I read an article today about the link between asthma and GERD. I have both now but I never used to have asthma. I was diagnosed with GERD when I was 15 and put on medication for a month or so. But then the doctors took me off the medication thinking I would grow out of the condition. I never grew out of the condition and my GERD became more severe. I now have to be careful what I eat and how much I eat or else the acid reflux will flare up and then so does my asthma, which I was diagnosed with just a couple of years ago.  Below is a snippet of the article:

People With GERD More Likely to Develop Asthma

FRIDAY, July 25 (HealthDay News) — The first evidence linking gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and asthma has been discovered by Duke University Medical Center researchers.

An association between the two conditions was first noted in the 1970s, and since then studies have shown that between 50 percent and 90 percent of asthma patients also experience GERD symptoms. But the actual link between GERD and asthma hasn’t been clear.

In experiments with mice, the Duke team found that inhaling tiny amounts of stomach fluid that back up into the esophagus — a hallmark of GERD — can cause immune system changes that lead to asthma.

The researchers placed miniscule amounts of gastric fluid into the lungs of mice over an eight-week period. When exposed to allergens, the immune systems of these mice responded differently than those of mice that didn’t have gastric fluid in their lungs.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/publicsite/news/view.aspx?id=617689&cen=HC:%20Asthma&pd=7/25/2008&xid=nl_EverydayHealthAsthmaandAllergies_20080813

**THE FOOD ALLERGY & ANAPHYLAXIS NETWORK SPECIAL FOOD ALLERGY ALERT NOTICE**

SOY ALLERGY ALERT
July 25, 2008

Publix Super Markets is recalling “No Sugar Added Cherry Pie” due to undeclared soy.

The product was distributed in stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

The product has “sell by dates” of July 8 through July 27. The affected products are Publix NSA 8-in. Cherry Pie, UPC: 41415-65990; Publix NSA one-half Cherry Pie, UPC: 03000-00225; and Publix NSA one-quarter Cherry Pie, UPC: 41415-66990.

Consumers may return the product to the store for a full refund.
Consumers with questions may call (800) 242-1227.

Below is the link to ABC’s special section on allergies where you can find answers to some of your allergy questions from allergists and immunologists.

Section 1 talks gives you and overview of allergies.

Section 2 talks about Seasonal Allergies and Sinusitis.

Section 3 talks about Food Allergies.

Section 4 talks about Drug Allergies.

Section 5 talks about other allergies such as skin reactions and bug bite/sting reactions.

These sections are followed by a common allergy questions and answers section.

For more information visit: http://www.abcnews.go.com/health/allergies

About 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies. I am one of them. Like many of you searching for news about the condition or information on certain food allergies, I also have searched the Internet time and again for such information. The Internet is a great resource but there are those of us who also like to hear about our condition by another means such as say a magazine. I have found one such magazine, Allergic Living, that caters its information to those with food allergies, environmental allergies, and asthma.

The magazine may be Canadian based, but food allergies do not adhere to nationality, or ethnicity. Regardless of where the information comes from, the information is useful to all of us with this life-altering condition. The magazine has been helpful to me. Reading other people’s stories in how they handle food allergies and asthma helps me to put my life into perspective and to realize I am not alone in this fight. The magazine not only includes people’s stories, but also includes informational articles on the latest allergy and asthma  related news.

To learn more about Allergic Living visit the magazine’s website at: http://www.allergicliving.com/

Yep. It’s that time of year. Allergies flare up not only outside the home, but inside as well. The following article has some good information on what culprits to look for inside your home, which could be making you sick.

Are You Allergic To Your Home?

Proper Spring Cleaning Can Combat Allergens

As allergy-sufferers nationwide tackle their nose nemeses or keep scratching their heads – literally – in the quest to identify the source of their allergen angst, they can consider these tips for combating allergies in the home.

The most common allergens are dust mites and animal dander found mostly inside, not outside, the home sweet home. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) also lists cockroaches as common allergens, especially in inner cities or southern parts of the United States.

Perfume, room deodorizers, harsh cleaning chemicals, paint, and talcum powder are also known allergens and asthma triggers to reduce or avoid altogether.

To view the rest of the article visit: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/108168.php

If you are pregnant and have asthma, it is best for both you and the baby to keep your asthma under control and avoid all of your asthma triggers if possible. The following article will tell you more of the importance of controlling asthma during pregnancy.

Asthma Attacks Early In Pregnancy Put Baby At Greater Risk Of Birth Defects, New Research Suggests

Uncontrolled asthma during the first trimester of pregnancy greatly increases the risk of birth defects in babies, according to new research to be published in the June issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Canadian researchers Lucie Blais, PhD, and Amelie Forget, MSc, concluded that women who had an asthma flare-up in the first three months of pregnancy were 48 percent more likely to have a baby with at least one congenital defect than asthmatic mothers who did not have a flare-up in the first trimester.

….To view the rest of the article visit: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106437.php

If you or your loved one suffers from asthma and would like to know more about it, below are a few informational links from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Asthma Facts & Figures – http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=42

This section includes and overview, fast facts, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, costs and disparities.

Multimedia Asthma Library – http://aafa_as.healthology.com/focus_index.asp?f=asthma&b=aafa_as

Asthma Capitals – http://www.asthmacapitals.com/

Clinical Trials – http://www.centerwatch.com/ctrc/aafa/indexnew.html

Asthma Blog – http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=5&sub=106

I hope these links help.

K.J.