It is monsoon season in Phoenix and the weather is hot and sticky. As uncomfortable as it may feel, the outdoor humidity level in Phoenix this time of year rarely exceeds 50% and the indoor humidity levels in the typical Phoenix home, with air conditioning running day and night, may average no more than 30-40%. […]
A patient’s father recently asked me an insightful question about allergy immunotherapy. Allergy shots had been recommended for his son to treat his seasonal allergy and asthma symptoms and he wanted to know how we decided what allergens to include in the serum. In some cases, as I explained, the answer is fairly straightforward. If […]
In the past few years I have discovered two foods that I really enjoy but did not eat growing up. One is hummus and the other is falafel. In fact, I learned how much I enjoy both foods eating at the Pita Jungle in Ahwatukee. Their falafel sandwich with pita bread and hummus on the […]
This month, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases published new guidelines for when peanut should be given to infants. The hope is that fewer children will develop peanut allergy as a result of these new recommendations The revision of its guidelines for the introduction of allergenic foods was prompted by the startling results […]
For many years, residents of the shinny new master-planned communities of Mountain Park Ranch, The Foothills, and Club West in Ahwatukee had only one way in or out of their neighborhood, giving it the distinction of being called (not so fondly) the largest cul-de-sac in America. To get to work you had your choice of using either […]
I recently evaluated a patient referred for seafood and iodine allergy. As a child she had an episode of vomiting and rash after eating shrimp although the details of the episode were vague since she was only three at the time. She does recall being told that she was allergic to shellfish and should avoid […]
Jason is now 15. He is taking AP calculus at Desert Vista High School, plays La Cross after school, is getting his driver’s permit next week, and plans to go to college and study electrical engineering after graduation. He is smart, tall for his age, and spends a little too much time playing video games. […]
Allergy to a furry pet is a major risk factor for the development of asthma and is the one of the most common causes of allergy and asthma symptoms. In fact for children, exposure to pet dander causes more asthma and allergy attacks than exposure to pollen. In Arizona, where the dry climate and use […]
We Are Not Alone If you are looking for a trendy term to impress your friends or co-workers, try microbiome. The microbiome refers to the fascinating world of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) that not only fill every nook and cranny of the planet we live on but also every nook and cranny of our […]
When scientists set out to understand a challenging and complicated problem they frequently construct models to help the process of discovery. Models help us to visualize the big picture, and to see how individual pieces of information fit together. This is true when we try to understand allergy. Our immune system is a particularly complex bit […]
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