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Seasonal Allergies

Dr. Bassett Contributes to Men’s Health – Yes, You Can Prevent Seasonal Allergies, and Here’s How

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Dr. Bassett Contributes to Men’s Health – Yes, You Can Prevent Seasonal Allergies, and Here’s How

As the calendar inches toward spring, you might be enjoying the last few weeks of your life without seasonal allergy symptoms. But instead of just waiting for the sneezing, itching, and congestion to start all over again, here’s an idea: Use the tail end of winter to get ready for allergy season.

As it turns out, there are plenty of things you can be doing right now to make allergy season more bearable. “In my practice, patients are instructed to go on allergy alert a few weeks before the season starts,” says Dr. Clifford Bassett, MD, author of The New Allergy Solution.

Read More: https://www.menshealth.com/health/g19448262/seasonal-allergies-prevention/

Dr. Bassett Contributes to CityLab – The Complete Guide to Fighting Seasonal Allergies Where You Live

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Dr. Bassett Contributes to CityLab – The Complete Guide to Fighting Seasonal Allergies Where You Live

This year’s ranking of Spring Allergy Capitals is in, and it’s bad news yet again for allergy sufferers in the Southern half of the United States. Jackson, Mississippi, and Louisville, Kentucky, top the 2015 list of the “most challenging places to live with allergies,” published annually by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Oklahoma City, Memphis, and Knoxville round out the top five.

What makes these cities especially allergenic? Each has its own unique cocktail of airborne allergens, of course. Tree pollen is a major culprit in seasonal allergies, and certain types of trees, such as mulberry and olive, are more allergenic than others. There are also factors that tend to exacerbate symptoms across the board.

Read More: http://www.citylab.com/navigator/2015/04/the-complete-guide-to-fighting-seasonal-allergies-where-you-live/389453/

Allergic to Love?

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Allergic to Love?

Allergic to love?Valentines Day is upon us.  This time of the year we all look forward to cuddling with the one we love. But there could be something standing in the way of that romantic rendezvous: allergies.  Millions of Americans suffer from a myriad of allergic conditions, such as food, seasonal and/or skin allergies.

Being allergic to love may seem counterintuitive, but according to a recent study published in Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, allergy sufferers reported more problems with sleep and sexual activity than other groups. In fact, 83 percent of people with allergic rhinitis (inflamed or irritated nasal passages) reported that their condition affected sexual activities. Think about it: If you can’t breathe, your nose is running, and your eyes are itchy, you most likely don’t feel very sexy.

Here are some things that may lead to an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals on Valentine’s Day:

Makeup:  Who doesn’t want to look their best for that special someone? For those who don’t regularly wear makeup, but plan to on V-Day, keep in mind that many facial cosmetics, lipsticks and eye shadows can contain nut oils and fragrances which can affect those with food allergies.  If you’re allergic to nut oils, you could find yourself fighting puffy eyelids or a little bumpy rash on your face. Ladies, be warned: men can also experience a skin reaction to the facial products you wear.

Dark chocolate and oysters: Many think that dark chocolate and oysters have the most natural aphrodisiacs in them. But many might not realize that shellfish is the number one food for allergies in adults. Many chocolates often contain nuts, another highly allergic food – make sure to ask your waiter about this if dining out for that special evening.

Flowers:  The fragrance of a rose, star Jasmine, narcissus, gardenia, Lily of the Valley, citrus and eucalyptus trees are the most common flowers and plants whose fragrances can make people sneeze.  If you’re sensitive, you may want to keep away from these plants.

Kissing: Nothing would be less romantic than breaking out in an allergic reaction when kissing the one you love. Possible allergic reactions to kissing include traces of trigger foods in your partner’s mouth.  If your partner has eaten peanuts even four hours before kissing – and you are allergic to peanuts – you could be in serious danger. In fact, allergens can linger in a partner’s saliva up to a full day following ingestion, irrespective of tooth brushing or other interventions. Some common allergic outbreaks to kissing include: lip-swelling, throat-swelling, rash, hives, itching and/or wheezing.

Skin contact: If your honey is using a fragrance, cosmetic, metal or or even a shaving cream that you’re allergic to, you could be in trouble. Some even have allergic reactions to lingerie!  Skin allergies include redness or irritation as well as hives and swelling of the skin. At least one recent study concluded that the majority of people will take into account the condition of one’s skins when making a decision on whether to date someone.  However, we can pinpoint whether you are sensitive to various skin allergens via simple in-office patch tests and make suggestions about preferred, less allergy-prone products.

