Doctors are keeping an eye on pollen counts and according to Dr. Linda Ford, an allergist who tracks pollen levels in the Omaha area, pollen counts are now fairly low, and allergy sufferers can take the chance to breathe easy particularly if they had an unusually rough allergy season this time around.

It is now the time of year when the grass, weeds and other plants have stopped pollinating, which has caused the pollen levels to fall and give relief to those suffer from hay fever.

So symptoms such as sneezing, itchy nose, throat, eyes and ears, runny nose, congestion, and watery eyes should be easing up about now for most. There may be some pollen that still lingers in the air, but less than before so irritating allergy symptoms should have eased by now.

Also the counts of mold spores are moderate to low, which also brings relief to allergy sufferers. And as November comes around and the ground freezes, these will disappear altogether, say allergist Dr. Linda Ford.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently made a move to reduce air pollution, an environmental problem related to a whole host of serious human health problems including premature death, pneumonia, heart disease, appendicitis, and more.

The EPA’s announcement this year includes the strictest smog standards in the US, yet reversing many of the damaging legislative problems that arose during the Bush years.

Their statement, “The tighter standards will cost tens of billions of dollars to implement, but will ultimately save billions in avoided emergency room visits, premature deaths, and missed work and school days.”

1. Pneumonia

McMaster University in Canada recently released the results from their study into the correlation between air pollution and pneumonia in elderly populations. Looking at 365 hospital patients to have confirmed cases of pneumonia, they found that those with 12 months or more of exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter resulted in an increased susceptibility to developing pneumonia.

“Long-term exposure to air pollution may have increased individuals’ susceptibility to pneumonia by interfering with innate immune defenses designed to protect the lung from pathogens; this may have included epithelial cell damage, reductions in bronchial macrophages, or reductions in natural killer cells.”

2. Miscarriage

Air pollution is also connected to an increase in the incidence of miscarriages. A study of African American women living near busy roads found that they were three times more likely to experience a miscarriage within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy than women in the rest of the population.

Obviously, living away from such busy roads would be a good solution here. Having cleaner cars and fewer of them would also help.

3. Asthma

Children are also affected. Of course, there’s the higher incidence of asthma in children as a result of air pollution.

Some can cope with this, but it has been proven to lead to an increase of absenteeism from school. In fact, Cook Children’s Medical center in Forth Worth discovered in their study that 1 in 4 children in North Texas has asthma, which will keep them home more often than not.

4. Ear Infections

In a study conducted at the UCLA, Brigham, and Women’s Hospital in Boston, scientists found that a reduction in air pollution in certain centers has seen a decrease in the number of ear infections in children. In fact, according to the study, 120,060 children studied between 1997 and 2006 were surveyed to find out the frequency of conditions such as ear infections, seizure activity, and respiratory allergies.

The scientists that then cross-referenced the conditions with the EPA’s data on air quality in those regions found that as pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrous dioxides, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide decreased, so did these conditions.

5. Appendicitis

In a new theory, some scientists are beginning to connect air pollution with appendicitis. In a study with 5191 adults over a 7 year period of time, air pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen dioxides, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter were studied for their possible connection to an increase in this disease.

“They found correlations between high levels of ozone and nitrogen dioxide and the incidence of appendicitis between age groups and genders.”

Shorthaul Flights

Neighborhoods in close proximity to small, regional airports may be particularly vulnerable to air pollution related to shorthaul flights. Private planes and corporate jets that fly into these airports seem to emit higher levels of ultrafine pollution particles, increasing levels of these particles by as much as 10 times in these areas.

The moral? Perhaps move to an area away from these types of airports if at all possible.

Black Carbon Pollution

Black carbon is being called the planet’s second most potent greenhouse gas, but it may also have a more direct impact on human health. According to a study of 18 years world of data, the long-term health consequences of black carbon could be responsible for 2.5 million deaths every year.

Black carbon, which comes from biomass cooking fires, diesel engines, and so on, is a particulate pollution that causes many human health illnesses. The people most vulnerable to black carbon pollution are those using biomass cooking stoves in developing countries.

Some organizations are working to develop cleaner cooking stoves such as Aprovecho’s StoveTec and Envirofit.

Eastern United States has experienced unprecedented levels of pollen this April. In the early part of April the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic in Georgia saw the kind of pollen concentration unseen before: as many as 5,733 particles per cubic foot. In Kansas City, Mo., this concentration was over 8,000 particles per cubic foot, which is the highest ever recorded there.

According to experts, as few as 15 particles per cubic foot can cause allergic reactions such as sneezing and sniffing among those who have severe allergies.

