The Funny Side of Allergy Season - Ahh, Choo!

I love pollen by brookenovak @ flickr


From Denny: Check out these just wonderful science facts about pollen from Science Daily:


* Under human-induced climate change we expect higher wind speeds and more frequent storms will move pollen and seeds even farther from the source.

* The older a tree gets, the more pollen it produces each year.

* Long-distance dispersal of transgenic pine pollen is a potential problem only if that pollen is viable.

* Until then, the highest pine pollen had ever been found in the atmosphere was 1000 feet

* The odd thing is that pollen germination did not decline as distance increased ... You would expect germination to gradually drop off as pollen floats further away, but that's not the case.

* Pine pollen can travel up to 1800 miles in a short amount of time.


OK, everyone, do you get the idea that the plant world just might be mad at humanity and this is their revenge? As it was I ran across a study of growing hay fever plants in a carbon dioxide rich environment that caused the plants to produce 61% more pollen. Supposedly, we cannot blame the sooty air all on car emissions as apparently plants and trees make up 80% of the pollution.

So, this is what humanity can expect, just in time for the 2012 predictions of the end of the world as we know it: Climate change is causing faster winds and more storms to blow pollen our way from the ends of the earth that we have never experienced. Trees on this planet are arriving in old age so they are having a last fling at reproducing themselves with the ladies so they are sending out Viagra moments at an alarming rate. Pine pollen is like a blood hound; it likes to travel ridiculously long distances and arrive on your doorstep.


Quote

* I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start sneezing, sometimes for five hours. I tried to find out what sort of allergy I had but finally came to the conclusion that it must be an allergy to consciousness. - James Thurber


*** For the full post with many more funny quotes, a funny allergy season customer service tech support joke and lots of entertaining photos - and your very own special link to a pollen count in your area - hike on over to The Social Poets and Cheeky Quote Day:

Funny Allergy Quotes - Cheeky Quote Day 7 Apr 2010


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Childrens Food Allergies Linked to Obesity

Healthy, Overweight, Obese Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: A new children’s health study has found that food allergies may be linked to obesity. This was a larger study involving over 4,000 children from the ages of 2 – 19.

What did researchers find?

Being overweight or obese was strongly linked to allergic reactions to foods such as peanuts, eggs, (cow’s) milk and other common allergens. They also discovered that overweight or obese children were 25% more likely to have allergic reactions to at least one food, maybe more. In the study, 50% of the overweight or obese children were more allergic to milk than children of normal weight.

Inflammation plays a role in allergies

Researchers also found levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, with an association of being overweight. What this suggests is that systemic inflammation might also play a role in developing allergies.

Study’s author weighs in

The study’s lead author is Dr. Cindy M. Visness who is an epidemiologist with Rho, Inc. Rho, Inc. is involved in clinical trials as a provider for research and statistical services. “While there’s nothing conclusive about our findings, this is one more motivation to try to prevent obesity in children.”

Summary

This study doesn’t prove that obesity actually causes allergies. Other explanations for the association of obesity and allergies are possible such as inflammation. Inflammation occurs from being overweight.

What it does strongly suggest is that overweight children would have fewer allergic reactions to food by lowering their weight. This finding warrants more study about obesity and food allergies. Meanwhile, this is good information for parents overseeing their children’s nutrition.

This study was published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, May 2009.


Written by Denny Lyon

Video: Our Food is Making Our Kids Sick

From Denny: While I'm a fresh foodie and not much for processed foods primarily because of awful taste, texture and smell, this video will open your eyes.

Robyn O'Brien, a young mother of 4 children (in 5 years, guess how busy she is!) is interviewed. She wrote a book after discovering how difficult it is to detect what is in daily foods at the grocery store. Her daughter is severely allergic to eggs and labels don't always record them as not required by law. She reveals many other eye-opening facts in this video you will want to know. She talks about how our FDA regulates our food supply vs. the Europeans and much more.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Asthma in Cats - Natural Cures

Asthma in Cats - Natural Cures -

"Vets say coughing and wheezing are signs of asthma in cats. It is usually caused by dust or pollen in the air. Asthma happens when airways in the lungs become inflamed and constricted making it harder for air to get through. (Dogs are less commonly afffected.)

Writing in the book The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats by the editors of Prevention Magazine Health books say 'While most cats may require medication, there are things you can do at home to keep him breathing easy.'"


By readabook
Graphics from CatStuff