Massage oils: Before you decide to spoil your partner with a massage, make sure you buy allergy-free massage oil. If you buy the wrong kind of oil, you could find your special someone with a rash. Make sure the massage oil you use does not contain any fragrances or nut oils, and you should be good to go.

Sex: Love-making may inadvertently expose a person sensitive to chemicals found in spermicides, lubricants and/or latex condoms. Many couples might utilize a latex condom as a popular contraceptive technique that can provoke a localized or generalized allergic reaction if you are truly sensitive to latex rubber.

There are tests available to confirm a hypersensitivity to latex rubber protein. There are also alternative types of condoms that do not contain latex.

Oh, honey! A recent study finds although true allergy to honey is not common, several individuals actually had generalized, potentially life-threatening allergic reactions after ingesting honey, fresh or store bought.  In fact fast, safe, in-office allergy skin tests confirmed “honey allergy”, as the likely cause.  In fact, many seasonal allergy sufferers believe eating locally grown honey can actually help fight pesky allergy symptoms, unfortunately the data does not bear this out.

The bottom line is there are a variety of potential allergy pitfalls lurking anytime of the year, especially on Valentine’s Day.  So it is especially important to have a dialogue with your partner about his or her allergy triggers.   It’s always better to play it safe by understanding your partner’s allergies so those pesky allergies don’t get in the way of enjoying Valentine’s Day and every other day of the year!
Medical Disclaimer:

This information is presented for education purposes only and is not intended to be used for diagnosis or management of your own individual condition.  

9 Ways To Have Allergy-Free Holidays

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9 Ways To Have Allergy-Free Holidays

In this helpful Fox News article, Dr. Bassett breaks down the  9 Ways To Have Allergy-Free Holidays.  You should be sure to read it carefully and more importantly, take action on these tips to ensure the minimization of allergy triggers for you and family and friends who come to visit!  Read the article.

Earlier, Longer Allergy Season Coming: Inside The Pollen Tsunami

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Earlier, Longer Allergy Season Coming: Inside The Pollen Tsunami

Dr. Bassett says a lot of people have no idea they have allergies and now’s the time they’re going to feel the pain.

“In many of our patients, three out of four who have seasonal allergies have indoor allergies and they rev up in the months of October and November. With less ventilation in the homes, offices, windows are closed more exposure to indoor allergens,” Dr. Bassett said.

Read More: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/11/07/doctors-pollen-tsunami-makes-allergy-season-start-earlier-stick-around-longer/

What is an allergist?

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What is an allergist?

Allergist An allergist refers to a doctor that specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment as well as management of asthma and other disorders that are related to the immune system. To be an allergist, one must go through years of academic and professional training. That is, four years in college, four years in medical school, three years of residency training in pediatrics or internal medicine as well as a two to three year fellowship in pediatric and adult allergy and immunology. They must conclude with passing a difficult exam before they are certified by the board. Although many people exhibit allergic reactions to different substances, not many of them seek proper medical attention because they do not know what an allergist does.

Allergists also devote themselves to understanding the various triggers that cause allergic diseases and how to identify and manage them. Additionally, they educate their patients in modifying their environment for optimal management of their allergies.

Who should see an Allergist?

Allergists offer expert medical counsel relating to the evaluation, treatment and management of patients with immune problems and allergic diseases. Some of the conditions and diseases that may warrant evaluation, treatment and management by an allergist include the following:

  • Asthma
  • Allergic rhinitis for seasonal and year-round allergies
  • Atopic dermatitis-commonly referred to as eczema
  • Allergic eye diseases
  • Food and Spice Allergies
  • Latex Allergies
  • Stinging Insect Allergies
  • Urticaria (hives and skin rashes)
  • Chronic sinus infections
  • Chronic cough
  • Immune problems
  • Frequent colds/bronchitis

In some instances, otolaryngologists, dermatologists, rheumatologists and pulmonologists may refer their patients to allergists.

The Role of an Allergist in the Management and Treatment of Allergic Diseases

Allergists are specially trained to deal with prevention, diagnosis and the treatment of problems of the immune system. Allergists play an important role in minimizing the number emergency room visits as well as reduce the absenteeism from school and work as they assist their patients in the management of their disease. They are trained to review the patient’s medical history, their family history, and symptoms as well as their work and home environments. Based on all of these factors, they can develop an appropriate management plan that combines environmental control measures and medication or even allergen immunotherapy to eradicate the patient’s allergies.

