It is shaping up to be one of the earliest allergy seasons here in the big apple. Sufferers need to have a proactive allergist directed action plan to reduce pollen misery and make them allergy survivors!
Seasonal Allergies
Dr Clifford Bassett discusses tips for early relief from seasonal allergies with Dan Kloeffler on ABC News
Holiday Allergies – Dr. Bassett Discusses Seasonal Allergies with Dr. Steve
While many people report added stress during the holidays, doctors say the season can also uncover hidden allergies that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Dana Conte is allergic to almost everything, including Christmas trees.
“My family has a tendency of getting live, real trees and I am in charge of decorations. So last year and I was not thinking, normally I usually put gloves on…didn’t think anything of wear the gloves because it was late at night. Wake up and from my forearm, my elbow straight down to the tips of my fingers was one big red blotch,” Conte said.
Seasonal triggers are often red flags. That’s why Bassett says this is another good time of the year to get checked for allergies.
“Studies indicate about one out of four people think they have a food allergy,” Bassett said. “The incidence of food allergy is a lot lower and the reason is because people may have a food intolerance such as lactose intolerance or other conditions, acid reflux that can cause irritation or problems and sometimes it can be easily confused with a food allergy.”
To determine whether or not you have a food allergy, Bassett says it’s still best to get tested. If you need it, you can always have an action plan in place for what to avoid or how to treat allergic reactions. That way you can spend less time in the doctor’s office, and more time celebrating the holidays.
SEE FULL STORY ON DR STEVE SHOW
Prep a Holiday Meal That Won’t Trigger Allergies
What you can do: If you’re hosting dinner, find out whether any of your guests have food allergies, and if they do, try one of our featured allergy-alert recipes.
The holidays should be a time to relax. But for someone with food allergies, completely letting your guard down during dinner or dessert—even for just one bite—could result in major discomfort, on in extreme cases, a trip to the emergency room. That’s no way to celebrate Turkey Day!
>> How to Tell if Your Dinner Could Kill You
The details
Approximately 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies, but eight foods account for nearly 90 percent of all food-allergic reactions, according to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). These include milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts (walnut, cashew, and such), fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.
While those are the more traditional food allergies, there are newer ones on the rise, too, including kiwi, sesame seed, and cilantro, explains Clifford W. Bassett, MD, a fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and assistant clinical professor of medicine at The Long Island College Hospital SUNY at Brooklyn. There’s no clear-cut, proven explanation for the rise in food allergies, but several theories exist. One is that we’re exposing infants and young children to high allergy and/or new foods at earlier ages. “Even something as simple as peanut or nuts maybe be present in various creams, lotions, and skin moisturizers, used in infants and young children,” says Dr. Bassett.
Another concern? We’re too clean freak-ish for our own good. “Oversanitizing the environment and keeping very young children away from pets, day care, and individuals with colds, for example, may result in a greater risk of allergies, according to the ‘hygiene hypothesis,'” Dr. Bassett explains.
>> How to Keep Questionable Chemicals Out of Your Holiday Cooking
Obviously, due to the Internet, individuals are being more educated about food allergy-related symptoms, diagnostic tests, and food allergy action plans prepared by food allergy savvy allergy specialists.
What it means
Common food allergies come in very many different colors and shapes, with reactions ranging from mild to life-threatening. For instance, some people develop oral allergy symptoms that include itchiness of the mouth and throat after ingestion of various foods such as fruits and veggies. On the other end of the spectrum, some people develop generalized or potentially life-threatening allergic-type reactions after exposure to even small quantities of food they are indeed sensitive to. That’s why it’s so important if you are invited to a holiday dinner to speak with your host prior to them preparing food for the meal, if you or a family member have food allergies. Consider bringing safe snacks and foods, especially when ingredient lists are not known. “The idea is to communicate, to be on the same playing field to avoid allergic reactions to foods, and these are preventable with proper planning and education. It is essential to have a prescribed epinephrine autoinjector with you at all times if you have a history of food allergies,” says Dr. Bassett.
>> Food Allergy Costs Top $500 Million Annually
If you’re hosting a holiday dinner:
- Expand potluck to nonfood items. One way to keep food allergens off your menu is to be the only one who cooks. But guests often don’t like to show up empty-handed, so if you’re hosting a gathering and you or someone in the home has a food allergy, inform your guests, and suggest they bring a nonfood item, such as a board game or napkins, rather than food, if they insist on contributing to the festivities.
- Be an allergy-alert host. When preparing food for guests, get in the habit of hanging on to food labels. With the ingredient labels handy, guests with food allergies can scan them as needed, making sure there are no reaction-inducing ingredients.
