Latest news with #AsthmaandImmunology
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Spring Allergy Guide: Pollen Forecast, Peak Times And Relief Tips
Spring tends to bring a surge in pollen, triggering allergies for millions of Americans. Understanding when different types of pollen are at their highest can help allergy sufferers prepare and manage their symptoms effectively. Here's a breakdown of peak pollen times and triggers to watch for this spring: Tree pollen is the first major allergen of the season, typically peaking in late winter through early spring (February to May, depending on location). Common culprits include oak, maple, birch, cedar, and pine trees. Warm, dry, and windy days exacerbate tree pollen levels, while rainy days can help clear the air. (MORE: Implement This Routine To Prepare For Seasonal Allergies) Grass pollen takes over as tree pollen levels wane, with peak levels occurring from late spring into early summer (April to June). Bermuda, ryegrass, Timothy, and Kentucky bluegrass are common offenders. Grass pollen is particularly potent on warm, breezy afternoons. Ragweed pollen is most notorious in late summer and fall (August to November). This resilient plant thrives in rural and urban areas alike, and a single plant can release billions of pollen grains into the air on a windy day. (MORE: How Cold Snaps Impact Pollen Counts) Mold spores can trigger allergies at any time of year but spike in the spring and fall due to an increase in moisture. As melting snow, spring rains, and rising temperatures create damp environments, mold thrives in leaf piles, soil, and decaying wood. Unlike pollen, mold spores remain active in cool, humid conditions, making them a year-round concern for some allergy sufferers. Researchers from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology found that pollen levels are lowest between 4:00 a.m. and noon, making early mornings the best time for allergy sufferers to go outside. In contrast, pollen counts peak between 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., so limiting outdoor activities during those hours can help to reduce symptoms. Websites and apps can also alert you to high pollen days to help you plan accordingly. By staying informed about peak pollen behavior and taking preventive measures, allergy sufferers can better navigate the season with fewer flare-ups. MORE ON Is Sexism Making Your Allergies Worse? Is It Allergies, A Cold, The Flu Or COVID-19? How Pollen Can Make You Feel More Tired
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill for Nebraska epinephrine injector cost cap, severe allergy response plans advances
Nebraska is one of many states where lawmakers are considering caps on EpiPen costs. () LINCOLN — Lawmakers took a step Wednesday to cap the out-of-pocket cost for epinephrine injectors and ensure Nebraska schools and licensed child care programs have policies to respond to allergic reactions. Legislative Bill 457, from State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, advanced 31-0 to the second stage of debate. It would limit out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary epinephrine injectors, including EpiPens, to no more than $60 for a two-pack, regardless of the type. Bostar said some generic injectors can cost between $320 and $750, while name brand injectors can cost between $650 to $730. If passed, the cap would take effect Jan. 1, 2026. 'The absence of a cure for life-threatening food allergies underscores the critical importance of epinephrine auto injectors for preventing fatal anaphylaxis, which is a life threatening allergic reaction that, without prompt administration of epinephrine, the consequences can be dire,' Bostar said at his bill's Feb. 10 hearing. Dr. Hanna Niebur, a board-certified physician specialized in pediatrics and allergy immunology, spoke in favor of the bill at its hearing. She represented the Nebraska Medical Association and the Nebraska Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Niebur said LB 457 would save lives and that she's seen firsthand the 'terrifying speed at which anaphylaxis can take hold.' 'Starts with itching or swelling but within minutes, a child may struggle to breathe as their airway swells shut,' Niebur testified. 'Without immediate access to epinephrine, anaphylaxis can be fatal.' Bostar noted at the hearing that an eighth-grader in a Papillion school died three years ago at the age of 14 after a severe allergic reaction from eating a granola bar with peanuts that his teacher had given him. Papillion-La Vista Public Schools paid a $1 million settlement in connection to the teen's death. Roughly 200,000 Nebraskans have food allergies, and more than 36,000 are children, Bostar said. LB 457 would require the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Nebraska Department of Education to create model policies for preventing and responding to anaphylaxis. The policies would need to include: Procedure and treatment plans, including emergency protocols and responsibilities for child care staff, school nurses and other school staff. Appropriate guidelines for developing and implementing an individualized health care plan for children with an allergy that could result in anaphylaxis. Communication plans for the intake and dissemination of information provided by the state regarding children with an allergy that could result in anaphylaxis, including methods, treatments and therapies to reduce the risk of allergic reactions. Strategies for reducing the risk of exposure to allergens. Communication plans for discussing with children and all parents or guardians of children attending the school district or a licensed child care program about foods that are safe and unsafe and strategies to avoid exposure to unsafe food. Licensed child care providers or schools without an anaphylaxis prevention and response policy would need to adopt one by July 1, 2026. Officials could adopt the model policy put forward by the state. Niebur, speaking at the hearing, said financial barriers should never determine whether a child lives or dies. While the Department of Education already requires schools and approved early childhood education programs to have an emergency response plan for life-threatening asthma or anaphylaxis, there is no universal standard, Niebur said, so the bill would provide 'consistent, medically sound guidance.' About 11% of schools report at least one episode of anaphylaxis each year, she added. Robert Bell, executive director for the Nebraska Insurance Federation, said many health plans already cap out-of-pocket costs for EpiPens. His organization was 'neutral' on the bill, 'because the Federation understands the lifesaving nature of EpiPens in emergencies but generally opposes health care insurance mandates.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts Warn These Are The Signs Your "Hangover" May Actually Be An Alcohol Intolerance
