FRIDAY, Nov. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The “hygiene hypothesis” holds that early exposure to a variety of microorganisms may decrease the risk for chronic inflammatory diseases, like asthma. Two Swedish studies that tracked 650,000 children found that exposure to farm animals and even dogs can have this kind ofContinue Reading
THURSDAY, Nov. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains the fourth biggest killer in the United States. But only a fraction of the millions of people who could benefit from post-hospital rehab for COPD are doing so, new research shows. COPD is a progressive, debilitating andContinue Reading
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Polluted air may trigger as many as 33 million asthma-related emergency room visits globally each year, a new study finds. “Millions of people worldwide have to go to emergency rooms for asthma attacks every year because they are breathing dirty air,” said studyContinue Reading
SATURDAY, Oct. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Teens with allergies and asthma can enjoy Halloween as long as they take precautions, an allergist says. “There’s no reason a teen with allergies should have to miss anything,” said Dr. Bradley Chipps, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.Continue Reading
SATURDAY, Sept. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For many children with asthma, coughing is an early warning sign of a flare-up, an expert says. Understanding asthma and knowing what to expect can help parents prevent or lessen the severity of asthma attacks, said Dr. Ronald Ferdman, a pediatric allergist-immunologist atContinue Reading
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, residents of the Carolinas are facing a new health threat: mold. Mold-related illnesses are a serious concern following severe flooding in North and South Carolina, say experts from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. “Where there’sContinue Reading
TUESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Even low levels of air pollution can pose a threat to the lungs of cigarette smokers, researchers say. They tested 29 nonsmokers, 71 smokers without lung disease, and 58 smokers with the lung condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study found thatContinue Reading
MONDAY, Aug. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — E-cigarettes produce chemicals that can damage a person’s DNA, the first step on a path that might lead to cancer, a new study reports. The saliva of a small group of e-cigarette users contained increased levels of three DNA-damaging compounds, the researchers said.Continue Reading
TUESDAY, Aug. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — E-cigarettes have been touted as a safer alternative to smoking, but the vapor they create might harm lung tissue much like regular cigarettes do, British researchers report. With or without nicotine, e-cigarette vapor increases inflammation and disables cells that protect lung tissue, humanContinue Reading
HealthDay News) — Drought conditions occur when it doesn’t rain for an extended period. The lowered water supply can trigger wildfires and dust storms, which increase the amounts of small particles that float in the air. This can irritate the bronchial passages and lungs, worsening existing respiratory problems and raisingContinue Reading