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The microbial communities, or microbiota, that naturally colonize the digestive tract in very young infants can affect their risk of later developing childhood allergies and asthma.

Following the steps in our checklist can go far to help everyone in your home manage asthma better.

As a lifetime patient of both asthma and allergies, I am all too familiar with the late night ambulance trips to the emergency room because of an asthma attack or the rude interruption of a peanut or tree nut in my body at a classy restaurant. Such unfortunate circumstances are a constant fear in my life—just like they are for many others with asthma and severe allergies. Though my asthma has improved since I was a young child (I am now a passionate long distance runner—still running with my...

Can the house dust of a rural farming community hold clues to protecting people from developing asthma ? Researchers from several universities studied 60 children ages 7-14 from two similar, but slightly different, farming communities. Thirty were Amish children. Thirty were Hutterite. These groups are similar in that they share a common ancestry and have remained relatively isolated in their communities after immigration to the United States. They share other factors known to have...

Does your state allow schools to stock quick-relief medicines for asthma? Quick-relief medicines , such as albuterol, act fast to relax tight muscles around your airways. This allows the airways to open up so air can flow through them. Congress is considering a law to encourage states to permit these “ albuterol stocking ” school policies . The School-Based Asthma Management Programs Act builds upon a similar law that encourages states to require schools to stock epinephrine auto-injectors.

Did you know your state allows students to self-carry a quick-relief asthma inhaler while at school? Every state has a policy that allows students in public schools to self-carry, although each has its own procedures. This applies to every state in the U.S. Now is the time of year to get your school forms signed by your child's doctor. These forms include your child's asthma action plan and medication authorization form. Asthma is the leading cause of school absences due to a chronic...

For Immediate Release August 8, 2016 Angelina Reyburn, Recall Coordinator 754-701-8320 PharmaTech, LLC of Davie, FL, is voluntarily recalling all liquid products from October 20, 2015 through July 15, 2016 as a precautionary measure due to a potential risk of product contamination with Burkholderia cepacia . If a product contains B. cepacia, its use could result in infections in patients with compromised immune systems and in patients with chronic lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis.

Sleepaway camp is a rite of passage for some kids. For children with asthma, there are additional concerns. What if my child gets sick? How will she know to take her medicine? Asthma camps provide health education for kids and peace of mind for parents.

Many consider personalized medicine the future of health care, and for good reason. As we learn about patients, genetics and diseases, we see that a standard approach is not the best. The purpose of personalized medicine is to provide custom treatment plans for patients. While customized care can help patients, it also adds challenges due to many factors that influence asthma.

A new over-the-counter device that works with your smartphone will warn you if your asthma is about to flare. The FDA recently approved the device, called Wing. Wing attaches to your smartphone and measures your lung function. Wing has a sensor that monitors your asthma zones. The pocket-sized device includes a mouthpiece. The Wing app collects and analyzes the data from the lung test.

AAFA President and CEO Dr. Cary Sennett and his wife Sara are about to bike through Michigan. They are partnering with AAFA’s Michigan Chapter, to raise awareness (and funds) to improve the lives of people with asthma in Michigan and across the country.

Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), not the FDA, regulates most insect repellents applied on the skin? Some insect repellents claim to be "natural." These may contain food-related ingredients, like soybean oil or lemon.