May is Allergy & Asthma Awareness Month. Were you aware that...
Allergies
10 – 30% of adults in the U.S. have allergic rhinitis
More than 25% of households are affected by allergies
A single Ragweed plant can release 1 million pollen grains in just one day
In children, if left untreated, nasal allergies can lead to facial growth issues and orthodontic problems
If both your parents have allergies, your risk of developing allergies is greater than 50%
90% of all fatal food allergic reactions are from peanuts and nuts— Don’t take this allergy lightly!
Allergy shots (immunotherapy injections) are the only “disease-modifying” treatment for environmental allergies; the effect can be long lasting, even after the injections are discontinued.
Honey bees sting once (barbed stinger), while yellow jackets, wasps and hornets can sting multiple times (no barb on stinger)….. yikes!
Penicillin allergy resolves spontaneously in 75% of patients after 15 years of avoidance—- good news!
IgG testing for allergies is inappropriate and wastes your time and money
Asthma
The most effective treatment for persistent asthma is inhaled corticosteroids, i.e. Qvar, Asmanex, Pulmicort...
Patients only take their corticosteroid inhalers 44 – 72% of the time.
Mold allergy is a risk factor for severe, life-threatening and fatal asthma— Good info to have!
During pregnancy, a mother’s asthma may get better (⅓), worse (⅓) or not change in severity (⅓)
You don’t have to have an “attack” to have asthma; symptoms can be subtle and variable.
Some people with asthma only cough and do not have wheezing, shortness of breath or chest tightness.
Only 10% of children and adults have correct inhaler technique (doctors are not much better!)
Most children who develop asthma have symptoms before 3 years old.
Study finds 65%-75% of asthmatic adults have an allergy.
Feel free to use these facts in trivia games or water cooler conversations. Awareness precedes enlightenment!