- Beware of basting. According to ACAAI, people with common food allergies can be irritated by basting ingredients. A basted or self-basting turkey could include soy, wheat, or dairy components. When purchasing your turkey, look for one that’s minimally processed, and talk to the farmer or manufacturer if you’re still not sure. If someone with food allergies is at the table, the best choice is a turkey that’s minimally processed, containing just turkey and water before cooking.
If you or your child has a food allergy and are going away for Thanksgiving dinner:
Put on your Sherlock Holmes hat. Dr. Bassett’s advice is simple: “Be a label detective; ask questions.” If you’re eating at a relative’s home, ask the cook if you can see ingredient labels or recipes to make sure there’s no allergy-inducing foods on the menu. If you’re having your holiday dinner at a restaurant, it’s a good idea to make a “restaurant chef card” in advance, and then keep it in your wallet. Include your name and the foods you need to avoid, says Dr. Bassett. “Give it to the chef to make sure the sauces, etcetera, don’t contain food allergens. Call ahead to the restaurant during hectic holidays,” he suggests.
- Bring safe snacks. For a child is dealing with a nut allergy, consider making your own nut-free cookies and keeping them in a bag for him or her, so the child won’t feel left out when the others are raiding the dessert table.
- ID high-risk items. Sweets, breads, cakes, and cookies may contain peanuts, walnuts, or other nuts that you might not be able to spot on the surface. Nuts rank as one of the top three allergens in both children and adults. Egg and milk allergies are tops in young children, who often grow out of the allergies. Also on the rise are wheat allergies. If you have a wheat allergy, make sure products are gluten-free before indulging.
- Don’t overdo it in the alcohol department. “People dealing with a food allergic reaction to alcohol is not common,” explains Dr. Bassett. But in sensitive individuals, alcohol can be a co-factor for food allergic reactions in some cases.
- Be prepared. Make sure you always carry emergency medications just in case unrecognized food allergens are hiding in holiday treats. If you want to develop a customized game plan, meet with your allergist for individualized tips.
Allergy Survival Guide for the Holidays
There is a distinct possibility that holidays may not bring all cheer, especially if you or family members have allergies and/or asthma.
Exposure to scented candles, incense, potpourri, air fresheners, “fireplace” smoke and even strong cologne or perfume may trigger a respiratory or allergic reaction if you are indeed sensitive to these environmental triggers.
Traveling during the holidays can also be stressful, so it is absolutely essential to plan ahead if you have a family member with asthma, food allergies and other indoor allergies. Don’t forget to bring your regular and “as needed” medications when traveling, especially when this time of year is synonymous for delays in airports.
Never pack your essential medications in the luggage. Always keep them on hand. Have a letter for the TSA from your health care provider if you have to carry an epinephrine auto injector with you at all times.
You can even call ahead to an airline and inquire if they will be serving nuts, a leading cause of food allergies.
If you have indoor allergies and/or asthma it can be helpful to bring pillow and allergen-proof mattress covers to use when visiting family or staying at a hotel during your holiday. Don’t forget to inquire if the hotel has allergy friendly “green” rooms available, which may be a good idea if you have asthma or indoor allergies.
Further, both live, as well as artificial, Christmas trees, garlands and wreaths can trigger allergy symptoms. Chemicals sprayed on Christmas trees designed to preserve the life of a tree that may irritate those with allergies, sinus problems or asthma. Mold spores frequently become a problem within days of bringing a live tree into a home, especially if you have indoor allergies.
Many ask if it better to have a live fresh tree or an artificial one? The answer all depends. In either case, if you store your ornaments from year to year then make sure they are properly covered during the “off season” to prevent accumulated dust, molds, and other irritants/allergens that can spike a host of symptoms, in sensitive individuals.
Fake “snow” sprays to create the holiday atmosphere can contain volatile compounds that are often irritating to nasal passages and respiratory airways in the lung, especially without proper ventilation.
Remember to be a label detective and ask questions when it comes to eating at the Thanksgiving and Christmas table, especially foods such as gravies, sauces, soups, puddings and other foods that may contain unexpected food allergens. Communication is the key component to a safe holiday meal for food allergic guests. In some cases, it is prudent to have your guests bring their own food allergy-safe meal and snacks.
Stay aware and plan ahead to be safe and enjoy Thanksgiving, and the holiday season this year. For more valuable holiday allergy friendly tips, click here.
New Recommendations for the Flu Vaccine and Egg Allergies
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology six billion eggs are distributed nationwide every 30 days. It also happens that eggs are one of seven of the most common food allergens in children, and about 1.5 percent of children are allergic to hen’s eggs; though it is thought that at least two-thirds or more generally outgrow egg allergy by age 16.
