Halloween and Food Allergy- What is the Teal Pumpkin Project?

Halloween and Food Allergy

·        Did you know that one in 13 children under the age of 18 years of age are affected from food allergies?

·        This number is only on the rise and according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since 1997-2011, food allergies have increased by 50%.

·        Sadly, we don’t know why these numbers are increasing. 

·        Children with food allergies often feel left out and isolated as it’s difficult for them to “share” food.  Halloween proposes a particular challenge for parents with food allergies.  The candy filled pumpkin offered up with generosity and fun is a perilous bowl of potential threats for those with food allergies.

·        Candy typically may contain milk, egg, soy, peanuts, tree nuts and latex, some of the most common causes of food allergies.

What is the Teal Pumpkin Project™?

·        Launched as a national campaign by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) in 2014, the Teal Pumpkin Project™ raises awareness of food allergies and promotes inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season. 

           AMAZINGLY! Last year, households from 50 states and 7 countries participated in the Teal Pumpkin Project™ by putting out a teal painted pumpkin to signify that their treats were “food allergy safe”. This year, you can be part of an even bigger movement by joining 100,000 households pledging to participate in the Teal PumpkinProject™!

Gramercy Allergy and Asthma Took The Pledge Have You?

What Do You Have to Do To Participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project™?

·       Place a teal painted pumpkin outside your home or a sign signifying you have non-food related treats available to trick-or-treaters.

·       Take the Pledge!

     Join FARE and 100,000 other households across the USA in providing allergy free treats. 

·       Want to download a sign?  Visit the FARE website http://www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkin-project/downloads#.VgFbFt9VhBc

What are Some Easy Ideas for Non-Food Treats to use for the Teal Pumpkin Project™?

·        Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces ·        Pencils, pens, crayons or markers ·        Bubbles ·        Halloween erasers or pencil toppers ·        Mini Slinkies ·        Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers ·        Bouncy balls ·        Finger puppets or novelty toys

·        Coins ·        Spider rings ·        Vampire fangs ·        Mini notepads ·        Playing cards ·        Bookmarks ·        Stickers ·        Stencils

How Can You Get More Involved with Food Allergy Awareness?

Participate in the FARE WALK For Food ALLERGY- and Help us Say Farewell to Food Allergies. 

Visit the FARE Website

Need help managing specific food allergies?  Please visit click here to schedule an appointment. We will be posting more in the days leading up to Halloween.  Follow us at @gramercyallergy for allergy friendly tips!

Want more help for Food Allergies ?  Gramercy Allergy and Asthma is an expert in treating AERD.  Schedule an appointment with us.  Dr. Jennifer Collins, MD,a Castle Connolly Top Doctor  We are ready to help you with your eczema.  Gramercy Allergy specializes in treatment of food allergies in New York City  

* "The TEAL PUMPKIN PROJECT and the Teal Pumpkin Image are trademarks of Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)."

Halloween and Food Allergy

Gramercy Allergy and Samters Triad (Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease) -AERD Awareness Day Sept 26, 2019

Tomorrow, September 26 marks the 2nd annual Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD) Awareness Day.  Gramercy Allergy hopes to  help educate our patients on this often misdiagnosed disease, and spread the word.  

Think you might have AERD?  Please come in, Gramercy Allergy and Asthma can help. 

What is Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD) or Samter’s Triad?

• Patients with asthma and sinus disease can have reactions to these drugs and are diagnosed with Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD). This is also known as Samter’s Triad.
• Typically patients will have asthma, nasal polyps and allergy to aspirin. You don’t have to have all three diseases to have Samter’s Triad.
• A majority of patients also experience respiratory reactions to alcohol and an impaired sense of smell.
• As many as 7-10% of persons with asthma may have Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD). In patients with severe asthma as many as 15% of patients have AERD. If you have both asthma and nasal polyps the disease may be as high as 40% according to studies.
• The diagnosis of AERD is difficult and many patients are undiagnosed. The first ever AERD Awareness Day was September 26, 2018
• They undergo recurrent surgery for nasal polyps or chronic oral steroid use for their asthma.
• Many think that avoidance of aspirin or NSAIDS will prevent the disease, but THIS IS NOT TRUE.
• AERD can start at any age and is an acquired condition. It may be slightly more common in women then men.

What Are Symptoms Associated with Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease/Samter’s Triad?

• Nasal congestion
• Wheezing, chest congestion
• Severe poorly controlled asthma
• Recurrent nasal polyps.
• Facial pain and pressure
• Flushing and/or a rash
• Nausea and/or abdominal cramping
• Loss of sense of smell/taste
• Adverse reactions to alcohol
• General feeling of malaise

How Do you Diagnose Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease/Samter’s Triad?

• Your doctor may suspect you have AERD based off of your history.
• The gold standard for diagnosis is an aspirin challenge. THIS SHOULD ONLY BE DONE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A HIGHLY TRAINED ALLERGIST. Dr Jennifer Collins, MD and Dr. Meng Chen are both experts in Samter's Triad (Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease) and here to help you with your diagnosis and treatment.  
• An aspirin challenge is performed to evaluate if you have an allergy to aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen.
• Patients with AERD may benefit from aspirin desensitization followed by twice daily aspirin therapy.
  
