When 10-year-old Andye came to play with my daughter Alanna, I would always limit their time in the basement – not just because that’s where the TV was, but also because Andye was allergic to our cats. These calico beauties scattered their dander throughout the house, but I knew it collected heavily in the carpeted, windowless room downstairs. Read the rest of this entry »

Making a list, checking it twice… No, I’m not talking about Santa Claus–I’m writing to YOU! Holidays get so filled with frivolity that we often neglect important routines such as checking expiration dates on medication until Read the rest of this entry »

Read the December 2009 issue of The MA Report – online now! What’s inside: “A Spoonful of Sugar: Giving Medicine to Kids”… Do you know the difference between sulfites (a preservative that some people are allergic to) and sulfates (found in some bronchodilator metered-dose inhalers)? Not a chemist? Read the rest of this entry »

’Tis the season – time to celebrate with family and friends. But for people with allergies or asthma, some holiday get-togethers are more stressful than festive. What do you do about your favorite aunt’s delicious walnut brownies? Or Grandpa’s smoking? Or Uncle Bob’s dander-laden dog? Read the rest of this entry »

By Christie Chapman

Ask a child to draw a picture of a happy day, and you can expect that child to crayon a bright yellow sun smiling down from the sky. Golden sunlight drenches many of our happiest memories, from summers at the beach to Read the rest of this entry »

By Mr. Whiskers, special correspondent to AAT

Look. When you brought me into your home, you made it all seem so nice. A doting family, long naps in the sun, no chores. I would have my run of the place, and you would cheerfully pluck my hairs from your dark-colored clothing.

Read the rest of this entry »

Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) asked children to tell us—in pictures and in their own words—how they felt during an asthma attack, and how they felt when they could breathe again. What they told us was enlightening—and heart-rending.

We collected their drawings and stories to share in this video Read the rest of this entry »

Every breath we take contains millions of particles of dust, allergens, chemicals, pollutants and other tiny molecules. And while pollen and outdoor air pollution get most of the attention, Environmental Protection Agency – or EPA – studies show that pollutant levels inside homes and buildings are two to five times higher than outside! Read the rest of this entry »

AAT BONUS ONLINE: Clean Energy Series, Part 2: On the Wind and a Prairie
by Christie Chapman

Driving through Somerset County, Pennsylvania, you see them. Up there, high on the rolling hills, the wind turbines look like giant mechanical flowers, their petals Read the rest of this entry »

John and Fred Walsh discover a family gene behind their breathing problems.

AAT Bonus Online: Interview with John Walsh, co-founder of the COPD Foundation

John Walsh, co-founder of COPD Foundation, vividly recalls the day his twin brother called and said, “I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is, I’ve found out why we’ve been struggling to breathe these past few years. It’s Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic disorder that causes COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] in people our age. Now that we can put a name to it, we’ll know how to treat it. Read the rest of this entry »