For those with asthma and/or allergy symptoms, gardening can become more pain than pleasure. But have no fear! Minimizing pesky allergens growing in your own backyard is easy with these tips from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and other experts:

• Pick the right plants. Asthma-friendly choices include St. Augustine grass; azalea, boxwood, and hibiscus shrubs; apple, dogwood, and red maple trees; and begonia, impatiens, snapdragon, and hosta flowering plants.
• Get good ground cover. Opt for gravel, oyster shell, or vinca plants. Conversely, popular covers like wood chips and mulch can retain moisture and encourage mold growth.
• Keep hedges under control. Prune annually 
to limit height and thin out the oldest wood. Hedge branches trap dust, mold, and pollen.
• Cover up. Wear a hat, glasses, gloves, long-sleeve shirt, and a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health-approved face mask (available at most garden stores) to keep allergens away from skin and nose.
• Work late. Care for your plants in late afternoon or early evening when pollen counts tend to drop.
• Know the score. Download free mobile apps to get 24/7 pollen counts in your hometown at pollen.com and zyrtec.com. If you have asthma, you can also download an asthma symptom tracker app at asthmamd.org and myasthma.com.

Fear of Flowers The Saturday Evening Post

“Warmer temperatures and lack of significant freeze events in much of the country have placed the current allergy season in early-entrance mode,” says asthma and allergy expert Dr. David Wilson, Medical Director, The Lung Institute at Columbus Regional Hospital in Indiana.

Yet there is some happier news. While allergy season will definitely be longer this spring, it probably won’t be any worse than usual for susceptible individuals, according to Dr. Wilson, who offers these tips to reduce spring pollen exposure—and its irritating consequences:

• Change the filter, turn on the air conditioning, and enjoy the great indoors.

• Cover up. Wear an all-purpose and inexpensive mask (available online or from your pharmacy) when outside.

• Hand off yard work such as mowing and raking during high-pollen seasons.

• Use a home or commercial dryer (rather than a backyard clothesline) to dry sheets and clothing.

Many people with allergies don’t have asthma—but most with asthma do have allergies. When avoiding triggers isn’t enough to control symptoms, it’s time to consult an allergy and asthma specialist for proper diagnosis and an individualized treatment plan.

Fortunately, simple breath tests to measure a marker of airway inflammation called FENO (fraction of exhaled nitric oxide) can help doctors detect and track asthma and changes in allergen exposure.

“Breathlessness and wheezing in adults are often attributed to disorders such as COPD, interstitial lung disease, and others,” explains Dr. Wilson. “FENO testing with the handheld NIOX MINO device provides a very sensitive indicator of asthma activity and symptoms, helping doctors more effectively diagnose and therefore manage the disease.”

Doctors prescribe asthma medicines (inhalers, pills, liquids, and injections) to stop, control, and prevent symptoms.

Prescription and OTC antihistamines, decongestants, and steroids help tame allergies. A new treatment option for nasal allergy symptoms— QNASL Nasal Aerosol (Teva Pharmaceuticals)—is expected to be available by prescription in April 2012. The novel “dry” steroid spray is indicated for seasonal or yearlong allergy sufferers ages 12 and older.

For more about managing asthma and allergies and to find local specialists, turn to the Asthma and Allergies Foundation of America and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Easing Allergies and Asthma The Saturday Evening Post

“It’s common to see a spike in the fall,” he explains. “Exposure to moldy leaves on the ground and changes in the weather conditions increase inflammation of the airways and trigger symptoms in people who are susceptible to asthma or allergies.”

And Halloween traditions such as wearing costumes and trick-or-treating for candy present a set of “particularly troublesome concerns” for asthma and allergy sufferers, adds Dr. Wilson. Old costumes pulled out of storage can be laden with dust mites, new ones might have “tricky” materials, or that delicious new candy could contain an ingredient that suddenly triggers an attack.

Here’s Dr. Wilson’s bag of tricks for celebrating a safe and enjoyable Halloween with your favorite little goblins:

Wear the Right Costume

1. Reuse or recyle hand-me-down costumes. But first wash in soapy, hot water to get rid of dust mites that linger in the fabric.
2. Beware of the glitter. Shiny costumes and accessories (belts, crowns, swords, etc.) might contain nickel, a common allergy and asthma trigger.
3. Check labels on face makeup and paint. Some preservatives in these products may cause allergic reactions. Test it out on a small area of skin before applying it more generally.

Pick the Right Candy

1. Head to the hard candy. It’s generally less likely to trigger allergy symptoms than other types of candy.
2. Avoid known triggers. Peanuts and tree nuts are absolutely off limits for some. Chocolate candy can also set off life-threatening flare-ups in kids with allergies to milk or eggs.
3. Don’t go gooey. Gelatin is a less-common trigger, but it’s in many Halloween treats (think Gummy Bears and other chewy candies).

Halloween Trick-or-Treat Tips for Kids with Asthma The Saturday Evening Post

For example, on March 16, 2011, the FDA released a Consumer Update advising that the only over-the-counter asthma inhaler sold in the U.S. will no longer be available after December 31 as part of an international agreement to stop the use of substances that damage the environment. Primatene Mist (epinephrine) inhalers, FDA approved for temporary relief of occasional symptoms of mild asthma, are being discontinued because they use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to move the medicine out of the inhaler so patients can breathe the medicine into their lungs. CFCs harm the environment by decreasing the earth’s ozone layer. This layer of the atmosphere protects us from some of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation, which can increase the risk of skin cancers and cataracts.

