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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a nasal antihistamine for nonprescription use through a process called a partial prescription to nonprescription switch. The FDA approved Astepro (azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray, 0.15%) for seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis—commonly known as allergies—for adults and children six years of age and older.

Grasses are one of the most common causes of allergy. Each year, plants (including grasses) release tiny pollen grains to fertilize other plants of the same species. Unfortunately for people with grass allergies, this pollen triggers allergic reactions.

We thank Omron Healthcare, Inc. for their sponsorship of this blog post to help us share information about asthma in children. This is a sponsored post and is not an endorsement of any company or its products, nor is it a guarantee of the products’ safety. The funding we received for this advertisement helps support our free asthma and allergy programs. Asthma affects 5.1 million American children. 1 It is one of the most common serious chronic disease in kids. The burden of asthma is even...

Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. Too much or too little humidity can contribute to asthma , allergies , skin conditions , infections, and general discomfort. When there is a lot of water vapor in the air (high humidity), it feels hot and sticky. Sweat has trouble evaporating. When humidity is low, the air feels dry and cool. Sweat evaporates easily. The amount of actual water vapor in the air is called relative humidity. It is stated as a percentage. The Environmental...

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has launched our new Ask the Allergist knowledge base . For more than 20 years, our board-certified allergists have answered your asthma and allergy questions through our Ask the Allergist service. Now we have compiled the most common questions people have submitted, along with their responses, into a searchable knowledge base. VISIT THE KNOWLEDGE BASE Here’s a sample of the questions and answers you’ll find in the knowledge base: What do I...

This is the time of year when you start hearing a lot about health insurance enrollment for 2017. Here is a review of what you need to know in order to buy a plan, whether you are buying insurance for the first time or switching plans.

You’ve probably heard the buzz as billions, if not trillions, of Brood X cicadas are coming out of their 17-year breeding cycle in much of the eastern half of the United States. We’re not just talking about the loud, constant whir that sounds like an army of lawn mowers. We’re talking about the latest food buzz. Some people are obsessed with observing or documenting these periodic cicadas. Other people think they make enticing cuisine (whatever floats your boat, food lovers). But the Food...

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) recently worked with Komodo Health to highlight ethnic and racial disparities in asthma. Komodo Health analyzes data to create a Healthcare Map™ that gives a more precise view of the U.S. health care system and aims to help reduce the burden of disease. Komodo Health, with AAFA’s help, put together the report, Evaluating Links Between Asthma Outcomes and Racial Composition of Major U.S. Cities . The report built on findings from AAFA’s...

On this final Friday of National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month , the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) , our food allergy division, are holding a Remembrance Day in honor of family members and loved ones who’ve died from asthma or allergies. On average, more than 3,500 Americans die from asthma each year. 1 An estimated 200 also die each year because of severe allergic reactions, called anaphylaxis [anna-fih-LACK-sis]. 2 These death rates...

Update: If you missed the webinar, we added the video below. We also included some resources on additional information discussed in the webinar. Understanding the Latest Asthma Management Guidelines The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) hosted a webinar on May 25, 2021, on the latest asthma management guidelines from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The webinar was presented by: John James, MD, board-certified allergist, President of Food Allergy Consulting...

Part 5: Asthma and Allergy Myths, Busted! Dr. M. Itch is back for the final round of asthma and allergy myth busting for National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month . To round it out, he talks about whether or not you can be addicted to albuterol and if asthma inhalers are considered performance-enhancing drugs for athletes. We're glad we gave Dr. Itch the chance to take over the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's (AAFA) TikTok channel . We're going to miss his energetic style of...

Research has brought us amazing medical discoveries and treatments. But research is also a continual process if we are to pursue better health. Asthma and allergies are complex conditions. Research gives us a better understanding of them. This can lead to new medicines, ways to improve quality of life, and hopefully, cures. And research can be most effective when it centers around the qualities and needs of the patients it aims to serve. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)...