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Congress is taking steps to improve how schools across the country manage asthma. The federal bill is called the School-Based Asthma Management Programs Act (HR 4662). The bill encourages states to improve asthma care in schools. Schools that adopt improved asthma management programs and policies would have a better chance of receiving federal grant money for asthma programs. Representatives Phil Roe (R-TN) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD) are the sponsors of the bill. The bill calls for: stocking...

In our second post in our “AAFA Explains” series, we look at claims that salt treatment (also known as halotherapy) can improve your asthma. “Salt rooms” are popping up in the U.S., Australia, the U.K. and elsewhere. These rooms charge you a fee to enter, like a spa. Salt crystals coat the rooms and the air is salt-laden as an attempt to mimic naturally occurring salt caves.The history of natural salt caves as an asthma remedy is ancient.

Bigwall Enterprises of Clarendon Hills, IL, issued a Class II voluntary recall of a personal steam inhaler sold at Walgreens. The product is called the " WARM STEAM Personal Steam Inhaler ." Product labeling reads in part: "Well at Walgreens***WARM Helps relieve symptoms of stuffy nasal passages, congestion or scratchy throats due to cold, flu or allergies." It also reads: "Adjustable control to regulate flow of steam; Soft touch facial & nasal masks." Reason for recall: "The public...

AAFA does not support the changes proposed by USP because we believe they pose a real threat to quality of care. We strongly urge the USP to keep existing guidelines for allergen immunotherapy in place so that millions of patients across the United States can continue to receive the treatment they need.

Press Release Contact: Melissa Graham mgraham@aaaai.org (414) 272-6071 Onsite Press Room (March 4-7): (213) 743-6242 POVERTY WIDENS GAP IN CARE FOR ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES Researchers Examine Socioeconomic Disparities at AAAAI Annual Meeting Los Angeles, CA – Socioeconomic disparities are a cause for concern in patients with asthma and allergies, according to several studies presented at the AAAAI Annual Meeting. “We found that patients who have asthma and come from lower income households –...

New research shows omalizumab to be a promising treatment or prevention option for virus-induced asthma exacerbations, an important public health issue that affects every child with asthma.

New studies about how to prevent food allergy – particularly peanut allergy – are leading to a revision in federal health guidelines for doctors and families.

We still do not know what causes some people to get asthma. If a child has a family history of asthma or allergies, a specific allergy or had a mother who smoked during pregnancy, they have a higher chance of getting asthma early in life. A respiratory virus, an illness that occurs in the lungs, is one of the most common causes of asthma symptoms in children 5 years old and younger. Although both adults and children experience respiratory infections, children have more of them. Some...

Be kind. Be nice. That is the message that a father with terminal cancer gives when he and his family are removed from a plane after his young son has an allergic reaction to a dog.

Notice any small cats and dogs riding the rails on Amtrak recently? One of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's Facebook fans did. The person told us about a recent policy change, writing: This obviously poses a huge health risk to children and adults with pet allergies, some of which may be severe or even life-threatening. Amtrak isn't even reserving a single car to be designated as pet-free, not even the quiet car. Would the AAFA be willing to send a letter to Amtrak illustrating...

What is the difference between alternative, complementary and integrative medicine? The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) wants you to know what these mean so that you can make informed healthcare choices. Complementary medicine refers to something you do or take along with treatment your doctor tells you to follow. Alternative medicine refers to something you do or take instead of your regular treatment. Integrative health care is the practice of combining complementary and...

Biologics are a new class of drugs that fight disease at the source . Instead of attacking symptoms, these drugs target diseases like asthma at a molecular level. These newer types of drugs are more expensive than older medicines. That is prompting public discussion on how to pay for them. The cost of caring for patients with the most severe forms of asthma represents a majority of asthma healthcare spending. In addition, asthma is a leading cause of missed time from work and school. Last...