And here’s more news for inquiring minds and curious health-conscious consumers.

The FDA’s MedWatch Safety Alerts for February 2011 includes two recalls:

1. Svelte 30 orange & gray capsules marketed as a natural herb for weight loss and two lots of counterfeit Extenze Tablets—both sold as dietary supplements—were found to contain sibutramine, a controlled substance that was withdrawn from the market in October 2010 for safety reasons. Do not use the Svelte 30 or Extenze products described above. Return them to the place where you bought them for a refund.
2. Triad alcohol prep pads, swabs, and swabsticks, sold over-the-counter by themselves or packaged with some medical devices and prescription medicines for injection may be contaminated. The recalled disinfecting products list the manufacturer as either “Triad Group” or one of the following names: Cardinal Health, PSS Select, VersaPro, Boca/Ultilet, Moore Medical, Walgreens, CVS, and Conzellin. Do not use any of the products listed above. Return them to the place where you bought them for a refund.

Get Resourceful

FDA Consumer Updates by email are free for the asking.

Food Recalls, Market Withdrawals, and Safety Alerts [www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm] are also available.

To report a serious medical product problem to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program, go online (see left side of page) or call 1-800-332-1088.

Source: FDA Consumer Health Information, www.fda.gov/ForConsumers

How to Keep Updated on Drug Safety The Saturday Evening Post

To mark the occasion, Grand Slam tennis champ and TV broadcaster Mary Joe Fernandez is serving up advice to help parents and kids with asthma learn all they can about the chronic disease that inflames and narrows airways, making it hard to breathe.

More than 16 million adults and 7 million children in the U.S. have asthma.

Diagnosed with asthma at the age of 20 and mother to son Nicholas who also has asthma, Mary Joe is doing a live video web chat on September 13 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm EDT.

Topics will include how she overcame the challenges of asthma to achieve a successful tennis career as well as tips for parents to get the best care for their kids who have the persistent breathing problem.

To register for the live video webcast and submit your question, visit EveryoneBreathe.com http://www.everyonebreathe.com/, a website sponsored by pharmaceutical company Sepracor Inc. that features downloadable tools for parents such as a Back-to-School checklist, Asthma Action Plan, and Trigger Tracker.

The live chat with Mary Joe Fernandez will also appear on the website in October and be available for about one year.

Take a Swing at Asthma The Saturday Evening Post

“Warm weather causes tree and grass pollens to flourish, leaving millions sneezing and sniffling,” says allergist Dr. James Sublett of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “If spring allergy symptoms are hurting your quality of life, you may want to see an allergist to determine your specific allergies and find the right treatment to stop your symptoms.”

Here are some dos and don’ts about springtime allergies from the ACAAI:

Don’t spend blindly on over-the-counter medications. You may think you know what’s causing your allergy symptoms, but more than two-thirds of spring allergy sufferers actually have year-round allergies. Do get an accurate diagnosis and discuss which treatment options might be best for you with an allergist. Some OTC treatments  can be very effective. Immunotherapy (allergy shots and sometimes pills), can actually cure allergies, and keep you out of the drug store aisles for good.

Don’t delay taking allergy medicines until your symptoms are making you miserable. Do pay attention to the weather, and have a ready supply of the medication that worked for you in the past. Start taking it just before the weather turns warm and pollens and molds are released into the air.

Don’t invite trouble—steer clear of your allergy triggers. Finding the right treatment is important, but it’s also critical to avoid whatever is triggering your symptoms. Do keep windows shut if you have a pollen allergy. Take a shower when you come inside and stay indoors during midday when pollen counts are highest.

Don’t eat foods that aggravate sniffles and sneezing. If your mouth, lips, and throat get itchy and you sniffle and sneeze after eating certain raw or fresh fruits or other foods, you may have “oral allergy syndrome.” Do be aware that oral allergy syndrome affects about one-third of those with seasonal allergies. It occurs when the immune system reacts to similar proteins found in pollen and food. If you are allergic to tree pollen, you may need to avoid apples, cherries, pears, apricots, kiwis, oranges, plums, hazelnuts, and walnuts. Cooking or peeling the food may help, but first consult an allergist.

For more information about allergies and asthma, and to find an allergist near you, visit www.AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org.

Coming next week on Medical Update: Herbal Remedies for Seasonal Allergies.

Here Come Spring Allergies! The Saturday Evening Post

Experts say the best step to countering the effects of cold weather on asthma is making sure your asthma is under control before Old Man Winter makes an appearance.

But other strategies to make winter easier on your asthma include: 1) Always carry emergency asthma medication, even if it’s just to walk to the mailbox. 2) Dress in layers to keep your body (and lungs) warm. 3) Wear a scarf or facemask (found in sporting goods departments) over your mouth and nose to heat and humidify outdoor air. 4) Use extra caution when clearing snow, skiing, or carrying in the groceries. Rapid breathing increases the chances that lungs will constrict and bring on asthma symptoms.

Difficult breathing, a tight feeling in the chest, coughing, and wheezing characterize an asthma attack. 

If you or your loved ones have breathing problems that are triggered by cold weather, be sure to mention it to a doctor. Chronic cough may be the only symptom of asthma, so many people don’t know that they have the manageable disease.

How to Make Winter Easier on Your Asthma The Saturday Evening Post

Previously a Portuguese study showed adult asthmatics eating a Mediterranean-style diet were better able to control their asthma symptoms.

Diet Keeping Asthma Away The Saturday Evening Post