May

12

NASCAR Driver Blames Allergy Medication For Failed Test

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nascarNASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield blames allergy medication for a failed drug test leading to his suspension. NASCAR officials have been quick to counter saying that the ban was not due to allergy medication. Though NASCAR has a policy of not revealing what banned substance was found in any drivers who may test positive they deny the claim.

David Black, whose Tennessee-based Aegis Labs conducts tests for NASCAR said, “In my many years of experience, I have never seen a violation like this due to the combination of over-the-counter or prescription products.”

At the moment no replacement driver has been named to take Mayfield’s spot behind the wheel for upcoming races.

NASCAR is not the first sport to have a athlete blame a over the counter medicine for a positive drug test as today’s athletes have to be very careful what prescribed and over the counter medicine they are taking near upcoming events. The drug tests taken today are far more comprehensive and sensitive, thanks to technology than those conducted in the past. Athletes can no longer get away with masking agents and other cover ups as the Olympics have shown over the last decade.  However by not revealing what substance Mayfield tested positive for it makes it very hard for fans to know who to  support.

May

11

Food Allergy Awareness Week

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What are you doing for food allergy awareness week?
May 10-16 is the 12th annual Food and Allergy Awareness week. Created by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network allergy awareness week is designed to help educate and support the millions of Americans who suffer from food allergies.

Awareness week plays a critical part in educating both people with allergies and those around them. Helping people learn what to do in a emergency situation and recognize when they need help. The group also works closely with corporations and associations like the National Restaurant Association who help support FAAN. Together they work to avoid the number of severe allergic reactions in restaurants by increasing training of staff they have ServSafe program. (FAAN has members from all over the world in over 60 different countries.)

To learn more about Allergy Awareness Week or food allergies visit FAAN’s websites www.foodallergy.org, www.faankids.org, and www.faanteen.org.

May

10

Obesity and Allergies

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fatNew research indicates that children who are considered obese have a 26% greater chance of suffering from a allergy compared to children of a healthy body weight. Research took place at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences which is a division of the U.S. National Institutes for Health.

Researchers analyzed data from 4,111 children who ranged from ages 2-19 years old. Much of the higher rate of allergies in obese children results from food allergies which were an alarming 59% higher in children with obesity. While the study does not conclude that obesity causes food and other allergies, the numbers and data definitely point to the need for further research.

The study was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and lists Dr. Darryl Zeldin as the senior author. It would be interesting to compare a chart of obesity over the last 50 years with one of allergy rates over the same length of time as both have risen dramatically.

May

9

Worst City For Spring Allergies 2009

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whitehouseThe Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America rates cities every year for spring seasonal allergies. Year after year many of the same names continue to show up, of course through no fault of their own. This year Louisville, Kentucky has be named as the worst city for spring allergies. Lexington was ranked number one in 2005 and last year but has been up seated by rival Louisville. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America considers four factors when ranking the top 100; allergy prevalence, seasonal pollen, allergy medication use per patient, and the number of board-certified allergy specialists per patient.

If you suffer from spring seasonal allergies and are planning a trip you may want to have a look at the list to see if the city appears.

Allergy Capitals 2009

  1. Louisville, KY
  2. Knoxville, TN
  3. Charlotte, NC
  4. Madison, WI
  5. Wichita, KS
  6. McAllen, TX
  7. Greensboro, NC
  8. Dayton, OH
  9. Little Rock, AR
  10. Augusta, GA
  11. Philadelphia, PA
  12. Richmond, VA
  13. Jackson, MS
  14. Birmingham, AL
  15. Columbia, SC
  16. St. Louis, MO
  17. Chattanooga, TN
  18. Oklahoma City, OK
  19. Allentown, PA
  20. Memphis, TN
  21. Tulsa, OK
  22. Providence, RI
  23. New Orleans, LA
  24. Buffalo, NY
  25. Greenville, SC
  26. Pittsburgh, PA
  27. Baton Rouge, LA
  28. Scranton, PA
  29. Nashville, TN
  30. New York, NY
  31. Virginia Beach, VA
  32. Columbus, OH
  33. Rochester, NY
  34. Omaha, NE
  35. Akron, OH
  36. Syracuse, NY
  37. Hartford, CT
  38. Charleston, SC
  39. Cincinnati, OH
  40. San Antonio, TX
  41. Indianapolis, IN
  42. Albany, NY
  43. Des Moines, IA
  44. Harrisburg, PA
  45. Bridgeport, CT
  46. Cleveland, OH
  47. Kansas City, MO
  48. Poughkeepsie, NY
  49. Washington, DC
  50. Dallas, TX
  51. Toledo, OH
  52. Tucson, AZ
  53. Baltimore, MD
  54. Raleigh, NC
  55. Las Vegas, NV
  56. Milwaukee, WI
  57. Springfield, MA
  58. San Jose, CA
  59. Atlanta, GA
  60. Portland, ME
  61. Lancaster, PA
  62. Modesto, CA
  63. Jacksonville, FL
  64. San Francisco, CA
  65. Grand Rapids, MI
  66. Tampa, FL
  67. Youngstown, OH
  68. El Paso, TX
  69. Detroit, MI
  70. Phoenix, AZ
  71. Austin, TX
  72. Albuquerque, NM
  73. Houston, TX
  74. Salt Lake City, UT
  75. Lakeland, FL
  76. Ogden, UT
  77. Portland, OR
  78. Worcester, MA
  79. Chicago, IL
  80. Stockton, CA
  81. Boston, MA
  82. Minneapolis, MN
  83. Orlando, FL
  84. Bakersfield, CA
  85. Fresno, CA
  86. Cape Coral, FL
  87. Sacramento, CA
  88. Sarasota, FL
  89. Seattle, WA
  90. Los Angles, CA
  91. Riverside, CA
  92. Denver, CO
  93. Colorado Springs, CO
  94. Palm Bay, FL
  95. Oxnard, CA
  96. Boise City, ID
  97. Miami, FL
  98. Daytona Beach, FL
  99. San Diego, CA
  100. New Haven, CT

May

7

Are Face Masks A New Fashion Trend

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surgical_maskWith allergies on the rise and the threat of a global pandemic constantly looming making mainstream news headlines, face masks could be the next fashion trend. For years face masks have been popular in Asia, where people do not stop and stare at someone wearing a mask but instead consider it a sign of manners and not wanting to spread germs. You will even see children in Japan wearing designers mask with cartoon characters on them.

Face masks range in price from a few pennies per mask for disposables all the way up to hundreds for more complex military style face masks. They can also be found in a variety of different colors. People who chose to wear a mask do so for a variety of reasons. Some wear them not to spread their germs or be exposed to others germs, while others wear them in a attempt to protect against chemical fumes, pet dander, pollen allergens, smoke, smog, dust and bacteria.

Just how effective these masks are against very small particles depends on the type of mask and who you ask. Some less expensive masks use a carbon type filter while more expensive non disposable mask often rely on a HEPA filter system. These HEPA masks are more effective but are less portable for someone looking to carry a mask around in their pocket.

Whether we start seeing more people wearing masks in North America may just be a matter of time and marketing. I have noticed a lot of bike couriers wearing them in the downtown area but not many in the general public.

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