Summer time asthma tips

New York City is an amazing place to live, but if you have allergies, living in a metropolitan area can take a toll on your health…especially if you have asthma.

Although this summer has been quite mild, New York City is know for being hot and humid during the summer months. And while most of us enjoy the summer weather, especially after a long winter, the summer heat can be tough on your asthma.

Here are a few things you should keep in mind if you have asthma:

1. High humidity, high air pollution and high temps can trigger shortness of breath, especially if you have asthma.
2. Make sure to check the air quality index for pollution levels. Weather.com is a great resource.
3. Make sure to keep your asthma rescue inhaler with you at all times. And, if possible use it with a spacer.
4. If you have a peak flow meter, check it daily.  If you see a drop in your peak flow level, this may indicate a higher probability of a future asthma exacerbation, even before you feel symptomatic. Consult with your doctor to put an action plan in place in case this ever happens. 
5. It’s so simple but so easy to forget: stay hydrated!
6. On super hot days don't exercise outside. Wait until the evening, when it's cooler.
7. If you decide to go swimming to cool down in the summer heat, make sure the pool area is well ventilated. Chlorine and other chemical gases may trigger asthma symptoms, especially if the chlorine smell is strong.
8. Try using hypoallergenic sunscreens and lotions.

Do you have any other tips that you’d recommend? We’d love to hear!

Or if you have more questions about asthma, we’d be happy to be a resource. Please feel free to info@hudsonallergy.com or give us a call at 212-729-1283. Hope to hear from you soon!

Source: http://conservative50plus.com/blog/obama-administration-set-to-ban-asthma-inhalers-over-environmental-concerns/

Am I really Allergic to Exercise?

While it sometimes can sound like a bad excuse, some people can really be allergic to working out or exercise in general.

Skin reactions, like hives, and respiratory problems, like asthma, are common complaints among those who work out in the gym or outdoors, and their complaints could sometimes be warranted.

Many of the exercise induced conditions are due to histamine, which is a chemical in the body that usually is released to augment the immune system, and when histamines are released in the body at the wrong time, this can wreak havoc on how you feel.

However, determining whether these problems are due to an allergic disease involves going to see an allergist and getting a complete workup. Below are a few of the more common conditions, and if you have ever experienced any of the following, or other exercise induced illnesses, do your body a favor and schedule an appointment with us before your next workout.

Cholinergic Urticaria (CU)

A very common and frustrating disease, cholinergic urticaria (CU) is a condition where a person breaks out in hives just before (or after) they begin to sweat due to exercise or heat.  The exact cause of this condition is not completely understood, but it tends to occur most commonly in young men, but can also occur in women.  Because sweating is the trigger, it occurs most frequently under the arms and around the chest and neck, but it can happen anywhere on your body.  Classic CU consists of small hives that cover the whole body, and they are extremely itchy, and can even be burning or painful; however, large, plaque-like hives have also been described. The disease is set off by the allergy cells (mast cells) releasing histamine, which causes the hives, and in sufficient quantities, can lead to full blown anaphylaxis with wheeze, abdominal pain, and fainting. What makes this type of urticaria (hives) different from most, is it’s relative lack of response to traditional antihistamines.  However, there are other steps you can take to help mitigate the symptoms, and we can help you feel better.

Exercise induced anaphylaxis (EIA)

Dramatic, sudden and potentially life-threatening, Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis (EIA), is by far the most alarming allergic reaction seen in people exercising. Thankfully, the condition is rare, but it is also almost certainly underreported.  Symptoms include hives, asthma, angioedema (swelling of lips and tongue), a drop in blood pressure, and even death.  Some cases of EIA are triggered by something in the environment including high pollen counts or eating certain types of food (particularly grains and seafood) just prior to working out. Immediate treatment with epinephrine will usually reverse the attack. Luckily, many of these patients have a spontaneous resolution of the symptoms. Anyone with a history of EIA needs a prompt evaluation by an allergist.

Exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB)

Exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a very common respiratory complaint at the gym, and is usually the mildest.  It is so common that some studies suggest that up to 30% of all high school athletes, and as many as 50% of Olympic winter athletes have some form of EIB.  Basically, if you’ve ever run or worked out strenuously and then developed difficulty breathing and wheezing, you may have EIB.  It happens when the airway gets too cold and dry during exercise (this is why its so prevalent among winter athletes). Once the airway rewarms and moistens up, a signal is sent to the allergy cells to blow up and release their histamine.  This causes the lungs to tighten up, causing that wheeze and shortness of breath. The majority of people with asthma have EIB, but the majority of EIB sufferers do NOT have asthma. Treatment is simple, and usually stops the whole process before it starts.

All of these conditions can be diagnosed and treated by a board certified allergist. If exercise or work out regularly, and feel some of these conditions, any of our board certified allergists could treat you. Before you cancel your gym membership, set up a same day appointment with one of our New York allergists. Your body will feel better, and anyway, you probably can’t get out of that 2 year contract.

How Asthma can be exacerbated by being in an urban city: Pollution + Pollen

Author: Dr. Jason Price

Asthma is sadly one of the most debilitating conditions in America. It affects adults and children alike and according to the Center for Disease Control there are some 14 million school days lost each year as a result of asthma. Families are inconvenienced by having to drop everything to look after their child, requiring parents to take time off work, and in the worst cases, becoming one of the approximately two million asthma related emergency-room visits every year.

City dwellers are at even more risk of asthma attacks due to increased environmental factors such as heavy traffic, tightly condensed living quarters and parks with pollen producing trees and grasses. Back in 2002, research showed that up to 30% of childhood asthma is due to environmental factors and that constant exposure to air pollution can be a significant contributing factor to the development of asthma in previously healthy people.

Dr. Jason Price is a pediatric pulmonologist at Hudson Allergy and he knows what to look for when evaluating asthma symptoms in New York City’s children.

“There are four main kinds of air pollutants that city dwellers need to be aware of and monitor”, said Dr. Price.

“Ground Level Ozone is common in many urban centers and cities. It can trigger attacks and make existing asthma worse. It is created when pollution from traffic reacts with oxygen and sunlight and is a particular hazard to children as they usually spend more time outdoors than their parents, while at school and playing.

Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide are two of the other main respiratory irritants that can trigger attacks. They are created and released when coal and oil are burned. Diesel engines that use high-sulfur fuels tend to release this pollutant into the air.

The fourth type of pollutant is called Particulate Matter. This is the term that allergy professionals use when we talk about large pollutant particles like soot, ash, smoke and dust that can accumulate and build up in the lungs, making future attacks more likely.”

There are several things that Dr. Price and the other physicians at Hudson Allergy can recommend or perscribe to prevent asthma attacks in both children and adults.

If you would like to find out more on how to minimize the effects of pollution and pollen on your allergies, come visit us in Tribeca and see how we can help. Click here to book an appointment on line or give us a call at 212-729-1283.