  Want more help for Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease ?  Gramercy Allergy and Asthma is an expert in treating AERD.  Schedule an appointment with us.  Dr. Jennifer Collins, MD,a Castle Connolly Top Doctor  We are ready to help you with your eczema.  Gramercy Allergy specializes in treatment of AERD in New York City  

3 Fast Tips on How to Beat Springtime Eczema #Allergy

Springtime eczema is one of the most common complaints coming into my office this time of the year.  Kids and adults alike are itchy and scratchy all over. High levels of tree pollen for many can trigger itchy skin changes.   Rapid changes in temperature and humidity that are classic for NYC can trigger an eczema flare leaving families feeling helpless, sleepy  and ITCHY.

Classic areas that eczema appears are the areas of elbows and behind knees.


What can you do to help get skin back under control and possibly even prevent an eczema flare this NYC summer?

• MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE
• Keeping skin well hydrated will help prevent an eczema flare
• Stay hydrated with plenty of water (avoid juices and sugary beverages)
• Bath daily in warm water and avoid strong soaps
• Make sure skin is covered in a good moisturize when still wet
• Pat dry leaving a layer of water on the skin that you can trap into the skin with a moisturizer
• STOP THE ITCH SCRATCH CYCLE
• Have a plan to stop scratching.
• Talk about what to do to prevent the itch and stop it.  Early moisturization can often prevent a flare.
• Send a plan to school with the National Eczema's School Kit 
• Keep emollients like Vaseline, Crisco, Aquaphor of Vaniply in the refrigerator; the cool temperature applied directly to itchy inflamed skin will stop the itch.  Wrap inflamed areas in wet cool paper towels before applying emollients. 
• Use topical steroids and oral anti-histamines if needed.
• Your doctor may advise topical and/or oral antibiotics if skin becomes infected. 
• Get into an oatmeal-Epsom salt bath
• Place dry oatmeal and Epsom salts in a cheese clothe or other porous material, tie tightly, and place under running water.  Oatmeal has natural anti-inflammatory compounds that will help soothe irritated skin.
• TRY TO IDENTIFY TRIGGERS
• See an allergist to help you identify the cause and trigger of the eczema
• Tree pollen can trigger eczema. 
• Rinsing after being outside is key to preventing pollens from sticking to the skin.
• Potential causes may be foods (milk, eggs, and nuts are the most common), lotions, sunscreens and detergents, and skin allergy to dust mite, summertime weeds, and animals.
• Contact dermatitis (an allergy to chemicals in personal care products) is an often overlooked cause of eczema.  
• Identifying other triggers can help you prevent future attacks.  Your doctor may recommend patch testing, a way to look for chemical allergy. 

Want more help for eczema in NYC? Gramercy Allergy and Asthma are experts in treating eczema.  Schedule an Appointmentwith us.  Dr. Jennifer Collins, MD,a Castle Connolly Top Doctor  or Dr. Meng Chen, MD We are ready to help you with your eczema.  Gramercy Allergy specializes in treatment of eczema in New York City.  

Want to read more about eczema- Check out the National Eczema Foundation 

Gramercy Allergy's Five Best Tips To Beat Springtime Allergies in New York City

   


April showers bring about spring flowers, but also stuffy noses, itchy watery eyes, and terrible allergies for the more than 17 million allergy suffers in the United States.

This time of the year, everyone is trying to stay ahead of the pollen counts and prevent symptoms so they can enjoy spring rather then being sick from it.

Here are Gramercy Allergy's Five Best Tips to Help You Beat Springtime Allergies in New York City

1) Know What You Are Allergic Too

• Do you feel like you're allergic to everything?  "When it comes to allergies, knowledge is power when it comes to allergies," says  Gramercy Allergies Dr. Meng Chen.  Being tested for allergies will help you predict before you start feeling sick from symptoms. 
• Testing for allergies is done by putting droplets of different allergens on your arm/back.  You'll have a local reaction.  "By knowing what you are allergic to you can direct therapy in a specific way, rather then thinking you're allergic to everything" says Dr. Chen .  

2) Be Prepared Before Heading Outdoors

   

• Don't think you have to say no to that picnic in the park or the soccer game after school, taking medications before you head outdoors is often pivotal in preventing an allergic reaction.  Most allergy medications work best if you use them before the allergy exposure.

3) Get Tech Savy with Your Allergies

• Downloading an allergy app is an easy way of literally keeping pollen levels at your fingertips.
•  Some of Dr. Jennifer Collins's favorite allergy app like Zyrtec AllergyCast, WebMD Allergy, WeatherBug Poncho: Wake Up Weather will help keep you prepared for what the week has ahead of you pollen wise
• These are perfect for travel where you might not know what you're heading into. 

4) Rock out your inner moviestar with sunglasses

 

• Not only will they keep you fashionable, they'll protect your eyes from the high pollen levels flying around the city.
• "Look for ones with large lens to offer the most protection" says Dr. Meng Chen. 
• Sunglasses act as a physical barrier to help protect eyes and were shown to help reduce overall needs of medications in a 2013 Turkish study.  

5) Scrub a dub dub.

      

• "Shower at night to wash the pollen off your hair and body.  This is key to keeping pollen out of your bed and continued exposure while you sleep," says Dr. Jennifer Collins, MD.  
• If you don't have time to do a full shower, make sure you wash your face and brush your hair well before heading into bed. 

Gramercy Allergy hopes these tips help you enjoy the Spring!

Want more directed tips on springtime allergies?  Visit our www.gramercyallergy.com to schedule an appointment or call us today 212-679-3574 

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