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June 12, 2019 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Coughing is a protective “reflex” given to us by nature as part of our body’s vital defense mechanisms. It forcibly expels harmful bacteria, viruses, foreign objects, and excessive mucus from the respiratory tract protecting our lungs from irritation, inflammation, and infections. Mechanism: There are 4 stages in a cough reflex: An initial deep inspiration filling […]
Read MoreMay 16, 2019 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Symptoms such as nasal congestion, clear runny nose, and itchy throat are most commonly due to sensitivity to common “allergens” in the environment (e.g., pollens, dust mites, mold spores, animals). Our immune system mistakes them as potentially harmful and thus mounts a defensive attack on these substances when it encounters them. During this process, there […]
Read MoreMay 03, 2019 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Does eating local honey help treat allergies? This question has been asked for decades. Many individuals swear that consuming local honey does help alleviate their seasonal allergy symptoms known as allergic rhinitis (i.e., hay fever). Beekeepers generally also agree with this theory. In order to answer this question, another important question to ask is “how […]
Read MoreApril 23, 2019 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Eczema (i.e., atopic dermatitis) is a genetically determined condition which causes long term inflammation of the skin which may result in itching, thickening, redness, and occasionally ulcerations of the skin. A similar appearance can sometimes be seen in other chronic skin conditions. Eczema or atopic dermatitis affects an estimated 7% of the population with varying […]
Read MoreApril 08, 2019 | Black & Kletz Allergy
As we enter the Spring season in the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area, many allergy sufferers will begin to experience the classic hay fever (i.e., allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis) and/or asthma symptoms. The typical hay fever signs and symptoms may include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, a horizontal crease […]
Read MoreMarch 13, 2019 | Black & Kletz Allergy
The most common cause in the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area for itchy, red eyes in the Spring and Fall high pollen seasons is inflammation of the thin membrane covering the eyeballs (i.e., conjunctivae). This inflammation is triggered by allergen exposure to susceptible individuals. However, inflammation to the conjunctivae can also be […]
Read MoreMarch 04, 2019 | Black & Kletz Allergy
In the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area, tree pollen usually begins to pollinate in mid-February. The pollination is usually dependent upon the weather such that towards the end of Winter, when it first becomes warm outside, pollen begins to be released from the trees. Depending on the temperatures, tree pollination can occur […]
Read MoreFebruary 23, 2019 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Acute sinusitis may also be referred to as acute rhinosinusitis or more commonly as a classic “sinus infection.” By definition, the symptoms of acute sinusitis will last less than 4 weeks in duration, rather than the 12 weeks or more necessary to characterize a sinus infection as chronic sinusitis or a chronic sinus infection. Of […]
Read MoreFebruary 23, 2019 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Nasal polyps (i.e., nasal polyposis) are soft tissue growths that form on the lining of the nasal passages and inside the sinuses (i.e., air-filled cavities within the facial bones). They are painless and non-cancerous. They are usually in the shape of teardrops and characteristically look like glistening moist grapes. Nasal polyps generally develop when the […]
Read MoreJanuary 30, 2019 | Black & Kletz Allergy
In this ever increasing complicated and stressful world that we live in, many individuals find themselves complaining of fatigue. Most people chalk it up to being overworked or to too much stress in their lives, but fatigue can be a symptom of a multitude of illnesses. Amongst these ailments, fatigue is often a symptom of […]
Read MoreJanuary 30, 2019 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Do probiotics have a role in preventing allergies? While some studies demonstrated a protective effect of probiotics on the development of eczema, other studies have shown no effect on the development of other allergic diseases. In view of the conflicting results of various studies, probiotics are not currently recommended for preventing allergies. How about fish […]
Read MoreDecember 31, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
As we approach the Winter in the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan (Mid-Atlantic) area, the temperatures naturally fall and the resulting cold air can play havoc with many people. “Allergic” signs and symptoms may appear in allergic patients as well as non-allergic individuals. The “allergic” symptoms can vary in intensity and they commonly affect […]
Read MoreDecember 13, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
About 2% of children in the United States are allergic to cow’s milk. The condition usually begins in the first year of life and can affect both breastfed and formula-fed infants. A majority of the children usually “outgrow” the allergy by 5 years of age, however not all children “outgrow” milk allergies. Immediate hypersensitivity reactions […]
Read MoreNovember 14, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Every year, thousands of people in the U.S. get very sick from diseases that could be prevented by vaccines. People with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (e.g., emphysema, chronic bronchitis) are at a higher risk than the general population for complications from vaccine-preventable diseases. Asthma and COPD cause the airways of the lungs to swell. In […]
Read MoreNovember 14, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Many individuals are unsure whether they have sinusitis (i.e., sinus infection) vs. typical “allergies.” Sinusitis generally refers to infected sinuses, however, sinusitis technically means “inflammation of the sinuses.” Typically, sinusitis is a direct result of either a “cold” or allergies (i.e., allergic rhinitis, hay fever). The symptoms of each condition are usually very similar and the differences can […]
Read MoreOctober 24, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Approximately 15 million Americans are affected by some form of food allergy and nearly 6 million of those are children under 18 years of age. Many epidemiological studies indicate that the prevalence (i.e., the proportion of individuals in a population having the condition) of food allergy is increasing over the past 2 decades. Genetic and possibly environmental […]
Read MoreSeptember 24, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Histamine is the chemical that is responsible for most allergy-related symptoms. It is usually stored inside cells called mast cells. When one is exposed to allergens that he or she has been previously sensitized to, (e.g., pollens, dust mites, molds, animals, certain foods), the preformed specific antibodies react with their proteins (i.e., antigens) which cause […]
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