New research being done by FDA & AstraZeneca

A common ingredient in some asthma medications is undergoing safety research. One of the medications affected -- Symbicort.

Check out the press release HERE.

I haven't read too much about Symbicort before this. Interesting all the research that goes into medications.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Have a fun and safe one! :)

The Growth of Singulair

When I was 14 I was prescribed singular to help me get my asthma under control and ever since then I've been on and off the medication. I just read in THIS article that it is one of the most prescribed asthma medications in the world. It says:

Strong Singulair growth driven by allergic rhinitis indication Singulair sales grew by 57% in the fourth quarter of 2002 and grew 35% in 2003 to reach sales of $2 billion for the year. At present it is the most prescribed asthma controller in the US and the second leading product in global total prescription. Merck received FDA approval for Singulair for the relief of symptoms caused by seasonal allergic rhinitis. It is the only brand targeted at both asthma and allergic rhinitis. The company is expected to benefit from patient dissatisfaction with other brands, brand switching and physician familiarity with Singulair as an asthma treatment.

In the coming weeks I'm looking on going back on maintenance medications for my asthma. Singulair will definitely be something I'll be talking to my doctor about.

Childhood onset asthma... Genetic?

THIS is interesting.

The above article suggests that researchers have found a genetic mutation that causes childhood onset asthma. If true and they can figure out which gene it is, better treatments will be able to be developed. This could make a world of difference to the 9 million children in the US with asthma.

(And if they develop something for adults, you bet I'll be the first to go to my doctor to learn more about it!)

Get Cleaner California!

Get cleaner AIR. A recent study by RAND Corporation found that between 2005 and 2007, $193 million was spent on health care as a result of air pollution. Common reasons people went to the hospital -- asthma and pneumonia

Read more HERE

I've been sneezing all winter

... and THIS might have something to do with it!

According to the article from BusinessWeek, climate change has caused pollen season to last even longer. For those people with mild allergies, in some cases it has made them worse. For those of us with severe allergies, the thought of springtime and warm weather has become not as pleasant.

If you start to feel like your allergies are acting up, don't hesitate to go to your doctor - we have a long pollen season ahead of us

FINALLY!

Work has died down and my schedule has cleared up -- Time to start working out again!


Less than 50 days until the Cherry Blossom 5K walk/run.


And in even more exciting developments - I'M GOING TO PUERTO RICO IN 32 DAYS! Yuup, a spa weekend all by myself in the motherland.


Lots to be excited about.. And I promise to write more in the coming weeks