Category: Asthma
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This Can’t Be Right
So what is going on with persistent allergy symptoms when the pollens are NOT very high? This patient is using the term “allergies” to describe “symptoms” of allergy that may not be IgE-mediated allergy at all. Doesn’t mention skin testing, but this testing can be completely negative in this scenario. How frustrating! In fact, often…
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For Medical Students and Residents: Some Study and Interaction on your own time!
It’s about time we as clinicians and “learners” can meet together to discuss asthma and new developments in the treatment of this very expensive and disruptive disease. Enter Dr. Mark Millard from Baylor in Dallas, TX who gave an excellent presentation on TSLP and the role this molecule plays in “causing asthma”. Allergists and pulmonologists…
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What question do patients ask even during their first visit with me?
Making the diagnosis of asthma is tough for both patient and doctor. As an asthma specialist, I can tell you that patients want to know, “doc, when can I stop my medications?” This is often the first question they ask! Ruth Holroyd takes a very candid look at natural treatments for allergic asthma and I…
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Why Don’t More Patients with Asthma Use Biologicals?
Last month, I shared several videos with you that pertained to treatment of #asthma with biologicals. I hope you listened to the lives of patients just like you who can now “do life” with their family and friends not having to fear the next asthma attack. But it’s not so easy to change our habits…
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New Biologicals are unknown
What is the magic bullet of medical treatment? How about a biological that treats two or more diseases at one time? Dupilumab (Dupixent) is one such medication and I agree with Dr. Castro’s interpretation of the data on dupilumab–after all, he wrote the study. Here’s what I like about Dupixent: Blocks 2 cytokines, both IL-4…
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Time for correct use of spacers
Ok..it’s time we learn the “why” of using spacers, because most patients don’t use them on a regular basis. Spacers do several things for your pocketbook and your asthma: This spacer below can be purchased for < $10 on-line at Amazon. That’s almost better than a used toilet roll cardboard! Yes, we used to use…
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Is This Really Corona virus?
https://youtu.be/aPtjxZejjmg We’ve been so caught up with the #Coronavirus pandemic, that we’ve missed two important developments in the field of allergy: The FDA has now approved the use of Palforzia for taking care of peanut allergy. Guess when this was released? January 2020, about one month prior to the outbreak of COVID-19; the affect on…
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New medications for Asthma–are we at the end of the line?
Watch my FOX 23 interview about new asthma meds Jane (fictitious name, of course because of HIPPA regulations) is now 56 years old and just last year was diagnosed with #asthma. She thought, “no big deal, there are plenty of inhalers for me to use so I don’t wheeze”. Little did she know that 2019…
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Do I really want that? Shared decision making and how this applies to allergy.
As #Christmas time approaches, it’s clear that Americans want choice. When I ask patients what they would like for Christmas, “I don’t know” is usually not their answer. Children’s eyes filled with sparkles at Santa’s coming, parents’ smiling at me and thankful I haven’t ruined their stories about Santa dominate our discussions about the holidays.…
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Myth-busters in Medicine
As an allergist in Tulsa, the myths that surround asthma, food allergy, hives, hay fever abound and patients often come in to the office telling ME what they are allergic to or how to fix the problem. Let me give you some examples:
TulsaAllergyNews 