When you have a few too many drinks, you might expect to wake up with a hangover and have nausea, a headache and extreme thirst. But you might not expect to experience these symptoms — along with flushed cheeks and a stuffy nose — after a single alcoholic beverage. It can happen, however, and it might signal that you're developing an alcohol intolerance, which doctors say can arise seemingly out of nowhere. Even if you've never had a problem drinking a couple of glasses of wine or a martini or two, one day you might find that these drinks hit a little differently. 'It comes up a fair amount,' Jeffrey Factor, an allergist-immunologist and fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, told HuffPost. 'In reality, an alcohol intolerance is different from an alcohol allergy. Alcohol intolerances are much more common than a true alcohol allergy.' Your symptoms could be triggered by the alcohol itself, or by other ingredients or chemicals found in alcoholic beverages, like wheat, barley, yeast or histamine, explained Rani Maskatia, an allergist-immunologist and medical director of Latitude Food Allergy Care. 'This is even further complicated when you talk about cocktails, which can be mixed with anything,' said Trevor Craig, corporate director of technical training and consulting at Microbac Laboratories, an independent testing lab. If you start feeling unwell after drinking just a small amount of booze, you might want to get to the bottom of what's going on. The only way to truly know is to see an allergist, Maskatia said. Here are some things to know about the difference between an alcohol allergy and an intolerance, why you might suddenly experience symptoms after drinking, and what to do about it. What's the difference between an alcohol allergy and an intolerance? An alcohol allergy and an intolerance are sometimes confused, but they're not the same, Factor said. With an alcohol allergy, your immune system reacts to something in an alcoholic beverage, like an ingredient, preservative or chemical, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The immune system then triggers cells to release immunoglobulin E antibodies to neutralize the allergen, and that causes allergic symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. Factor said true alcohol allergies are pretty rare. An intolerance, meanwhile, is any other type of reaction to alcohol that doesn't involve the immune system, Factor explained. For instance, some people might not be able to metabolize alcohol properly. Intolerances can be genetic and are much more common than allergies, and may be more likely to affect people of East Asian descent, Factor said. What's confusing about the two conditions is that their symptoms can overlap, Maskatia said. An alcohol allergy can cause a rash, swelling, vomiting and anaphylaxis in extreme cases. Flushing, nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, headache, fatigue, stuffy nose and diarrhea are signs of intolerance, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 'So, you can't look at a particular reaction and say, 'Oh that's definitely an allergy versus an intolerance to alcohol,'' Factor said. How do you know if you have an allergy or an intolerance? It can be tricky, Factor said. 'There's really no good testing available for allergy to alcohol.' Unlike other kinds of allergies, a skin test won't specifically reveal an alcohol allergy, he explained. However, doctors will talk to you about your symptoms and when you experience them, Maskatia said. 'A clinical history is usually sufficient for an allergist to distinguish between a suspected intolerance and a suspected IgE-mediated allergy.' A doctor might also do a blood or skin test, which can reveal allergies to substances in alcohol, such as yeast, barley, histamine, dairy or fruits, she explained. You can develop allergies to these substances at any age. Why alcohol allergies and intolerances can develop later in life It's common for patients to come in describing symptoms or reactions to drinking alcohol that they only just developed, Factor said. It's not clear why some people suddenly start experiencing these intolerances or allergies later in life. Some people may be predisposed because of the onset of other medical conditions, like asthma, sinus diseases, medication allergies or changes to the body's immune response, he explained. Genetics and environmental exposures are another factor, Maskatia said. There's also new research suggesting such changes could be COVID-related. In a small case study published in the journal Cureus in 2023, four patients with long COVID self-reported new alcohol sensitivities following their infections, with symptoms including headaches, grogginess, anxiety, mood changes, flushing and fatigue. What to do if drinking alcohol triggers a reaction Under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004, the Food and Drug Administration requires packaged foods to list allergens like milk, egg, wheat, fish, shellfish, nuts, soybeans and sesame. But Maskatia said this doesn't apply to alcoholic beverages. That's because the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, not the FDA, oversees alcohol, and it makes allergen labeling on booze voluntary, Craig said. So it's not always evident what's in the alcohol you're drinking. 'It's tricky since there isn't a requirement for a label, so it's not always easy to look at it and decipher,' Craig explained. 'Plus, you might be ordering from a bar and not even have access to the bottle.' Still, if you know that consuming grapes triggers symptoms for you, staying away from wine is a good idea, and if wheat or barley cause you problems, beer is best avoided. 'If you don't know what's in your drink and your allergy is serious, then skip it,' Craig said. There's no treatment for alcohol allergy or intolerance, so Factor's best advice is to avoid drinking it if you react to it. You can adopt a dry lifestyle or just avoid certain drinks that cause your symptoms. 'The bottom line is this: There's no treatment, no testing of any significant value, and the solution is really just to avoid that alcohol, or alcohol in general,' Factor said. 'It's not a very pleasing solution for a lot of people, but that's what it is.' This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
