The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute defines asthma as a long-term lung disease characterized by coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. The disease affects almost 22 million people in the United States, 6 million of them children. A...
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder that can be treated and controlled, but not cured. The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) notes that 1 in 15 Americans suffers from asthma and it is the third most common cause of hospitalization...
Though allergies and asthma can have similar symptoms, these conditions are distinct in many ways. Asthma is a chronic obstructive respiratory disease in which the lining of the airways in the lungs becomes swollen and secretes mucus. This leads...
Children with a family history of asthma or allergies are more likely to develop one or both of the conditions. In fact, it is common for asthma and allergy symptoms to develop concurrently in children, according to the American College of...
Molds are fungi that thrive in warm, damp and humid indoor or outdoor places, such as basements, bathrooms, and under dead leaves and logs. Spores released from the mold cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to airborne allergens. According...
When you become pregnant, hormone level changes affect different systems of your body. Immune system responses change and the severity of your allergy and asthma symptoms might change. Since severe allergic reactions could cause complications to...
As winter approaches the air within our homes begins to dry out, similar to the air outside. Floorboards begin to creak, indicating the dryness that surrounds us. With the dry air comes an increase in allergy and asthma symptoms. Nebulizers and...
According to MayoClinic.com, the common cold is the result of catching one of over 200 different viruses. Common cold symptoms can be easily confused with allergy or asthma symptoms. These symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion and chest...
There's a common misconception that cow's milk is a "mucus-forming" food that, in some people, causes or worsens asthma symptoms. While it's true that some people can present with asthma-like symptoms upon consuming cow's milk due to an allergy,...
A humidifier is an oscillating, fan-like machine that changes water into finely evaporated particles and distributes them to an entire room. Baptist Health recommends the use of a humidifier in homes that are prone to extremely dry climates, cold...
Singulair is a medication used to treat symptoms of asthma and allergy. The effects are not immediate. Children and adults can use Singulair, and it is only available by prescription. The medication blocks the release of a chemical called...
Unless you're allergic to them, peanuts do not typically cause skin rashes or itching. A peanut allergy is considered one of the most common allergic foods, according to Kids Health, and mostly occurs in small children, who typically outgrow the...
Children are exposed to dust mites everywhere. We try to keep our homes clean, but dust mites can live almost anywhere--including the well-loved teddy bear in your child's bed, which can hold millions of dust mites. For some people, dust is no...
More than 17 percent of toddler emergency room visits are due to asthma, according to Toddlers Today. Asthma can be a difficult condition to diagnose in children, according to Baby Center. Because your toddler also can experience colds, allergies,...
If you experience nasal congestion every time you eat, get tested for a food allergy. A food allergy is the primary cause of nasal congestion from food. Up to 8 percent of children under the age of 3 and 4 percent of adults suffer from a food...
Zinc has key roles in producing energy in your body, cell metabolism, building DNA and RNA and regulating your immune system. You also need it for smelling, tasting and wound healing. According to the American Cancer Society, zinc supplement...
Almonds are categorized as a tree nut, which is considered one of the most common allergic foods in children and adults, according to the Food Allergy Initiative. Unlike other foods, almonds are more likely to lead to anaphylactic shock, a severe...
Humidifiers offer definite benefits if you suffer from the effects of dry indoor air, but those benefits can come at a price. You'll pay, literally, for the cost of operating the humidifier--warm-mist humidifiers are more expensive to run than...
When you suffer from allergies, your symptoms may begin to involve your ears and hearing. Some ear problems may include hearing difficulty, ringing in the ears and otitis media, or fluid in the middle ear. When you know how allergies can affect...
It's tempting to head to the pool when your only symptom of sickness is a sore throat. A sore throat doesn't always affect your performance and therefore your ability to enjoy a swim at the pool. Still, just because your sore throat doesn't seem...
Sources of breathing problems can overrun many homes. People can easily spot some of the causes. Other culprits of breathing problems remain well hidden in the home. Some people suffer from conditions that make them susceptible to certain indoor...
Vinegar and honey are longtime natural remedies for a wide variety of ills. Easily obtained and inexpensive, they are often sought as a solution to respiratory and digestive problems. Although scientific evidence is limited on the effectiveness...
An allergic reaction to an indoor/outdoor fungus such as Alternaria tenuis can occur at any time of year. Like exposure to other molds, inhaling the spores of Alternaria tenuis, also known as Alternaria alternata, causes hay fever--like allergy...
Zinc is a nutrient found in eggs, pork, beef, seafood, fortified grains, sunflower seeds and nuts. The mineral is important for the building of genetic material, producing energy, regulating your immune system and senses of smell and taste,...
Humidifiers add moisture to the air, which can help your baby breathe more easily when he's sick with a cough or congestion. The two main types of humidifiers are cool-mist and warm-mist. Warm-mist humidifiers have a heating element and cool-mist...
Black mold affects some people who inhale the reproductive spores that travel on air currents in indoor environments. Black-appearing molds such as Stachybotrys chartarum and Alternaria grow in humid areas of buildings and cause periodic side...
According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), "green," or sustainable, building practices have environmental, economic, health and community benefits. In the United States, buildings account for 72 percent of electricity consumption, 39...
Asthma is a lung disease where inflammation and mucus causes obstruction of the airways. An allergy is an inappropriate response by the body's own immune system to a normally benign substance, resulting in symptoms such as wheezing, stuffy nose,...
Allergies are caused by an exaggerated response of the immune system to substances that aren't actually harmful such as pollen, mold, pet dander and dust. Both genetic and environmental factors play a role in this oversensitive immune response...