When that level goes up to 100 particles, even those mild allergies will be triggered according to Jay Portnoy, the chief of allergy, asthma and immunology at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, Mo.

This year the situation was so bad that even those without allergies were finding that the pollen levels were acting as irritants.

This was due to the fact that February and March remained cooler this year and many species did not start flowering when they should have. Instead there was the effect of many different species of plants releasing their pollen all together rather than one by one in a gradual or phased manner.

Source: Fox News

Allergy sufferers

The number of allergy sufferers are increasing and not going down and here are some strategies about what you can do in the case of early spring allergies that are starting to make their presence felt just about now. Some strategies to combat those allergies:

• Hydrotherapy could help with allergy symptoms such as clearing congestion. It helps to increase blood flow and is therefore useful.
• Several homeopathic remedies, particularly those such as homeopathic eye drops can be useful for treating allergic symptoms.
• The inflammatory response of the body to an allergy trigger can be soothed by herbal teas such a nettle and others as well.
• Stress on hygiene both physical as well as around the house.
• Food consumed and diet should also be looked at to identify triggers.
• Long term strategies to combat allergy include not only changes in diet, but also other lifestyle changes to reduce stress which can be an allergy trigger.

Honey has natural anti-bacterial properties, and is a traditional folk remedy for a number of conditions.

For best results, take one teaspoon of honey by mouth every day beginning in early spring, or as soon as you notice symptoms of seasonal allergies. Continue throughout the season.

You will get optimal results if you use locally produced honey. This will have been made from the same plants that grow in the area where you live, and will allow you to expose yourself to small amounts of the pollens of those plants, much in the same way that you would receive small amounts of the allergens if you were receiving allergy shots to build your immunity. If you can find unfiltered honey, by all means give it a try.

If you have severe allergy responses, you may wish to start with a smaller amount of honey and work up to one teaspoon daily.

Remember that honey should not be given in any amount to children under the age of two years old.

During the summer, pollen and mold are very high. This can cause people with allergies to feel like it is impossible to leave the house or cope.

However, there are ways to eliminate your exposure to allergens, or eliminate your allergic reaction to the allergens you encounter.

Consider the following steps for dealing with seasonal allergies that flare up during the summer months.

Filter Your Home

Most allergens are air born. This means they can travel through the air into your home through any opening. While opening your windows can allow fresh air into the home, fresh air can bring allergens.

You have two choices for getting fresh air into the home. You can open your windows if you install a filter to remove allergens, or you can use a fresh air intake that automatically filters your air. You might also consider installing an ultraviolet light which will kill mold spores.[Home air purifier]

Wear a Mask

If you enjoy outdoor activities, but don’t enjoy the sneezes and itchy eyes they bring, you may want to wear a mask. While a mask may not be a great fashion statement, blood shot eyes will not be either.

You can find many masks in your local garden supply store. You will want to make sure the mask you choose is specifically made to stop allergens from passing through.

Most painters’ masks or dust masks do not eliminate pollen and mold. You need a mask specifically designed to eliminate natural allergens.

Hire a Gardner

While gardening can be a great hobby and way to relax, it can quickly cause your allergies to flare up. A task as simple as pulling weeds can result in days of itchy eyes and sneezing. It is probably best if you hire a gardener to handle your outdoor chores.

On the days that the gardener will be working, you should stay indoors so that you don’t breathe any allergens that are stirred up. Make sure all of your windows are closed, and situate your gardening area far away from your fresh air intake.

Don’t Bring Allergens Indoors

Allergens such as mold or ragweed can attach to clothes and things that you take outside. If you go outside in the garden, and then go inside and sit on furniture or the bed, you are asking for trouble.

Any allergens you are carrying can be transferred. Later during the day you may lie down or sit down, and find that your allergies start acting up. If you are going outside, you will want to change your clothes and shower as soon as you come back inside.

This will help to keep allergens off of your furniture and out of your house. You may also want to immediately wash your clothing to eliminate allergens that can cause your allergies to flare. You may also want to leave your shoes outside, rather than bringing them indoors.

If you suffer from pollen allergies, your child is more likely to have seasonal allergies also known as hayfever.

In fact, your child is 75 to 80 percent likely to develop allergies if both parents have allergies.

Many children develop allergies around age 5 or 6, although allergies can develop at any time from infancy to adult hood.

