Health Expert James Thompson, MD shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. 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/profiles/c/3989/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/3989/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/3989/index http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/3989/160496/asthma-asthma-tips-medications Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:21:00 -0400 James Thompson, MD Healthcare expenses in the United States have escalated in recent years. Insurance premiums, copays and deductibles have taken a huge bite out of the pockets of consumers. The cost of medications has proportionately soared despite the economic downturn. As an asthma care provider, I know the importance of reminding my patients to continue to take their controller inhalants long after cough, wheezing or shortness of breath has gone. Controllers... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/3989/160496/asthma-asthma-tips-medications http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3989/160106/milk-masquerading-intolerance Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:04:00 -0400 James Thompson, MD Peanut allergy commands the most attention in children with severe food allergy because it is very common and can be life threatening. But milk allergy is more common in infants and toddlers because early on, cow's milk is their main source of nutrition. Fortunately many children outgrow milk allergy after 3 years of age. The most common food reaction in adults is milk intolerance. In contrast to milk allergy, milk intolerance is not life... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3989/160106/milk-masquerading-intolerance http://www.healthcentral.com/cold-flu/c/3989/159967/common-cold-symptoms-water Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:19:00 -0400 James Thompson, MD It’s hard to get through a winter without being struck by the common cold bug. When it hits you it seems to command all your attention and sometimes make a spectacle of you:    -You get that nasal voice.   -You’re clearing your throat all the time.    -You may have embarrassing snorts and coughs to clear mucus from the sinuses.   - Your eyes can get pink and watery and your eye lids puffy and... http://www.healthcentral.com/cold-flu/c/3989/159967/common-cold-symptoms-water http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/3989/159612/control-understanding-pitfalls Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:01:00 -0500 James Thompson, MD More than 24 million people in the U.S. have asthma. For a majority of them, it can be controlled. Death rates from asthma peaked more than a decade ago, but since then they have steadily decreased. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the control of asthma, as reflected by emergency room visits and missed work or school, has not fallen proportionately.   Why does this discrepancy exist at a time when advances in medications and... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/3989/159612/control-understanding-pitfalls http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3989/159396/peanut-allergy-prevention Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:55:00 -0500 James Thompson, MD Should I avoid eating nuts while I am pregnant to keep my child from being allergic to peanut?   I'm asked this question several times a year.  Interestingly the answer has changed over the last several years. When I started allergy practice, more than 20 years ago, I advised newly pregnant women to strictly avoid peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish during pregnancy and while breast feeding. Such advice is now considered outdated. ... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3989/159396/peanut-allergy-prevention http://www.healthcentral.com/cold-flu/c/3989/159058/seasona-influenza Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:17:00 -0500 James Thompson, MD Many areas of the U.S. are reporting a decrease in the number of severe flu syndromes over the past week but another threat appears to be sticking around. There are continued concerns that stomach flu may accentuate the end of flu season by accounting for several more hospitalizations and death. But what is the difference between seasonal flu syndrome and stomach flu? Take This Quiz: True or False? 1)    The stomach flu... http://www.healthcentral.com/cold-flu/c/3989/159058/seasona-influenza http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3989/158852/rhinosinusitis Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:52:00 -0500 James Thompson, MD Months ago some qualified researchers (physician specialists in this case) published an article in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology which reported superior outcomes of intranasal steroid (INS) compared to antibiotic or placebo (a substance containing no medication but made to look like medication) in a clinical trial involving over nine hundred patients. Acute Rhinosinusitis (ARS) is typically manifested by nasal congestion, runny nose,... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3989/158852/rhinosinusitis http://www.healthcentral.com/cold-flu/c/3989/158415/2012-worst-2009 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 07:49:00 -0500 James Thompson, MD To be unaware of the impact of the flu on communities around the nation your head would have to be buried in the sand. Flu related hospitalizations and deaths are on the rise. Some reports state that vaccinations for this flu season have been lower compared to previous years. Since the H1N1 swine flu pandemic of 2009, flu vaccination enthusiasm seems to have waned. The shortage of flu vaccine during that time period escalated the drive to get... http://www.healthcentral.com/cold-flu/c/3989/158415/2012-worst-2009 http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3989/157614/allergy-holidays Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:11:00 -0500 James Thompson, MD As the days grow shorter, and in many areas of the country colder, the anticipation of the approaching holidays warms our hearts and boosts our spirits. For those who have food allergies holiday times may present a huge challenge to stay healthy and out of the emergency department. Food and drug allergies account for the most common causes of severe allergic reactions. Anaphylactic reactions are the most severe forms of allergic reactions and... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3989/157614/allergy-holidays http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3989/155665/weathering-perfect Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:21:00 -0400 James Thompson, MD Seasonal allergic nasal problems have soared this year as a result of high temperatures in late winter and early spring. Tree pollen exploded into the air in February, at a time when most people in the Midwest are concerned about restocking their driveway salt. The warm February transitioned into a hot March and subsequently long and drawn out tree and grass pollen season. Mold spores have had all spring and summer to build up momentum despite... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3989/155665/weathering-perfect