Allergy Expert Kathleen MacNaughton shares Allergy management news and commentary at MyAllergyNetwork.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387 http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387 http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/32207/pregnant-allergies Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0400 Kathleen MacNaughton Carrying a child in your womb is an awesome responsibility on many levels. Most pregnant women are aware that eating healthy and taking prenatal vitamins aids in the development of a healthy child. And of course refraining from smoking, drinking alcohol and taking street drugs or excessive quantities of prescription drugs.   Some pregnant women may also listen to soothing music or talk to their unborn babies in a loving fashion because... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/32207/pregnant-allergies http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/32195/understand-nasal Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0400 Kathleen MacNaughton You just want your kid to feel like any other kid, to be able to go to school, go outside at recess, and play like all his or her friends. And your child just wants to be "the same" as everyone else too.   Unfortunately, 4 out of every 10 kids in the US today has allergies. Some have skin allergies, some have nasal allergies (also known as hay fever), while others have food allergies. And some unlucky kids have all 3 and maybe allergic... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/32195/understand-nasal http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/27174/houseplants-people Fri, 30 May 2008 11:08:00 -0400 Kathleen MacNaughton Do you have nasal allergies (also known as hay fever)? And do you also love having green, growing things in your house year round? If so, you may be wondering which houseplants are most "safe" for people allergic to airborne allergens, such as pollen and mold, to have.     The good news is people with allergies can have houseplants -- provided you use caution and commonsense. Here are some houseplants that produce very low levels... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/27174/houseplants-people http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/29103/empowered-patient Wed, 28 May 2008 01:33:11 -0400 Kathleen MacNaughton I firmly believe in the patient's right to be involved in ALL healthcare decisions for him or herself. I've written about this several times in my shareposts here at HealthCentral, most recently in relation to prescription decisions.   For me, an educated healthcare professional, participation in medical decision-making comes pretty natural. After all, I know and understand a lot. What I don't know, I know how and where to look up to find... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/29103/empowered-patient http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/27171/modern-living Wed, 14 May 2008 16:07:00 -0400 Kathleen MacNaughton Nasal allergies, food allergies and allergic asthma are all disorders of the immune system. Our immune system is supposed to keep us safe from harm by fighting off infection, cancer, and other invaders. Unfortunately, in allergic disease, the immune system misreads the cues and ends up stimulating a reaction -- or overreaction -- that actually results in us feeling worse than we did to begin with.   Experts have been noting over the past... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/27171/modern-living http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/27166/capitals-location Tue, 06 May 2008 18:06:00 -0400 Kathleen MacNaughton The Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) recently announced this spring's "Allergy Capitals" for 2008. This is NOT a coveted award -- it's actually more like a booby prize if your city makes it on to this list.   Twice each year, once in the spring and once in the fall, the AAFA performs research to determine where the unhealthiest places in the United States are for people with allergies. They call these places the "most... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/27166/capitals-location http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/25633/spring-forward Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:54:43 -0400 Kathleen MacNaughton For people without allergies, spring is a wonderful time of renewal when the whole world seems to be blooming, temperatures are balmy after the long, cold winter, and life is filled with happy anticipation of good times ahead.   But for those of us who have seasonal allergies, spring often brings a certain brand of misery as well. When plants are blooming, they're also shedding pollen and the warm & windy days of spring can spread... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/25633/spring-forward http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/21802/sprung-ready Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:48:00 -0400 Kathleen MacNaughton Spring comes to the US this year on March 20th. And with spring, comes the return of seasonal allergies. Those of you fortunate to only have seasonal allergies may have enjoyed a temporary respite from allergy symptoms during the colder months of the year, depending on where you live. (For instance, if you live in the South, where frosts are infrequent, you may never see a complete stopping of symptoms, simply because allergens remain present... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/21802/sprung-ready http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/21180/child-ready-event Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:35:00 -0500 Kathleen MacNaughton What if the worst possible thing were to happen to your child when he or she is out of your sight (and care) at school? What if your child went into a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis? It could happen, you know. Is your child prepared? Does he or she know what to do to prevent such an attack – or how to act if it happens? Anaphylaxis or allergic shock, as it's sometimes called, is a severe, life-threatening... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/21180/child-ready-event http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/21128/drug-decides Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:16:00 -0500 Kathleen MacNaughton Read Kathi's Post on Choosing the Right Allergy Drugs For You  As I'm sure you know, drug prices have risen dramatically in the past couple of decades. Sure, there are some great new medicines available (and more coming all the time), but they are only available at a high cost... one that the health insurance companies want less and less to bear. Even if you have health insurance, it can be hard to get them to pay for the... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/21128/drug-decides