When to See an Allergist

Many people are not sure about when they need to visit an allergist. In fact, it is common to find patients with allergic reactions who are taking over the counter medications. It is advisable to consult an allergist at the earliest opportunity. In most cases, they will conduct skin prick testing, to identify the cause of the allergy. If needed, intradermal testing, skin patch testing and/or lung function testing can also be done in the office. Proper diagnosis can lead to an allergy free life because you will receive proper treatment. Some of the signs to look out for that may necessitate a visit to the allergist include:

  • Recurrent skin rashes
  • Severe or moderate eczema
  • Asthma that has symptoms that affect work, sleep or school
  • Severe or moderate food allergy
  • Serious reaction to mosquito bites, ant bites or bee stings
  • Recurring allergic rhinitis symptoms

In conclusion, while many people may not know what is an allergist, it is important to seek medical help for allergies early enough to prevent severe cases.

Dr Bassett Advises Active Times on How to Treat Mosquito Bites

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Dr Bassett Advises Active Times on How to Treat Mosquito Bites

mosquitoMosquitoes are a top threat in the summer months, and we’ve discussed how to prevent them, the best bug sprays and even natural repellents. But let’s face it. You are probably going to get bit at least once this summer. So what do you do when that itchy little red bump pops up?

I chatted with allergist, Dr. Clifford Bassett and Dr. Jorge Parada, medical advisor National Pest Management Association (NPMA) to discuss first aid for bug bites.

It’s good to note that when you first notice the bite, wash it with soap and water to reduce infection, especially after scratching it. Then apply a cold compress to reduce itching.

Reducing that itch is key, as the main issue with creating infection, is scratching. That is why in treating bug bites, the main priority is preventing the itch. Dr. Jorge Parada explains where the itch comes from, “The itch is due to histamine release in our body in response to the mosquito’s saliva which is injected while they’re drinking our blood. Histamine is one of the main drivers in allergic and inflammatory reactions and causes swelling, redness and itching. So, scratching only stirs up the saliva and increases the histamine response.”

But, sometimes, it’s hard to stop the itch on your own. So here are a few suggestions and remedies for curbing those nails.

1. Topical steroid creams. Some of the best remedies include antihistamines and anti-inflammatories such as Benadryl, NSAIDS and steroids. Apply these to the bite area to sooth and stop the reaction.

2. Ice compresses. Applying a cold compress to the affected area can reduce swelling and prevent itching.

3. Therapik. Dr. Bassett suggests considering a Therapik, a handheld mosquito bite reliever, to reduce pain and itch after a bite.

4. Over-the-counter 1 percent hydro-cortisone cream. Dr. Parada suggests this cream for larger, more intense itchy reactions.

There are instances where you may need to seek immediate medical attention. For instance, if you have an allergic reaction to a bite, you could be in serious danger, and need to get to an urgent care facility to get a prescription for an epinephrine autoinjector immediately. Also, if you are finding that the reaction is developing a rash or infection, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Both doctors agree that the first step is using insect repellent wisely. Prevent the bite first. But, if you see a bite, don’t stress, and do your best not to itch.

Sex in the Garden, Blame those Male Plants!

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Sex in the Garden, Blame those Male Plants!

SUMMERTIME“The allergy landscape is changing,” says allergist Dr. Clifford Bassett, who directs Allergy & Asthma Care of New York. Nationwide, pollen is increasing because plants are growing larger than they usually would. This is because of the increase in carbon dioxide and, in some areas, increased rainfall, he says.

Pollen moves about best on hot, dry days, especially with some wind, says California horticulturist Thomas Leo Ogren. With warmer days and a longer pollen season, “I now often see landscape plants that used to bloom and produce pollen once a year … doing it spring and fall.” Ogren wrote the books Allergy-Free Gardening (Ten Speed Press, 2000) and Safe Sex in the Garden (Ten Speed Press, 2004) about landscaping with allergy-friendly plants. An updated version of his work, The Allergy-Fighting Garden, is due in February 2015.

Ogren writes about the allergy potential from male plants that have been increasing in popularity. “Male trees all produce pollen, lots of pollen, and airborne pollen at that,” he writes. Male plants beckon to gardeners because they don’t tend to produce messy fruit or flowers, leaving less debris than female plants. The human process of weeding out the females in the garden is “unnatural selection,” Ogren writes.

Or, to put it lightly, sexism in the garden can aggravate seasonal allergies, and the worst offenders may be surprising.

