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Here is a complete list of all available publications

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Allergic Rhinitis  

by Staff
 
Allergic rhinitis is a term describing the symptoms produced by inflammation and irritation of the mucus membranes of the nose, sinuses, throat, eyes, and ears. This condition is caused by the interaction of allergens (allergy causing substances) with allergy cells lining the membranes of the respiratory tract. Allergic rhinitis is a very common condition, with recent data suggesting that 20-30% of the U.S. population is symptomatic.
Allergy Injections  

by Staff
 
Allergy injections or allergy shots are terms often used to describe allergy immunotherapy. The goal of allergy injections is to make you less allergic to a particular allergy-provoking substance.
Allergy To Cats  

by Staff
 
It is estimated that one-third of all U.S. households own a cat and that one-third of cat owners are allergic to their cats. This amounts to 6 million individuals! Studies have shown that the material that is responsible for causing the allergic reaction (allergen) is concentrated in cat dander and saliva.
Animal Allergy  

by Staff
 
Allergy to animals such as cats, dogs, farm animals (horses, cattle, sheep, hogs and goats) and laboratory animals (rabbits, rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters and guinea pigs) is common. The material that causes the allergic reaction (allergen) may be found in saliva, skin dander and urine (an important source of rodent allergens). When allergic individuals contact these allergens, symptoms of asthma, eczema and/or nasal or eye allergy may occur.
Asthma In Pregnancy  

by Scott L. Osur, MD
 
Asthma is a frequent medical condition that occurs in approximately 17 million Americans, and many people with asthma suffer from allergies as well. Women of child bearing age, who are or may become pregnant, need special consideration in treating their asthma or allergies.
Childhood Asthma, Inhaled Steroids and Growth  

by Scott L. Osur M.D.
 
Recent studies confirm that the long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids to treat asthma in childhood does not stunt growth. Indeed inhaled steroids are not only safe to use in children with asthma, but also are the most effective medications to improve lung function and quality of life.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)  

by Ellen W. Boyle, FNP
 
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a nonspecific term used to describe a set of lung disorders including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and certain presentations of asthma.
Dust Mites  

by Staff
 
They live by the thousands in your bedding, carpet and mattress. They feed on flaked off human skin in bedding, carpet and stuffed furniture. Their droppings are the size of a pollen grain. For those who are not allergic, these microscopic relatives of spiders cause no harm. For the allergy sufferer, they are frequently the main cause of “dust” allergy.
Effect of Anti-Inflammatory Medication on Asthma  

by Thomas N. Flaim, M.D.
 
Asthma as a chronic inflammatory disease is now well established. If asthma is treated appropriately, we ought to be able to minimize damage to the airways. The focus when treating asthma has shifted from simply treating symptoms to one in which prevention of symptoms is paramount.
Exercise Induced Asthma  

by David J. Shulan, MD
 
Do you cough, have shortness of breath, chest tightness, or wheeze with exercise? Does exercising in cold air make your symptoms worse? If so, you could have exercise induced asthma. Asthma as a chronic condition is seen in about 7% of the population in the United States. Exercise induced asthma may even be a more common condition.
Food Allergy in School  

by Virginia A. Spickerman, RPA-C
 
Estimates of food allergy in the school age population suggest that one to two percent are at risk for a life threatening allergic reaction. Approximately one hundred food related anaphylactic (severe allergic reaction) deaths occur in the United States each year. People with asthma face a greater risk. (Please note: While this article addresses food allergy in the school setting it is applicable to other settings such as daycare, after-school care and summer camp.)
Food Allergy: Fact and Fiction  

by Scott L. Osur, MD
 
Allergists are commonly asked to evaluate both children and adults for possible food allergy. It is important to differentiate an allergy caused by an immune reaction to a food versus an intolerance or sensitivity to a food.
Hives and Angioedema  

by Staff
 
Hives can be a very distressing form of allergic reaction. A hive is an area of swollen skin (wheal) surrounded by red skin (flare). They often are itchy. A single hive can last just a few minutes or for days. Hives can occur as a single episode or recur for years.
Is Oral Allergy Desensitization Ready For 'Prime Time'?  

by Scott L. Osur, MD
 
Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT) desensitization (“allergy shots”) has been recognized as an efficacious therapy for allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma and stinging insect allergy for many decades. Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT), is a relatively new method of desensitization that has been studied in Europe over the past twenty years.
Latex Allergy  

by Staff
 
Latex is a milky fluid (sap) from rubber trees. Through various production methods and combination with other chemical additives, latex can be processed into a variety of molded or dipped products. Dipped products including gloves, balloons, and condoms, are known to pose a greater risk of an allergic reaction than molded products such as car tires, rubber hoses and toys.
Mold Allergy  

by Staff
 
The results of history and testing indicate that mold allergy is an important part of the cause of your allergic symptoms. Molds are a form of living plant life, which are widely distributed. Hundreds of varieties are known and certain of these are of great importance in allergy.
Peak Flow Meter Graphs  

by  
 
Graph for patient use in recording Peak Flow results.
Pollen Allergy  

by Staff
 
Airborne pollen grains are a major trigger of a variety of allergic symptoms. Pollen grains are reproductive structures of seed bearing plants. Most pollens of allergic importance are wind-borne and too small to be seen by the unaided eye.
Sinusitis  

by Staff
 
Sinusitis is inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, the air cavities within the cheekbones found around and behind the nose. The sinuses have a lining of cells that have small hair-like extensions (cilia) that beat and move mucus out of the sinuses and into the nasal cavity through small openings (ostia).
Spirometry: For Early Diagnosis and Management Of Asthma  

by Kris K. Saririan, MD
 
Studies have shown that patients with asthma and their physicians often underestimate the severity of this disease. To make matters worse, many asthmatics can have little or no symptoms with routine daily activities for decades before disease progression actually catches up with them.
Stinging Insect Allergy  

by Staff
 
In the Capital Region, bees are the most common stinging insects to produce an allergic reaction. In other parts of the U.S., fire ants are also a common stinging insect.
The Association Between Asthma and Gastroexophageal Reflux Disease  

by Michael G. Katlan, MD
 
Asthma can be triggered by many different conditions. Most commonly allergens play a significant role; however, there are other triggers that can make asthma worse. Increasingly the association of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and worsening asthma is being recognized.
The Dry Facts About Atopic Dermatitis  

by Kris K. Saririan, MD
 
A common cause of chronic eczema, atopic dermatitis, is actually a constellation of clinical features that define its course. The most cardinal characteristic of this dry, itchy skin condition is its early age of onset and chronic relapsing pattern. Seasonal flare-ups are common and diagnosis can be made at various stages. Acutely, the rash could be vesicular (blisters) or papular (small bumps) with more chronic changes resulting in redness and thickening of the skin.
Use Of The Peak Flow Meter To Monitor Asthma Control  

by Janet L. Claassen, MD
 
A peak flow meter is a device that measures how well air moves out of the lungs. During an asthma episode, the airways of the lungs usually begin to narrow slowly. The peak flow meter detects and measures the severity of narrowing of the airways, or airflow obstruction.
   
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