For advertising information call 859.368.0778 or email [email protected] | May 2016
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What’s New in Allergy Research?
New laws, new drugs, clinical trials impact those with allergies
By Jamie Lober, Staff Writer
Here are some breakthroughs and
insights about allergies and how to
cope with them.
• A recent poll shows people do
not like proposed laws that would
change how you can buy pseudoephedrine, a popular over-thecounter drug used for nasal congestion. “New laws would change it
to a prescription-only medicine,”
said Alex Burgess, marketing and
communications director with the
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of
America. Most people want overthe-counter access.
• Global warming is to blame
for the increase in allergies. Some
experts are saying changing climate conditions can help lower the
amount of fungal allergies in the
air. “Ragweed growth rates increase
and the plants produce more pollen when carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere increases,” said Burgess.
“If fossil fuel emissions continue
Clinical
trials can
provide
hope to
people
with
allergies.
unabated, pollen production is projected to increase.”
• Preventing allergic reactions,
controlling allergies and creating an
allergy management plan with the
help of a doctor are top goals for
people who have allergies. Be sure
to take medicines as prescribed. If
you are at risk for anaphylaxis, keep
your epinephrine auto-injectors
with you in case you have a severe
allergic reaction. “Keeping a diary,
tracking what you do, what you
eat, when symptoms occur and
what seems to help may help you
and your doctor find what causes
or worsens your symptoms,” said
Burgess. Be in tune with your body
and know how to respond to symptoms or reactions. “It is crucial to
recognize that you are having an
allergic reaction and to respond
quickly and properly,” said Burgess.
• Researchers are studying possible treatments for certain food
allergies, including oral immunotherapy, sublingual immunotherapy
and other methods, but so far it is
all experimental, not proven. “The
studies are testing the safety and
effectiveness of these treatments, so
before you enroll in these types of
studies, talk to your allergist about
the risks and benefits,” said Burgess.
• Food Allergy Research and
Education, Inc. is funding investigators who are searching for data
about who gets food allergies and
the possible role of factors such as
diet, hygiene, geography, ethnicity
and more. This information helps
guide the creation of laws and policies that create safer environments
for people with food allergies and
for federal funding for research.
• In the past two years, a drug
called quilizumab that can be
inhaled came out. It treats mild
allergies and asthma by interrupting the production of an immunesystem protein that triggers allergic
reactions. Quilizumab is said to be
more convenient and longer-lasting
than drugs available previously.
If effective, patients would only
have to inhale it once every three
months.
• Clinical trials can provide
hope to people with allergies.
Researchers in the University of
Kentucky’s Department of Internal
Medicine are examining the impact
of hot and humid air upon the lung
function of patients with allergic
rhinitis. \