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The mail bag
The Mail Bag I enjoyed your article “A New Weapon Against Asthma and Allergies? An Introduction to Anti-IgE Treatment” (November/ December 2002). It certainly seems that if this drug lives up to its potential it could change the lives of many people with asthma and other allergies. I worry about all the steroids that my son and I take, and if this drug could help us cut back, it would be a great thing. I will be curious to see what the cost is and whether it will be covered by our insurance. I assume that your magazine will announce when this drug comes on the market. Thanks for profiling this new medication and making us aware of it. Hopefully, it will be approved before too long. Margaret Sampson
an article looking at these seemingly contradictory approaches: exposing your children to dirt and germs verses keeping them away from allergens, such as dust. Louise Turner Cherry Hill, NJ
Thank you for your article on herbal supplements. I am a great believer in a more natural approach to health care. Doctors and traditional medicines are important, but I think it is helpful to take some of these supplements to help build a healthy body. If certain substances can make your immune system stronger, for example, then [those substances] should help keep you healthier overall. What I didn’t realize is the lack of testing and government oversight for these herbal products. I plan to continue taking them because I really feel better when I do. However, the advice from your article about sticking with the larger, better known manufacturers and being wary of products made in other countries seems like good advice. It sounds as though there will be more standards set out for these products in the future, and I think that will be a welcome development.
Akron, OH Don Merrill San Diego, CA
I am curious about a topic discussed in the Allergy and Asthma Connection of your September/October issue. The hygiene hypothesis, as was described, makes a lot of sense, and it is a fascinating concept may be the reason for so many people developing asthma and allergies. I can’t believe how many of my friends’ children have asthma. I went into the school nurse’s office before an overnight class trip, and I was shocked to see bags and bags of inhalers and allergy medications. It seemed like half the class were bringing these medications along. I do wonder about one thing, however: if the hygiene hypothesis is based on the premise that we are too focused on cleanliness and keeping our children away from dirt, dust, and germs, then why do our doctors gives us lists of things to do in our house to limit exposure to dust? Perhaps once the allergies develop it is too late to expose our children to these things. It might be interesting in the future to do
doi:10.1067/mas.2003.14
We want to hear from you! Share your ideas about asthma management or your opinion about an article you have read in Asthma Magazine. Excerpts from selected letters to Asthma Magazine will be reprinted in the following issue, unless anonymity is requested by the sender. We reserve the right to edit based on length. Please send letters to Asthma Magazine, PO Box 473, Hingham, MA 02043.
ASTHMA MAGAZINE
to subscribe call 1.800.654.2452
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9
an article looking at these seemingly contradictory approaches: exposing your children to dirt and germs verses keeping them away from allergens, such as dust. Louise Turner Cherry Hill, NJ
Thank you for your article on herbal supplements. I am a great believer in a more natural approach to health care. Doctors and traditional medicines are important, but I think it is helpful to take some of these supplements to help build a healthy body. If certain substances can make your immune system stronger, for example, then [those substances] should help keep you healthier overall. What I didn’t realize is the lack of testing and government oversight for these herbal products. I plan to continue taking them because I really feel better when I do. However, the advice from your article about sticking with the larger, better known manufacturers and being wary of products made in other countries seems like good advice. It sounds as though there will be more standards set out for these products in the future, and I think that will be a welcome development.
Akron, OH Don Merrill San Diego, CA
I am curious about a topic discussed in the Allergy and Asthma Connection of your September/October issue. The hygiene hypothesis, as was described, makes a lot of sense, and it is a fascinating concept may be the reason for so many people developing asthma and allergies. I can’t believe how many of my friends’ children have asthma. I went into the school nurse’s office before an overnight class trip, and I was shocked to see bags and bags of inhalers and allergy medications. It seemed like half the class were bringing these medications along. I do wonder about one thing, however: if the hygiene hypothesis is based on the premise that we are too focused on cleanliness and keeping our children away from dirt, dust, and germs, then why do our doctors gives us lists of things to do in our house to limit exposure to dust? Perhaps once the allergies develop it is too late to expose our children to these things. It might be interesting in the future to do
doi:10.1067/mas.2003.14
We want to hear from you! Share your ideas about asthma management or your opinion about an article you have read in Asthma Magazine. Excerpts from selected letters to Asthma Magazine will be reprinted in the following issue, unless anonymity is requested by the sender. We reserve the right to edit based on length. Please send letters to Asthma Magazine, PO Box 473, Hingham, MA 02043.
ASTHMA MAGAZINE
to subscribe call 1.800.654.2452
|
9