“Generally speaking, the plants with the pretty flowers that are fragrant are often the ones that are really more insect-pollinated,” says Bassett. “That means that the scent and the color are to attract insects for pollination.”
In more than 200 pages of Allergy-Free Gardening, Ogren has classified plants by their allergy potential on a scale of 1 to 10, with No. 10 plants being the most likely reasons you reach for the tissues. Ogren calls this trademarked scale OPALS, for Ogren Plant-Allergy Scale. For example, a live oak is rated 9 because it often produces the most pollen of the oaks for the longest time, Ogren writes.

In some cases, Ogren’s scale turns traditional landscaping advice on its head. Bamboo is a great allergy choice (2 rating) because it usually doesn’t flower. Yet it is despised by many because it is invasive and almost impossible to kill. Bradford pears (4) aren’t usually allergens, Ogren says, but they are a poor choice for the Dallas area because wind and ice often cause them to split in two.

Avoid pecan, according to Ogren, because it can cause severe allergies. But Ogren would recommend photinias, at 4 “not a great contributor of allergenic pollen.”

If you listen to Ogren, you will switch from Bermuda grass (10) to St. Augustine (4) and quit planting annual and perennial rye (at 10, an “often severe allergen”). Male junipers are the worst, at a 10, because they can release an explosion of pollen into the air.

“I think, by gardening smart, it can be a more friendly season for you throughout,” says Bassett.
Location, location, location.

Say you are allergic to oak trees. Does it help to avoid planting oaks in your yard? Or even more radically, should you remove them if you already have oaks?

“That’s fine, but the reality is, if they’re not in your yard, your neighbors or even people miles away, those oak tree pollen can be transported miles and, in some cases, hundreds of miles,” says Khan. “So whether you’ve got them in your yard or not may not really make that much of a difference, because you’re still probably going to be exposed to them.”

Bassett says there are really two problems — what’s in your yard and what’s in the region. “Most of the time, pollens blow from great distances. Ragweed and weeds can blow from 300, 400, 700 miles. But local effects are different. And that’s not something a pollen-counting station on the top of a roof of a hospital 15 miles away is going to pick up,” he says.

“Take care of your own yard first,” advises Ogren. “The closer you are, the worse the problem, the larger the dose.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE STORY…

Allergy Season and the ‘Pollen Vortex’ Hits New York City – Dr Bassett Explains

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amny-logoBuckle up, allergy sufferers: the “pollen vortex” is on its way.

New York City may have finally emerged from the polar vortex, but the end of sub-zero temperatures doesn’t mean the end of weather-related woes. In fact, health experts say, the unusually long winter has set the stage for a particularly rough spring allergy season throughout the Northeast.
While low temperatures delayed the onset of pollen production for the city’s plants, the high levels of precipitation throughout the winter also left them “primed and ready to go,” explained allergist Clifford Bassett of the Allergy & Asthma Care of New York. “It’s priming the pump for a very robust pollen season.”
Some allergy sufferers are already feeling the effects.

Hunter College student Ryan Davila, 23, from Rosebank, said that while he gets hit with allergies every spring, this season has been “a little bit worse” than usual.
Michael Hernandez, 35, a construction worker from Bedford-Stuyvesant, agreed. He said that while his symptoms have been mild so far — “itchy eyes, sniffles, congestion” — he can tell a difference from last year, when he “really didn’t notice” any allergies.
Doll Balbader, 70, has a similar situation.

“It didn’t bother me last year,” said Balbader, a retiree from Long Island City, but this year she’s already stocked up on Claritin and Benadryl and taken steps to avoid the outside air: “We have to keep the windows closed. We don’t open them at all.”
Andrew Ferguson, 28, said he takes a more aggressive approach.

“I just have permanent allergies year-round,” said Ferguson, a salesperson from Westchester who works in Midtown, adding that they kicked into high gear in March. “Any kind – pollen, dust, mold.” To cope with his symptoms, he said, he uses an over-the-counter nasal spray in addition to regular shots of allergy medication.
According to the website Pollen.com, which rates pollen count on a scale of 1 (low) to 12 (high), New York’s levels so far this week have hovered in the 9-10 range. The “pollen forecast” shows a slight reprieve for Thursday as the count dips down to 7.4 before shooting back up past 10 on Sunday.
But the worst of it may still be yet to come. “Over the last few days, the pollen counts have gone up, but they’re not necessarily extremely high yet,” said Dr. Sebastian Lighvani of New York Allergy and Asthma.

Fortunately, Dr. Bassett said, there are some simple ways to make the season a little more bearable. “If you wear a hat or don’t wear hair gel, you’ll decrease the likelihood that you’re turning your head into a pollen magnet,” he said.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY ON AM NEW YORK WEBSITE…