Asthma Expert Sloane Miller shares Asthma management news and commentary at MyAsthmaCentral.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/asthma/c/9032 http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032 http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/34093/inhaler-changeover Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:15:00 -0400 Sloane Miller We are more than half way to the asthma inhaler transition.   On December 31, 2008, asthmatics' old tried and true CFC-based inhalers will be taken off the market and replaced with HFA-based inhalers. The New York Times wrote a piece about the transition outlining some critical differences between the old and the new inhalers.   From the New York Times: "Studies show that HFA inhalers are as effective as CFC inhalers and have the... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/34093/inhaler-changeover http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/34092/questions-answers Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0400 Sloane Miller I've been reading 100 Questions & Answers about Your Child's Asthma by Claudia Plottel, MD and B Robert Feldman, MD. (Full disclosure: Dr Feldman was my pediatric allergist and is a relative).   The book is an excellent primer for parents of newly diagnosed children with asthma. An estimated 6.5 million children in the US are affected by asthma. However, I'd recommend this book for anyone with asthma, either newly diagnosed or those... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/34092/questions-answers http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/27822/asthma-benefit-mites Wed, 14 May 2008 08:22:00 -0400 Sloane Miller Have you seen the reports circulating that say: "... the most widely recommended treatments to reduce dust mites had no effect on the symptoms of asthma sufferers, researchers in Denmark found."  MSNBC reported on this a few weeks back.   That's alarming, as it seems to go against what we've always heard about dust mites: reduce them, their waste and their carcasses and you will greatly reduce your allergies and... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/27822/asthma-benefit-mites http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/26470/asthmatic-children Sun, 04 May 2008 13:14:00 -0400 Sloane Miller I spent six happy summers at sleep away camp in the hills of rural Pennsylvania.   What wasn't so happy was being allergic and asthmatic during those summers. One summer in particular I came down with viral pneumonia. I don't remember how I alerted the staff that I was sick but I recall being taken to the local hospital in this very small town. We walked from the waiting room straight into x-ray. Diagnosis: viral pneumonia in... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/26470/asthmatic-children http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/21770/health-effects-mold Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:10:00 -0400 Sloane Miller While at the American Academy of Asthma Allergy & Immunolgy conference in Philadelphia, I attended a learning session with two mold experts: Dr. Jay M. Portnoy, the former president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and Dr. James Seltzer. My goal was to follow up with my previous mold story with some more specific mold advice.   Detecting Mold in The Home Dr. Portnoy's discussion was particularly compelling... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/21770/health-effects-mold http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/23629/fda-keeping-safe Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:08:00 -0400 Sloane Miller Did you see the reports last week that Singulair was going to be investigated by the Food and Drug Administration for reports of a "casual relationship" between the drug and suicidality? According to the FDA's report on the asthma drug:  "FDA is investigating a possible association between the use of Singulair and behavior/mood changes, suicidality (suicidal thinking and behavior) and suicide.   Singulair is a... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/23629/fda-keeping-safe http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/21875/women-asthma Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:47:00 -0400 Sloane Miller I attended a very interesting talk about the question of the possible prevalence of asthma in premenopausal and premenstrual women presented by Dr. Nancy Ostrom and Dr. Andrea Apter at the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) conference in Philadelphia. Ostrom's short answer was: "Yes, there is higher prevalence of asthma in women in these phases of their lives." (This is for women who already experience mild... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/21875/women-asthma http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/21167/walk-back-pain Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:16:00 -0500 Sloane Miller Walk this Way  As someone with lifelong asthma, my upper and lower back are places that hold an extreme amount of tension. This is not uncommon for asthma sufferers. After a bad bout of bronchitis, my back and chest can hurt for weeks. Even during daily activities, I may notice chest heaviness on an allergic day. Back tightness is ever present. So, keeping my back, spine, chest and lungs healthy is a top priority.   Sometimes the... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/21167/walk-back-pain http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/20889/asthma-acid-reflux Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:11:00 -0500 Sloane Miller Headline from the campaign trail: Hillary Clinton eats hot peppers to keep her revved up!  "I eat a lot of hot peppers,'' she told CBS News anchor Katie Couric, who asked her how she maintains her stamina on the campaign trail. "I, for some reason started doing that in 1992, and I swear by it. I think it keeps my metabolism revved up and keeps me healthy."   Wow, hot peppers. Who knew?   "Much of... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/20889/asthma-acid-reflux http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/20696/asthma-depression Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:05:00 -0500 Sloane Miller I was talking with a friend who like me had serious childhood asthma. After seeing all the best doctors in New York City, without satisfying results, her family brought her the Colorado Allergy & Asthma Centers. It was there that they diagnosed her with depression. Once diagnosed and treated with depression medication, her asthma symptoms abated.   In her words: "I was a beyond sickly child and once the depression was diagnosed I... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/9032/20696/asthma-depression