Allergies Guide

Allergy and asthma sufferers can maximize the benefit of their medications by taking advantage of their bodies' natural circadian rhythms, according to Richard Martin, M.D., Professor of Medicine at National Jewish Medical and Research Center. Circadian rhythms are the daily variations in biological functions, from mental alertness to blood pressure and body temperature. Blood pressure generally peaks around 9 p.m. and bottoms out at about 3 a.m., while mental performance and strength both peak at about 3 p.m. Allergies and asthma also follow significant circadian rhythms.

Patients may want to think twice before leaving their EpiPen inside their vehicle, according to a small pilot study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice (JACI: In Practice). The study found even a single, short-time exposure to heat in a car during a sunny day can decrease epinephrine concentration in autoinjectors. If such degradation turns out to be progressive or cumulative, it could result in significant underdosage of epinephrine during anaphylaxis.

For the estimated 15 million Americans with eczema -- a chronic skin disease in which the skin becomes itchy with red patches of inflamed skin -- finding effective, long-lasting treatments was a difficult and frustrating process. Now, two new non-steroidal medications recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are improving the quality of life for eczema patients of all ages and offering hope as potential treatment options for patients with other hard-to-treat skin conditions.

Combining multiple food allergies into a single oral immunotherapy course is as safe and effective as single food immunotherapy, according to research. The procedure can save time without increasing the risks to patients, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)