Battling Pet Allergies

Almost 70% of U.S. households have domestic pets, equally divided between cats and dogs - that's 100 million pets! But almost 10 million pet owners -- including kids -- are allergic to their animals and must be extra careful around their furry friends. A pet's dander, skin flakes, saliva and urine can cause an allergic reaction in some people. . read more.

Asthma: The age at onset may lie in one's genes

Previous studies have focused on whether or not someone gets asthma rather than on whether genetic factors influence the age at onset of the disease. Using a large population of twins, researchers have shown that genetic makeup causes different individuals to develop asthma at different ages. The idea of a genetic component interacting with different environmental triggers at different ages opens the possibility of modifying the course of the disease through identification of these determinants. . read more.