How can you spot a possible pollen allergy in your child? Look for these clues:

• Frequent sneezing
• Watering eyes
• Symptoms of a cold that do not include fever but last for more than 10 days
• Recurrent ear or sinus infections
• Frequent coughing, clearing of the throat, or talking with a hoarse voice

Here are some ways to limit your child’s exposure to pollen, which can trigger allergies and allergy symptoms:

• Avoid being outside on days when pollen levels are high. Pollen counts are typically lower after a heavy rain, or in the late afternoon.
• Use air conditioning rather than opening windows.
• Choose plants for your yard that have lower levels of pollen.
• Avoid doing yard work when children are outside.
• Do not dry clothes outdoors; use a clothes dryer instead.
• Have your child bathe and shampoo their hair before bedtime.
• Avoid having pets that go outdoors and come back inside, bringing pollen with them.

The English company AstraZeneca, stated that the FDA is seeking further details before they grant approval for Symbicort’s extended use for even younger children.

Currently it is sanctioned for over twelve age group and is one of its best selling drugs.

AstraZeneca is actually a leading pharmaceutical group in the UK Market place and the FDA’s decision had a negative effect on the share price of the company’s stock. In 2008 two billion dollars worth of Symbicort was sold and it was seen as a key product in an upcoming US sales drive.

In the United States the equivalent asthma medicine is Advair, which is made by GlaxoSmothKline. The latter is widely used in children and can be prescribed to those as young as four years old.  Furthermore, Advair is used by people experiencing serious ailments such as emphysema.

The reason for the FDA’s concern is that they feel that AstraZeneca failed to give sufficient data that establishes the correct dosage, in particular the advised dose of the different components when given to individuals.

This is a second set back for AstraZeneca’s who were also hit recently by a FDA announcement voicing worries over the pharmaceutical companies anti-depressant, Seroquel being more commonly prescribed.

There was some good news though as authorities in Sweden agreed to the sale of 220 million dollars worth of products to their big rival GlaxoSmithKline.

On a clear day, you can actually see clouds of pollen floating above the branches of the trees, in the forest.

A weather company called Weather News has come up with a novel aid for allergy sufferer in the form of a robot. [Pollen allergies]

These globe shaped objects are dotted around the country and display the levels of pollen by changing color. This then warns citizens when to stay indoors or when it is safe to go out.

The population of Tokyo is very keen on these machines because there the pollen levels are at their worst. The latest version of these globe shaped machines, are much smaller than previous models.

The technology is being improved on constantly, which is natural, as Japan does like to develop new idea especially in this type of field.

Along with display of the pollen count, the machines also collect data, transmitting temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure to the company’s headquarters.

This is then regenerated and available to the public on the internet. It is also possible to sign up for regular updates to be sent to your mobile phone.

The five hundred bots can detect pollen levels and scale them from one for low through to a five rating that is the very highest.

Their appearance is more like an old fashioned fluorescent and they certainly sounds much more interesting than they actually look like. However, they are a great asset to allergy sufferer and an innovative idea.

Ragweed pollens are merely responsible for severe, irritating allergic symptoms like sore throat, wheezing, sneezing and headache.

Allergies that trigger in spring are often due to tree pollen and those that occur in summer can be due to weed and grass pollen.

Allergic reactions from ragweed pollen can even exceed the normal sneezing, itching or wheezing.

As you all know, prevention is always better than cure, so it would be better for you to control and prevent the triggers of ragweed allergy.

If you seriously want to control these miserable symptoms of ragweed allergies, here are few control measures that are usually recommended by health experts.

Control measures to prevent ragweed allergies

• Consider taking over-the-counter medications such as oral steroids, nasal antihistamines prescribed by your health care provider 10 to 15 days before ragweed season starts. Nasal or oral antihistamines works better to prevent allergies if you take before you contact the allergies.
• Be aware of any side effects or adverse reactions when taking over-the-counter medications. Be sure to notify your doctor if you are unable to take the medicine regularly.
• Avoid your outside work, particularly on dry windy days. Peak time for pollen count in the air would be any time between daybreak and noon. So, try to limit the outdoor work at this particular timing.
• Activities such as outdoor exercises and gardening should also be avoided when the pollen count is high in air. However, if it is very important for you to be outdoors in peak pollen time, ensure to wear a pollen mask and protect your nasal passages from potential allergens.
• Keep your living environment free from potential triggers of allergy, especially pollen. In ragweed season always keep your doors and windows shut and also while you are traveling in car be sure to close windows.
• Change your clothes and also shower or bath after coming home from outdoors. Wash your hair before bedtime and sweep away troublesome pollen.
• Don’t wear contact lenses, if you have, particularly when you are going outdoors during ragweed season. As the pollen can possibly irritate your eyes, you can suffer with severe allergic symptoms like itchy, irritating eyes, which can be very dangerous when you have contact lens in your eyes.
• Continue your ragweed allergy treatment at least for 2 weeks after ragweed season. This will help you decrease nasal hyperactivity that may continue after exposure to allergens has stopped.