women in cities, including Boston, Baltimore, New York, and St. Louis. Twenty percent lived below the poverty level. Each family completed a questionnaire asking about stress, such as domestic violence, money problems and community violence. After the births, the researchers took umbilical cord blood samples to test reactions to various allergens, such as dust and cockroaches, and viral and bacterial stimulants. The babies born to mothers reported to be more stressed had different immune cell responses when stimulated with various common environmental triggers compared to babies born to mothers reporting less stress. . read more.

Study: Asthma patients more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety

People with asthma are more than twice as likely to have depression or anxiety than people without asthma, according to a study in Chest. Researchers reviewed data from 186,738 adult respondents to the U.S. National Health Interview Survey from 2001 to 2007. Of these adults, 7 percent had asthma and 3 percent had serious psychological distress. But among the subjects with asthma, the serious psychological distress rate was 7.5 percent. . read more.

Early-Life Infections, Immunizations May Alter Childhood Asthma Risk

Recurrent bouts of gastroenteritis in the first two years of life increase the risk of asthma by age 6 years, a study in allergy-prone children suggests. Combined diphtheria and tetanus (DT) immunization in the first year of life was also linked to the risk of childhood asthma in the prospective study... read more.

How to Stop Seasonal Allergies the Natural Way

It’s like a scene from a low-budget horror flick: the trees are blooming, the grass is growing … and runny-nosed zombies are invading the planet! Seasonal allergies are here, but if you’re one of the sniffly multitudes, “allergy season” can span most of the year. . read more.

Recurrent Infections May Signal Immunodeficiencies

Your immune system is constantly on the defense--fighting germs that could cause infections. Sometimes the "germ" wins but what is the difference between losing an occasional battle and having recurrent infections? How many are too many?. . read more.

5 migraine questions answered

Migraines are notorious for causing pain. But what triggers them? How can they be prevented? And what are the best treatments? Here are answers to five questions that will help clear up a few misunderstandings and provide some useful information along the way.. . read more.

Confused about your asthma medications? Take the "stepwise" approach

For many asthma sufferers, recent safety issues raised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have generated confusion and concern.. . read more.

Eight Warning Signs Women Over 40 Shouldn't Ignore

Most minor discomfort is a sign of...not much. But a handful of trivial-sounding symptoms can sometimes be red flags for something more serious. . . read more.

Top Five Spring Allergy Mistakes to Avoid this Season

Do you sneeze and wheeze all spring long? If so, you may be making common mistakes that prevent you from keeping your allergy symptoms under control. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology alerts allergy sufferers to avoid these five mistakes. . read more.

Suffering With Allergies? Try Tailoring Treatment to Your Symptoms

Spring is here—and along with it come the sneezing and stuffy noses characteristic of allergy season. You can calm your allergy symptoms if you choose the right products, but about 60 percent of people with allergies say they still have a hard time getting relief during the spring season. . read more.

Asthma and Allergy-free Vacations

If you're planning a vacation, and you or your child have allergies or asthma, proper planning can help you keep sneezes, sniffles, wheezing and coughing under control. Use the following tips to make sure that allergy misery doesn't derail your vacation fun. . read more.

We lost our insurance, so I can’t afford my daughter’s medications. What can I do?

It is very important that your daughter continue her asthma medications for optimal control. Unfortunately, if you lost your health insurance it is difficult to afford medications since they can be quite expensive. . read more.

Three Questions About Pollen Allergies

Do you suffer from frequent sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, and an itchy, runny nose? If so, you may have seasonal allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever. It strikes when pollen starts to fly. . read more.

Asthma without wheezing: Is this possible?

Wheezing is a common sign of asthma, particularly in children. However, asthma doesn't always produce a wheeze you can hear. Instead, other sign and synptoms may be prominant.. . read asthma signs and symptoms.

Slideshow: Ten Worst Cities For Asthma, 2009

Many things in the environment can trigger an asthma attack, including air pollution, secondhand smoke, and pollen. Asthma affects one in 5 Americans and is on the rise. While there are no asthma-free cities, some are more challenging than others for people living with asthma. . . .worst cities for asthma.

Three Questions About Fragrance Sensitivity

If you find yourself developing a killer headache when riding an elevator with someone who was a bit generous dabbing on the perfume, you have company. More than 2 million Americans have fragrance allergies or sensitivities -- and the number is on the rise... fragrence sensitivity.

The Claim: Zinc Can Help Fight Off Ear Infections

As parents know, middle-ear infections are one of the most common and painful afflictions of childhood. One suggested remedy is zinc, which has a long history as a cold-fighting supplement.But in recent studies, scientists have failed to find much support for its effectiveness.. .fighting ear infections.