Risks that may put you or your child for increased risk for egg or other food allergies are a family history of asthma, food allergy or other type of allergy such as eczema.
So why is this in the news? Well, a study presented at a recent ACAAI meeting in Boston described a recent two-year study seeking to evaluate the safety of giving a seasonal influenza vaccine to children with an egg allergy. Preliminary results suggest it is indeed safe for these children to receive this extremely important vaccine, especially in those kids with asthma, to avoid complications of the flu.
The study findings are consistent with other studies over the past 12 years that seem to confirm even those children with severe egg allergy may receive the vaccine safely.
“The benefits of flu shots are well-established, and clearly outweigh the risks for children with egg allergy,” said allergist Matthew Greenhawt, MD, ACAAI member and assistant professor in the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of Michigan. He further stated that “expanding the population of children that receive flu shots will play an important role in decreasing influenza-associated hospitalization, and in promoting the overall health of our children.” With flu season just around the corner, having an egg allergy may no longer be a good reason to not get the flu vaccine, according to new guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
Egg allergic individuals should still continue to receive the flu vaccine from an experienced healthcare provider that is familiar with reactions to vaccines, and a egg sensitive individual is observed for a period of at least 30 minutes after administration.
By Dr. Clifford Bassett
Published November 08, 2011
FoxNews.com
Read More…
Halloween Allergens: Candy and Costumes
MYFOXNY.COM – Dr. Clifford Bassett, the medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York, appeared on Fox 5 News to discuss what allergens parents need to look out for in Halloween candy and costumes.
Don’t Let Food Allergies Make Your Halloween SCARY!
Each year I counsel my very own patients on the risks and potential hazards with exposure to suspect food allergens, if they indeed have a bona fide food allergy. The focus is generally spent on learning to “de-code” ingredient contents and become a “label detective”. This can make the difference between a fun-filled evening with your kids or a trip to the ER.
Here are some tips and strategies that may help to reduce the risks during Halloween if you have children and adolescents with food allergies and/or asthma:
- Discard foods, candies, sweets that have been prepared in neighbor’s or friends homes.
- If food and/or candy are not wrapped with labels, and in doubt, throw it out!
- Always best to remove small items such as hard candies, small toys, to prevent choking hazards for the “little ones”.
- Remember many chocolate candies may say: “may contain peanut or nuts”, take it seriously and avoid these foods!
- Before the Halloween holiday consider pre-giving “safe” snacks to your friends and neighbors ahead of time, for your child. This will help you and your child feel more comfortable and at ease.
- Instead of giving out only food and candies, consider having an alternate themes, games, pumpkin carving and use of costumes.
- Did you know that smaller sized candy for Halloween may contain different ingredients than their regular sized counter parts?
- Teach your child to politely say “no” to home baked cakes, cookies, especially when the ingredients cannot be 100% confirmed.
- Look for “flame resistant” costumes.
- Don’t forget to read costume labels, check for products that may contain latex rubber, if an allergy exists.
- Egg may be used to provide a “shiny” coating in a variety of baked foods as well as in bagels, pretzels.
- Try and avoid “tight fitting” masks that can be smothering, especially if you have a child with asthma.
- Avoid harsh “face paints” that may cause a rash, especially if your child has “sensitive” skin, like eczema. It is recommended to have a simple allergy test performed if your child will be wearing face paint for Halloween, to avoid unexpected allergic reactions. Try a “loose fitting” mask that does not impair vision, instead.
- Kids during the “trick or treating” night can be a target for bicycles and cars. There is an increased risk of accidents on Halloween evening. Keep them on the sidewalk and use reflective tape on their clothes, jackets and bags for enhanced visibility and safety.
- Have an early pre-Halloween dinner for your child with a food allergy. This may help to reduce temptation to try “unknown” or un-labeled foods.
- Keep safe snacks on hand and with you.
- Go to www.foodallergy.org and create a customized “chef card” when eating outside of your home (parties, restaurants, etc). This will serve to have written information about your specific food allergies that will enhance communication and reduce unexpected reactions.
- Bring emergency medications such as asthma inhalers or an EPI-PEN if prescribed, during trick or treating events. Remember, asthma can be a risk for more severe reactions to food allergens. Have an asthma action plan in place for optimal control now, and throughout the year.
- Use non food items such as stickers in lieu of food and candies.
- For more information about how to have a safe Halloween and holiday season visit our educational site at www.allergyepidemic.com.
To locate an allergist near you, for expert care, and evaluation/management of a food allergy go to ACAAI at www.allergyandasthmarelief.org.
