Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill 2012

On May 10, 2012 AANMA goes to Capitol Hill for our 15^th annual Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill (AADCH) with a message for Congress:

Ensure patients have access to

-Asthma and allergy care that meets national guidelines and
-Current, approved, life-saving technology.

Join AANMA's nationwide virtual march to Capitol Hill on Wed., May 9, 2012! You can help spread our message without going any further than your computer, phone or smartphone. It takes about 5 minutes, tops. Here's how:

1.      Use this link to look up your Congressional representative: www.house.gov/representatives   

2.      Write a quick e-mail or make a call to your rep. See our sample e-mail/phonecall below - for e-mail, just copy and paste then fill in the blanks. 

Contact AANMA at sfwalker@aanma.org or 800-878-4403 ext. 1524 if you have any questions.  AANMA would love to hear how your representative responded and if you'd like us to follow up with anyone from their staff. Thank you for taking the time to speak out on behalf of people and their families who live with allergies and asthma. Together we can make a difference!  

Sample e-mail/phone call:

Hello, I am a constituent and would like to ask my representative to please support Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill (AADCH), which will be held at the Rayburn Building onThurs., May 10, 2012. The Representative and staff are invited to attend the Congressional Briefing at 9 a.m. in Room 2103, and the Health and Technology Fair at 11:30 a.m. in the Rayburn Foyer.  

Here is a link to a letter from some of the day's supporters in Congress: 
http://www.aanma.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Dear-Colleague-letter-2012.pdf

(I /my child/my patient) have/has asthma and here's how it affects our lives. (Share your story.)

The event is sponsored by Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA), a national nonprofit organization I support. If you would like to learn more about AADCH, please visit www.aanma.org/aadch or contact Sandra Fusco-Walker, AANMA's director of patient advocacy, at 703-641-9595 ext. 1524. 

I look forward to hearing back from you and hope that (the Representative) will sign on as a sponsor of Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill 2012.

Sincerely,

(Your name

Address

Phone number/E-mail address)

Unexpected Allergy Source: Bathrooms

We've all seen mildew growing on shower tiles. That's the work of mold spores, which like to settle where it's warm and wet. Black mold often grows in hidden areas as well, contaminating behind walls or below the floor.

The best defense is to keep your bathrooms clean and dry. Fix leaky faucets and other sources of water. Use vent fans when you shower. And clean surfaces regularly with a bleach solution.


For people with allergies, continued exposure to molds in the home can trigger respiratory allergy and asthma symptoms, so it is well worth the effort to remove the sources.  

Seafood allergic patients, beware!

Seafood allergic patients, beware! You might not be getting what you think when you order fish at restaurants and stores. Read the full article here.

"Allergies" to perfumes

Many people feel they are "allergic" to perfumes, fragrant lotions, or cleaning products when they develop a stuffy nose, headaches, or runny watery eyes and nose.  This is generally a non-allergic phenomenon, however, and is due to the irritant effect of strong odors or chemicals on the nasal lining.

Avoidance is the best treatment for this -- steer clear of department store greeters wielding perfume samples, and avoid using household cleansers with strong odors.  A HEPA filter may help remove pollutants from the air in your home as well.   There are also safe medications that can help in more severe cases. 

Weather and asthma

Abrupt changes in temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, high ozone levels, or strong winds can aggravate asthma.

Common asthma triggers

Asthma is most commonly triggered by "colds" (viral respiratory infections), or inhaled allergens such as dust mites, pollens, or pet danders.   However, many children and adults with asthma find that intense exertion will also trigger chest tightness or cough due to asthma, especially running for long distances.  Breathing very cold or very hot air, especially if under dry or windy conditions, will also frequently trigger bronchospasm, as will any type of irritant that is inhaled (smoke, paint fumes, perfume scents, etc.); sometimes a frozen drink or ice cream will be the trigger.

Once a trigger is identified, there are ways to avoid it or to at least control the situation.  Your allergist can help identify the triggers that are important to you, and advise on safe options for preventing future asthma attacks. 

Common foods that cause allergic reactions

Any food can cause an allergic reaction, but only 8 types of foods cause 90% of reactions -- cow's milk, soybean, egg, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish.