Asthma + Allergies by Mediaplanet_USA

MAY 2019 | FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH.COM

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ASTHMA & ALLERGIES An Independent Supplement by Mediaplanet to USA Today

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opens up about her nearfatal allergic reaction and her campaign to raise allergy awareness

Learn about the tablet that can stop allergies in their tracks Discover the tools that can get rid of allergens in your home

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Overcoming the Dangers in Your Asthma Treatment Five to 10 percent of the 26.5 million Americans with asthma are believed to have severe asthma. Severe or difficult-to-control asthma is a type of asthma that can be particularly debilitating, which negatively affects patients’ quality of life. Sudden symptoms can be fatal. Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are a common treatment for severe asthma. However, using OCS is associated with serious health risks, such as glaucoma, elevated blood pressure, cataracts, infections, and osteoporosis, and has been shown to slow the healing process for wounds. Doctors typically prescribe inhaled corticosteroids as a daily asthma-controller medication before prescribing OCS. These medications reduce and prevent airway swelling, involve fewer side effects, and result in a much lower steroid exposure compared to OCS. While OCS can be an important tool in managing severe asthma in certain cases, usage should always be carefully monitored by a qualified asthma specialist or a primary care provider with asthma expertise. Tonya Winders, M.B.A, President and CEO, Asthma and Allergy Network

Allergists Are Helping Asthma Patients Breathe Easy Asthma symptoms can make life tough to enjoy, but did you know that an allergist can help you take back control?

Todd Mahr, M.D., President, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

f you have asthma, you’re probably just looking for relief from your symptoms. But which medical professional should you see to get help with that relief? An allergist is your best bet for treating asthma and getting your symptoms under control. The right specialist Studies show most people

with asthma, including children, don’t see an allergist despite them being able to help mitigate asthma symptoms. Allergists are trained to identify the factors that trigger asthma, which are often related to allergies. They can do testing to identify your unique set of triggers and symptoms, and then create an asthma plan to treat both. Patients who see an allergist are nearly three times more likely to say their treatment was effective compared to if they tried managing their condition with over-thecounter medicine. Asthma patients who regularly see an allergist are less likely to visit an emergency room or be hospitalized because of their asthma.

Those patients also see a 77 percent reduction in time lost from work or school because of their disease. Your allergist may recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots and tablets) if you have both asthma and allergies. Allergy immunotherapy can reduce sensitivity to the allergens that trigger asthma attacks and significantly reduce the severity of the disease. They can also prevent asthma from developing in some children with seasonal allergies. While asthma cannot be cured, it can be controlled, and when asthma is controlled, you can expect your overall health to improve. See an allergist if you are ready to take control of your asthma and start enjoying life again. n

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How Asthma Patients Can Get a Breath of Fresh Air

Surviving Allergy Season With Some Help From Dr. Oz Spring (and pollen) is in the air, so we turned to TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz for some tips on how to get through allergy season. You’re relieved winter is over and the days are getting longer, until you remember the ultimate caveat of springtime: allergy season. Allergies plague 50 million Americans and their symptoms during this time of year can be frustrating to say the least. To help combat these conditions, TV personality and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz offered some tips that can mitigate the effect of the changing seasons. The link between allergies and asthma “Allergies and asthma are different types of an immune response, but they’re cousins,” Dr. Oz said, adding that allergies are a common trigger of asthma. “Once your immune system starts to turn on, it’s like turbocharging it or giving it high-octane fuel. Your immune system is built up and ready to go, so it gets tricked into overreacting,” he said, likening the reaction to a country with a big military it’s eager to use. “Asthma and allergies are the friendly fire.” Asthma happens when the muscles that keep your airways the right size suddenly overreact, spasm, and shrivel, Dr. Oz explained. Temperature changes and even exercise can trigger this cascade of effects, which traps air in your lungs so you’re unable to exhale.

The root of flare-ups In some cases, asthma and allergies can work to make your symptoms of seasonal allergies worse. “If you have another source of an allergy — let’s say seasonal allergen, like pollen or hay weed or whatever — now you start to create an additional reason for your already irritated immune system to overreact,” Dr. Oz said. For that reason, people with allergies should identify their triggers and use strategies that can help with allergy relief. Dr. Oz suggests trying the following: Keep your home clean. “The first thing to do is buy a vacuum and use it,” he said. “Make a schedule and, when you clean, get out of the house for an hour and let it settle.” Consider a neti pot. Available at convenience stores and online retailers, these devices use warm, sterilized water to help clear your nasal passageways. Reach for probiotics. Research suggests probiotics can help manage allergy symptoms. These gut-friendly bacteria are in foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and Greek yogurt. Exercise at night or indoors. That morning run might energize you for your day, but you won’t perform at your best when pollen counts are high. Wash your hair and change your clothes before bed. “You can cart around a lot of allergens on clothing, and, women in particular, in your hair,” Dr. Oz said. “When you go to bed, your hair is all over your face.” n

PHOTO: JAIME CODY PHOTOGRAPHY

Air pollution can trigger asthma symptoms and prevent lungs from developing properly, but you can take steps to lessen the effects. Whether it comes from your car’s exhaust pipe, dirty smokestacks, or a forest fire, air pollution can harm your health. Everyone should know how to protect themselves on bad air quality days, but it’s especially important for people with asthma, since air pollution can trigger asthma episodes, hospitalize sensitive people, and negatively affect how kids’ lungs develop. Know before you go Ever hear your local weather forecaster say that tomorrow will be a “code orange” day for air pollution? The Air Quality Index, or AQI, is the system that warns the public when air pollution reaches dangerous levels. If the day’s level is yellow or worse, avoid outdoor exercise, stay away from high-traffic areas, and stay indoors as much as possible. If you have asthma, make sure to keep your quick-relief asthma medicine with you in case the air pollution triggers respiratory symptoms. Do your part In adition to limiting exposure, these tips can help you improve outdoor air quality: • Instead of driving, share a ride, take public transportation, ride a bike, or walk. • Don’t use paints, solvents, or varnishes that produce fumes. • If barbecuing, use an electric starter instead of charcoal lighter fluid. You can advocate for cleaner air by sharing your story about why healthy air matters to you with the American Lung Association to help our nation’s leaders understand why healthy air is so important. While on the Lung Association’s website, make sure to check out the “State of the Air” report to see how your area’s air quality compares to others’. Juanita Mora, M.D., Volunteer and Clinic Partner, American Lung Association

Melinda Carter MEDIAPLANET • 3

Cooking up Fresh Treatments for Food Allergy Patients Researchers learn more about what causes food allergies every day and are using that knowledge to develop ways to prevent symptoms. In the United States, an estimated 32 million people — 7.5 percent of children and 10 percent of adults — have a serious, potentially life-threatening food allergy. There are no approved treatments for food allergies. Allergists advise patients to avoid problem foods and carry epinephrine to treat dangerous symptoms.

The good news is hope is on the horizon. Prospects for food allergy treatment are at various stages of development. Some are undergoing lab studies while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing others. Allergen immunotherapies Many allergy treatments involve giving patients the food proteins they’re allergic to, starting with tiny amounts and raising the dose over time to increase tolerance. For some, immunotherapy successfully retrains their immune system — they can still tolerate the food they were aller-

gic to even after stopping treatment. Others can still tolerate allergens as long as they eat the food each day after completing oral immunotherapy. Drugs that block allergic reactions Food allergies cause the immune system to overreact when someone is exposed to a problem food, which leads to a chain of events with the release of mediators that results in allergic symptoms. Researchers have made remarkable progress in developing anti-allergy drugs created from immune proteins called antibodies. Some are already

approved to treat other allergic diseases, and are now being tested to treat food allergies, both as standalone treatments and in combination with food-allergen immunotherapies. Researchers learn more about the complex factors that influence food allergies every day. We now know that giving peanut foods to allergy-prone infants can prevent about 70-80 percent of peanut allergy cases, reversing decades of doctors’ advice to parents to avoid allergenic foods. n Thomas Casale, M.D., Chief Medical Advisor for Operations, Food Allergy Research & Education

Taking a Bite Out of Food Allergies With Oral Immunotherapy SPONSORED

Food allergies are at an all-time high, and each year in the United States, 200,000 people require emergency medical care for allergic reactions to food. A food allergy can be extremely dangerous and, in rare cases, may be fatal. Yet, the only approach patients currently have for avoiding a severe allergic reaction is to avoid any contact with the offending food.

gens — at home, school, and everywhere in between — accidents still happen. The severity of these accidents may be reduced if allergists could moderate the body’s reaction to the allergen, as they have done successfully for years in treating bee stings and other allergies with a century-old approach called allergy immunotherapy.

ongoing doses of the allergen to maintain the allergy control over time. “Until treatments are available, anyone living with a peanut allergy faces a lifetime of anxiety that accompanies the daily threat of potentially fatal reactions,” says Aimmune president and CEO, Dr. Jayson Dallas. “Aimmune is a company that was born from the unmet need for approved treatments for food allergies by concerned parents, food allergy advocacy groups, and regulators. Our mission is to bring forth new options to lessen the impact of exposures and provide peace of mind to patients and their families.” Although multiple studies have been conducted to inves-

tigate the safety and efficacy of oral immunotherapy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve any treatments for food allergies. “For the past two decades, we’ve seen an incredible increase in the number of patients suffering from a severe peanut allergy, yet the only advice we can provide is to avoid peanuts,” said Dr. Ellen Sher, a board-certified allergist at the Allergy Partners of New Jersey. “Based on a deep understanding of how the immune system works, over 100 years of research, and recent large clinical trials, oral immunotherapy may be an option to improve the lives of those with food allergies.” n

Despite careful, daily routines to avoid contact with food aller-

A targeted approach Allergy immunotherapy is a process of controlled exposure to specific allergens in increasing amounts at regular intervals so that the body’s immune system adapts over time and reactions to the allergen are milder than before. Once the desensitization occurs, patients typically continue

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Facts and Statistics. Food Allergy Research and Education. Available at https://www.foodallergy.org/life-with-food-allergies/food-allergy-101/facts-and-statistics. Accessed on May 6, 2019

Doug Levy

Know Your Risk Factors and Take Control of Symptoms Over 50 million Americans suffer from allergies and 24 million from asthma. Environmental exposures worsen these conditions drastically, which means it’s time to take control and manage these risks.

ll of us either have or know someone who has experienced symptoms caused by allergies or asthma. In fact, the percentage of people with asthma and allergies has increased significantly worldwide over the past several decades. People with these conditions are often aware of environmental factors that trigger their symptoms, causing itchy eyes, runny noses, wheezing, and coughing.

Avoiding these triggers may help if they are obvious, however, people may not always know what exposures to avoid, since they can change over time. Cause and effect Even before being born, a child’s future health can be affected by their mother’s health, including her exposures at work and home, antibiotic use, diet, and whether she smokes. From childhood to adulthood, living in indoor

environments with pets and pests, dust, and particles that are brought in from outside can further affect health. Time for a change Factors that affect public health are important to manage and control. Changes in our environment and climate increase the severity of allergic and respiratory diseases, which in turn affect productivity and well-being. More frequent and abrupt

changes in weather, leading to severe storms, flooding, and wildfires, are all reminders of these changes. Everyone is affected by the environment. Coming together to raise awareness of the crucial link between our environment and health, and finding ways to reduce these risks, will benefit everyone’s health. n Ahila Subramanian, M.D., Allergist, Cleveland Clinic; Sumita Khatri, M.D., CoDirector, Cleveland Clinic Asthma Center

How to Improve the Quality of Living in Your Own Home by Fighting Allergens SPONSORED

Every year, allergy season makes millions of people miserable — and sick. The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA) estimates these afflictions cost society $82 billion every year. When it comes to allergy management, there are two key factors: medication and allergen

reduction, according to AAFA. Taking the necessary steps to reduce airborne allergens in the home is critical but often overlooked. “Nasal allergies affect an estimated 50 million Americans,” says Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the AAFA. “What many might not realize is that clothing, shoes, and even pets are top ways that pollen and other irritants are transferred into the home.” Certified tools “You can be proactive by taking the right steps to reduce these allergy triggers in your home,” notes Mendez. AAFA recommends using AAFA-certified

products — like LG’s laundry systems and air purifiers that have been proven to help reduce allergy triggers and remove irritants from clothes and bedding, as well as from the air in your home. There are simple things you can do. AAFA recommends regularly washing your clothes — including jackets and backpacks — in certified washers and avoid introducing unwashed items from the outdoors throughout the home. That means keep your jacket, bag, and shoes in the garage or in a closet near the door, not in your bedroom. “Wash your bedding frequently,” advises Gail Conroy, senior director of home appli-

ance marketing at LG Electronics. “LG washers can remove over 95 percent of common household allergens using our Allergiene Cycle™. And our air purifiers also help reduce airborne allergens.” For LG, which is the first company to offer a line of certified asthma- and allergy-friendly® washers and air purifiers, this makes good business and branding sense. “We’re a brand that’s all about making life good,” says Conroy. “We want to make sure that our products really go that extra mile and provide added benefits to make consumers’ lives easier.” n Jeff Somers MEDIAPLANET • 5

MedicAlert

Saves Lives Peace of mind for those living with Asthma & Allergies

How Stanford Researchers Are Preventing, and Treating, Allergies and Asthma

Allergies are a signi�ıcant health crisis — affecting over 50 million Americans and the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the country — and researchers at Stanford University are leading the way in learning about, treating, and preventing the condition.

SPONSORED

Allergies are expensive, exhausting, and everywhere, but breakthroughs in immunotherapy may change all of that.

How One Treatment Is Taking Control of Your Allergies Selected Important Safety Information about ODACTRA What is the most important information I should know about ODACTRA? ODACTRA can cause severe allergic reactions that may be life-threatening. If any of these symptoms occur, stop taking ODACTRA and immediately seek medical care: • Trouble breathing • Throat tightness or swelling

• Trouble swallowing or speaking • Dizziness or fainting • Rapid or weak heartbeat • Severe stomach cramps or pain, vomiting, or diarrhea • Severe flushing or itching of the skin For home administration of ODACTRA, your doctor should prescribe autoinjectable epinephrine to treat a severe reaction, should one occur. Your doctor will train and instruct you on the proper use of

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auto-injectable epinephrine. If you forget to take ODACTRA, do not take two tablets. Take the next tablet at your normal scheduled time the next day. If you miss more than one tablet of ODACTRA, contact your doctor before restarting. Do not take ODACTRA if: • You have severe, unstable or uncontrolled asthma • You had a severe allergic reaction in the past that

Allergies affect more than 50 million people in this country every year, making them the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States. The negative impact on quality of life drives spending in excess of $18 billion, annually, on remedies that are often temporary and only partially effective. While most people think of allergies as “hay fever” caused by pollens, the causes can be a lot more insidious. For example, about 20 million people are allergic to house dust mites — microscopic pests living in just about every home that are so prevalent you literally can’t get away from them, and which can trigger allergic

included any of these symptoms: trouble breathing, dizziness or fainting, rapid or weak heartbeat. • You have ever had difficulty with breathing due to swelling of the throat or upper airway after using any sublingual immunotherapy before. • You have ever been diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis. • You are allergic to any of the inactive ingredients

in ODACTRA. Your doctor may decide that ODACTRA is not the best treatment if: • You have asthma, depending on how severe it is. • You suffer from lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) • You suffer from heart disease such as coronary artery disease, an irregular heart rhythm, or you have hypertension that is not well controlled.

reactions not just in spring, but all year round. However, breakthroughs in allergy immunotherapy offer some relief. Allergy immunotherapy in an at-home tablet “Today, patients are looking for convenient and lasting means to treat their disease,” says Jorge Alderete, president of ALK Americas. “Treatment options such as sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) allergy tablets can provide an answer.” Allergy immunotherapy has traditionally only been available as an injection performed by a physician — a so-called “allergy shot.” SLIT-tablets are placed under the tongue, where they dissolve in seconds. “Allergy Immunotherapy (AIT) is a preventive treatment for allergic reactions to substances such as house dust mites, grass pollens, ragweed pollens, and tree pollens,” notes Alderete. “AIT involves gradually giving doses of the allergen (the substance to which the person is allergic). The consistent exposure of the allergen causes the immune system to become

• You are pregnant, plan to become pregnant during the time you will be taking ODACTRA, or are breast-feeding. • You are unable or unwilling to administer auto-injectable epinephrine to treat a severe allergic reaction to ODACTRA. • You are taking certain medicines that enhance the likelihood of a severe reaction, or interfere with ' the treatment of a severe reaction. These

may be prescribed for persons 18 through 65 years of age who are allergic to house dust mites. ODACTRA is not a medication that gives immediate relief for symptoms of house dust mite allergy. “In clinical trials, patients A different treatment era using SLIT-tabAlderete is reslets saw reduced ponsi ble f or allergic rhiniA L K’s n ew es t tis and allergic a l l e r g y t r e atconjunctivitis m e n t, O D AC...one thing symptoms and T R A® ( Ho u s e is clear: the reduced nee d Dust Mite [Derlatest allergy for symptommatophagoides farinae and Derimmunotherapy atic medications such as antihismatophagoides treatments tamines or corpteronyssinus] give you ticosteroid nasal Allergen Extract s p r ays ,” says Tablet for Subanother option Alderete. “Taklingual Use), a beyond allergy ing ODACTRA prescription shots to help for this importSLIT-tablet that improve allergy ant allergen can offers benefits help house dust similar to a trasymptoms... mite-allergic d i t i on a l s hot. patients feel betODACTRA is a ter, even when other allergens, prescription medicine used for like pollen, come into season.” sublingual (under the tongue) The benefits of a treatment immunotherapy to treat house like ODACTRA are clear. Aside dust mite allergies that can cause from avoiding another trip to sneezing, runny or itchy nose, stuffy or congested nose, or itchy the allergist’s office, the treatand watery eyes. ODACTRA ment can be taken at home and less sensitive to the substance — known as 'desensitization’ — which reduces the symptoms of allergy when the allergen is encountered in the future.”

medicines include: o Beta blockers and alphablockers (prescribed for high blood pressure) o Cardiac glycosides (prescribed for heart failure or problems with heart rhythm) o Diuretics (prescribed for heart conditions and high blood pressure) o Ergot alkaloids (prescribed for migraine headache) o Monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic

antidepressants (prescribed for depression) o Thyroid hormone (prescribed for low thyroid activity). • If you are receiving allergy shots or other immunotherapy under the tongue. Use of more than one of these types of medicines together may increase the likelihood of a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking ODACTRA and contact your doctor if you

can reduce the need for multiple over-the-counter medications. Alderete advises anyone who thinks ODACTRA — or a similar SLIT treatment — might be right for them to consult with their allergist. Patients should be aware that allergy immunotherapy has a risk for severe allergic reactions. Therefore, the first dose must be taken in the doctor’s office and auto-injectable epinephrine is prescribed. “When it comes to seasonal allergies, people should talk to their allergists about the type, duration, and onset of symptoms,” he says. Allergies can make everything hazy year round, especially if you’re unknowingly allergic to house dust mites. But one thing is clear: the latest allergy immunotherapy treatments give you another option beyond allergy shots to help improve allergy symptoms, decrease use of traditional overthe-counter allergy medications, and treat the underlying cause of allergies. Learn more at www.odactra.com. n Jeff Somers

have any mouth surgery procedures (such as tooth removal), develops any mouth infections, ulcers or cuts in the mouth or throat, or have heartburn, difficulty swallowing, pain with swallowing, or chest pain that does not go away or worsens. The most commonly reported side effects were throat irritation/ tickle, itching in the mouth or ears, swelling of the

back of the mouth, lips or tongue. These side effects, by themselves, are generally not dangerous or life-threatening. Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide, for additional important safety information. Copyright© 2019. All rights reserved. ALK-Abelló, Inc. US-ODA-1900041 05/2019 MEDIAPLANET • 9

Suffering from Allergies? Immunotherapy Could Be Your Best Bet

A Food Allergy Nearly Killed Her — Now, Bethenny Frankel Is Raising Awareness After a life-threatening reaction, former Real “Housewives” star Bethenny Frankel is using her platform to raise food allergy awareness. If you’ve ever dined out or flown on a plane, you’ve probably heard a fellow patron or passenger tell their server they have a food allergy. Or maybe you have been that person. Entrepreneur, author, and celebrity Bethenny Frankel wants to raise awareness of what food allergies really look like. “Restaurants roll their eyes because so many people say they’re allergic, but they’re actually on a diet and don’t want to eat butter, so they say they’re allergic to butter,” Frankel says. “If you’re allergic, you could die.” Surviving anaphylactic shock Frankel, a former cast member of the Bravo TV series “The Real Housewives of New York City,” isn’t overstating the severity of food allergies. In fact, she recently went into anaphylactic shock after eating miso soup contaminated with fish. Doctors told Frankel’s boyfriend that if she had arrived at the hospital five minutes later, she may not have survived. Frankel remembers not being able to see an assisting medic’s face before going unconscious. When she woke up, she remembers contemplating if she was having a stroke. Doctors injected her with an EpiPen twice to stop the life-threatening allergic reaction.

PHOTO: JAIME CODY PHOTOGRAPHY

Immunotherapy is an effective way to manage allergy symptoms, and it’s been around for more than 100 years.

Taking precautions Although Frankel has had a fish allergy her whole life, she’d never had such a severe reaction as an adult. “It’s manifested itself in many ways,” she says, explaining that previous reactions have caused her eyes to swell and bruise, and her lips to enlarge to six times their normal size. Before this episode, Frankel never realized how serious food allergies could be, and in the past had downplayed her health condition to avoid making a scene. Now, Frankel always keeps an EpiPen in her purse and the immediate circle of people around her know how to use it in case she has another anaphylactic episode. “It’s a different life now, and there’s a little bit of a fear,” she says, “and they say the more exposure to the allergy you have, the worse it is, so that makes it a little scarier.” She stressed how important it is to understand the key difference between food allergies and food intolerance — and why others should get tested and be prepared if they suspect or know they have a food allergy. “It’s like locking the door so you don’t get robbed,” Frankel says of carrying an EpiPen. “I wasn’t locking the door, and then all of a sudden, I got robbed in the worst possible way. So now I’m locking the door.” n Melinda Carter

You’ve seen the TV, web, and print ads, and you’re pretty sure you know about every allergy treatment on the market. But do you know about allergy immunotherapy, and that one form of allergy immunotherapy — allergy shots — has been available and effective for more than 100 years? Immunotherapy, administered via shots or under-the-tongue (sublingual) tablets, can make a huge difference for allergy sufferers. These methods work by changing your immune system — decreasing some cells, chemicals, and antibodies in your system that cause allergy symptoms, and increasing others that improve health. Allergy shots and immunotherapy tablets let you encounter allergens without having a reaction. That’s an encouraging option for people who suffer from allergy and asthma symptoms and want relief. Options are available Allergy shots can be used to treat sensitivities to grass, tree, and weed pollens; mold spores; cat and dog dander; and house dust mites. Treatment with allergy shots usually lasts 3-5 years. Sublingual immunotherapy tablets treat one allergen at a time and are available for grass and ragweed pollens, and dust mites. To effectively guard against allergy symptoms, you must start taking tablets at least three months before allergy season begins. Talk with your allergist to see if this might be a good option for you. If you think you are one of the more than 50 million Americans suffering from allergies, you can find a board-certified allergist in your area with the allergist locator tool at AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

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