Dr. Bassett Shares Tips to Ease Fall Allergy Symptoms on CBS News Health Watch
This fall is predicted to be one of the worst allergy seasons on record due to this summer’s heavy rainfall and record heat. Dr. Jennifer Ashton reports and gives some tips from Dr. Clifford Bassett on how to ease allergy symptoms.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Announces the 2011 Fall Allergy Capitals Rankings
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Today the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) announces the release of the 2011 Fall Allergy Capitals(TM) rankings, identifying the 100 most challenging places to live with seasonal allergies within the United States. This season, Knoxville, Tennessee was rated the #1 Fall Allergy Capital due to high pollen counts, high use of allergy medications by patients and too few allergists to treat the burgeoning allergy population.
The Fall Allergy Capitals Rankings is an annual research project and the rankings are based on a scientific analysis of 3 factors for the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S. The data measured and compared each year includes the Pollen scores (airborne grass/tree/weed pollen and mold spores), number of allergy medications used per patient and the number of allergy specialists per patient. A full report of the 2011 Fall Allergy Capitals rankings is available at www.AllergyCapitals.com.
Indoor Air Quality: The Inside Scoop
Nearly 40 million Americans have nasal allergies and over 10 million have allergic asthma. For these millions of adults and children allergic to pollen, the next few months will push them indoors to avoid wind-swept allergens and to ultimately escape the chronic symptoms of fall allergies: runny nose and congestion, itchy and watery eyes, violent sneezing, and even coughing and wheezing for people who have allergic asthma. However, even average Americans are spending 60% or more of their time indoors and experts are increasingly cautioning everyone to pay attention to indoor air quality (IAQ), as well.
Indoor air can be worse than outdoor air. As a result, “everyone, especially those with allergies and asthma, need to pay close attention to indoor air quality,” advises Dr. Clifford W. Bassett, medical director of Allergy & Asthma Care of New York and assistant clinical professor of Medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. Household triggers like mold that grows in areas with high moisture, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in wood furniture, flooring and traditional paints, or strong chemical odors from some cleaning products are common problems. “Airborne triggers and irritants can be potentially serious problems and any home, school or office can be an obstacle course if you have asthma or allergies,” says Bassett. “But good air quality can be achieved through smart home solutions.”
AAFA encourages people to be aware of indoor air quality all year long regardless of the season and their city.
“A good first step to improving the air quality of your home is as simple as not contaminating it in the first place,” according to Mike Tringale, Vice President at AAFA. “For example, your walls make up the largest surface area in your home so choosing interior paints like the new Valspar+ – which is zero VOC with no lingering odor and mold resistant – means families can now reduce indoor irritants, like VOCs, without compromising on color choices or a premium quality finish.” Valspar+ was recently the first paint certified asthma & allergy friendly by AAFA after independent scientific testing confirmed its zero VOC formulation, durability and quality claims.
In addition to painting with zero-VOC coatings, AAFA offers other simple tips for better indoor air quality:
-- Control dust mites - Wash bed linens at least once weekly, and make sure your washing machine hot water temperature can exceed 130 degrees to kills dust mites and their eggs. Plus, keep dogs and cats off of your beds - pet dander is a primary source of food for dust mites.
-- Healthy housekeeping - Vacuum at least once weekly and make sure you use a quality vacuum with good constant suction, tight seams with no leaks and a HEPA filter. Choose scent-free cleaning products and wear a face mask when dusting to reduce your exposure to airborne particles.
-- Filter it out - Look for portable room air filters for bedrooms and common areas, and make sure to replace your HVAC filter at least four times per year.
AAFA offers a free “Guide for Reducing Allergens and Irritants in the Home” that can also be downloaded from www.AllergyCapitals.com.
About the Fall Allergy Capitals
Since 2004, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has provided a new list of 100 Fall Allergy Capitals, the most challenging places to live with fall allergies. Knoxville was named the #1 Fall Allergy Capital this year due to high pollen counts, high use of allergy medications by patients and too few allergists to treat the burgeoning allergy population. A full report of all 100 cities is available for free on the Foundations’ Web site, www.AllergyCapitals.com.
About AAFA
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1953, is the leading patient organization for people with asthma and allergies, and the oldest asthma and allergy patient group in the world. AAFA provides practical information, community based services and support through a national network of chapters and support groups. AAFA develops health education, organizes state and national advocacy efforts and funds research to find better treatments and cures. The 2011 Fall Allergy Capitals(TM) report was made possible by a generous grant from the Valspar corporation.
About the Valspar Corporation
The Valspar Corporation is a global leader in the paint and coatings industry. Since 1806, Valspar has been dedicated to bringing customers the latest innovations, the finest quality and the best customer service in the coatings industry.
SOURCE Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America