CONSUMER NEWS    RECALLS    COMPLAINT FORM    SCAM ALERTS  


Complain about a product or service

Small Claims Guide | Class Actions | Lemon Law | FAQ | Resources | Newsletters | Spanish
Automotive    Education    Electronics    Family    Finance    Health    Homeowners    Shopping    Travel   
NEWS   Latest |  Archives |  Auto |  Cells, etc. |  Computers |  Financial |  Health |  Homeowners |  Parents |  Privacy |  Scams |  Seniors |  Travel

National Study Links Asthma to Allergies

Cats the most frequent cause of allergic response, researchers find





September 28, 2007

Asthma
AsthmaFDA Studies Asthma Drug's Potential Suicide Link
Indoor Allergens Torment Asthma Sufferers
Patients Balk at New Asthma Inhalers
Study: Farm Kids Have Lower Risk of Asthma
Researchers Link Spray Cleaners With Asthma
National Study Links Asthma to Allergies
Study Finds High Rate of Asthma in College Athletes
Can an Apple a Day Keep Asthma Away?
Survey Shows Asthma Not Controlled in Majority of Patients
Asthma Patients Pay the Price for Ozone Protection
Asthma Linked to Obesity in Women
Researchers Say "Killer" Asthma Inhalers Should Be Recalled
Asthmatic Kids Need No-Smoking Rules
Study: Asthma Patients Think It's Temporary
Female Hormones May Affect Allergies, Asthma
Home-Based Clean-Ups Help Childhood Asthma, Study Finds
Asthma and Obesity: Is There A Connection?
Bacteria in Household Dust May Trigger Asthma Symptoms
Air Pollution, Asthma May Be Linked
Americans Lack Vital Asthma Info: EPA
Researchers Find Ties Between Asthma and Emotion
A Good Laugh Can Trigger Asthma Attack

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found that more than 50 percent of the current asthma cases in the country can be attributed to allergies, with approximately 30 percent of those cases attributed to cat allergy.

“It has long been debated whether people who develop asthma have a genetic propensity to develop allergies, or atopy,” said Darryl C. Zeldin, M.D., a senior investigator at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). “This new research shows that 56.3 percent of asthma cases are attributed to atopy.”

Atopy is a condition that results from gene-environment interactions and can be measured by a positive skin test to allergens (or allergy causing substances in the environment).

“Sensitization to cat appears to be a strong risk factor for asthma in this study,” said Zeldin. Zeldin and his co-authors, however, point out that some research shows that exposure to cats, particularly early in life, may be a protective factor.

“We are not advocating parents get rid of pets, but if you suspect that you or your child might have cat allergies or get asthmatic-like symptoms, you should consult with a physician about the best course of action for your family,” added Zeldin.

The study, appearing online in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, was conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The data come from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), a nationally representative sample of the population of the United States.

The NIH researchers looked at skin test data for ten allergens. A positive skin test reaction to cat allergens accounted for 29.3 percent of the asthma cases, followed by the fungus Alternaria at 21.1 percent and white oak at 20.9 percent.

“Each of 10 allergen-specific skin tests was strongly associated with asthma; however, after adjustment by a variety of subject characteristics and all the allergens, only skin tests to cat, Alternaria and white oak were independently and positively associated with asthma,” said Peter Gergen, M.D., M.P.H, of NIAID's Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation, a co-author on the paper.

Other allergens tested include: Ragweed, dustmites, Russian thistle, Bermuda grass, peanuts, perennial rye and German cockroach. Approximately 10,500 individuals participated in the skin testing. During these tests, skin was exposed to allergy-causing substances (allergens) and a positive test was determined by the size of the reaction on the skin.

“This study tells us that allergy is a major factor in asthma,” Gergen said. “But this study also tells us is that there are many people who get asthma who don’t have allergies. We need to do more research to understand what is causing the asthma that is not related to allergies.”

“This study confirms that the environment plays a major role in the development of asthma,” said Zeldin. “Given the complexity of this disease it won’t be easy, but if we can prevent, block or reverse atopy, we could reduce a large proportion of asthma cases.”



Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.


Consumer News

May 17 2008

Recent Recalls & Safety Alerts

READER SERVICES

Print, Email & More

Subscribe

Free consumer newsletters
Sign up now!





Back to the top |

Advertisement


Home | Rogues Gallery | Good Guys | Complaint Form | News | Recalls | Search | Video | FAQ |
Consumer Resources | Small Claims Guide | Lemon Law | Newsletter | Contact Us
Advertise With Us | Testimonials | Newsroom | RSS Feeds | Radio | Job Postings




Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2003-2008 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.