The Itch: Allergies, Asthma, Eczema & Immunology

Air quality and climate change’s impact on asthma and allergies   The quality of our environment has a direct impact on our health. As temperatures rise, pollen seasons grow longer and pollution worsens due to warmer air, which helps to form ground-level ozone, sometimes called smog.   Kenneth Mendez, President & CEO, Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) , joins us to discuss air quality...

Dr. G and Kortney chat with Dr. Manisha Relan about how food allergies are portrayed in the media both the bad and good sides. They briefly talk about the medical side of anaphylaxis before diving head first into breaking down some famous food allergy scenes.    Dr. Manisha Relan is a pediatric allergist and clinical immunologist at a private practice in central New York, where she sees both child...

Urticaria, also known as hives can be triggered by many things. From the heat to water, to the spontaneous hive, these can be a burden for many patients. Knowing what triggers urticaria can help manage hives and lessen their impact on the quality of life. Hives may feel mysterious, but they don’t have to be. Today Dr Patel , a double board-certified Allergist/Immunologist, joins us to discuss the...

Dr. Lacey Robinson joins Kortney and Dr. G to discuss where we are at with understanding allergic reactions to the two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna).    Dr. Robinson outlines the current theories on what may be causing these allergic reactions, who should get an allergy test before having the vaccine, and what the other symptoms that could appear like an allergic reaction to...

A mini popup episode for you! MILK versus MYLK, what's the deal? Amanda from the blog Everyday Allergen-Free joined Kortney to explore what spelling milk with an 'I' versus milk with a 'Y' means and how it can impact someone’s experience with that food.   This lead to a discussion about feeling left out when you have food allergies and whether getting an allergy-safe version of a classic food make...

Dr Purvi Parikh joins us to talk about the two available Covid-19 vaccines currently available. Dr Parikh and Dr G discuss the nitty-gritty of the two mRNA vaccines, the allergic reactions associated with them and more. What we cover in this episode Understanding herd immunity. What are mRNA vaccines, how do they work and when did they first get developed. Can people with food allergies get the Co...

Registered dietician Alida Iacobellis joins Dr. G and Kortney to discuss how intuitive eating, diet culture, and food anxiety impacts those managing food allergies. Alida uses intuitive eating as a tool to help her clients find food freedom and believes it can also work to help people with food allergies gain a positive relationship with food.  Alida is registered with the College of Dietitians of...

Dr G and Kortney take another deep dive, this time exploring how to treat environmental allergies (allergies of the eyes and nose). A quick recap - when we talk about allergies of the eyes and nose, we are talking about allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis. These are two forms of allergic responses that can be caused by things such as environmental allergens like pollen and grass, dust mites, and...

A deep dive episode about allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis, also known as allergies of the eyes and nose respectively.    These are the two most common types of allergies affecting individuals. In the first part of our deep dive, Dr G goes into detail about the symptoms of the allergies of the eyes and nose, some things that may pose as them, and more. Part two will cover how to treat...

A bonus 'mini' episode all about wearing a mask to help prevent catching and spreading COVID-19. This is an excerpt focusing on face masks from episode #32 about COVID-19 and asthma with Melanie Carver of Allergy Asthma Foundation of America.  What we cover in this episode: Best practices for handling a face mask What to look for when buying or making a face mask How to clean your face mask Can yo...

September is known as September Asthma Epidemic or Asthma Peak Week because of the increased hospitalizations due to asthma. Since we are entering the fall during the COVID-19 pandemic there are some additional preventative steps those with asthma should take this year.    Dr G and Kortney are joined by Melanie Carver, the chief mission officer of Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Melanie...

How do you set up a 504 plan for food allergies and asthma?   Whether it is food allergies, asthma, ADHD or another disability, a 504 plan is an essential part of your child's school experience because it states in black and white why they need accommodations and what they are.   Kristin Osborne joins Kortney and Dr G as she outlines how to set up a 504 plan, what accommodations you can arrange fo...

How do disparities (racial and economic) impact people with food allergies? Dr. G and Kortney explore disparities in food allergies with Emily Brown, the founder of Food Equality Initiative. Emily shares her story of food allergies and food insecurity, and how this impacts so many Americans.  Emily started Food Equality Initiative (FEI) to ensure that no mom has to feel like she did when she first...

Are there special precautions you need to take when pregnant with food allergies?   Chelsey Amer joins Dr G and Kortney to talk about her experience being pregnant with food allergies. As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Chelsey also shares information about proper nutrition during pregnancy for those with and without food allergies.   Dr G also shed some light on allergic reactions and what yo...

What is the secret to feeling comfortable in your skin, especially when you have eczema?   Dr. Gupta and Kortney interview "skinfluencer" Alexis Smith, who shares her eczema journey on Instagram. Alexis has appeared on the cover of People Health Magazine, and Dove Beauty campaigns openly displaying her skin. Alexis shares how to feel comfortable in your skin, how to date, and wear makeup when you...

What can you do to avoid atopic eczema flares?   In part two of the atopic eczema series , Dr G and Kortney discuss treatments and management techniques. From oral steroids to bleach baths, get ready to learn about all the ways you can help maintain healthy skin and avoid flares.   What we cover in this episode: What types of creams should you use to help maintain your skin Medicated creams: stero...

What is the itch that rashes?  Dr G and Kortney are at it again; this time, they are doing a deep dive into atopic eczema. In part one, they go through all the terms associated with atopic eczema, what causes it, the symptoms, and the triggers. In part two, they will be covering treatments and maintenance. What we cover in this episode: Eczema and dermatitis Atopic eczema/atopic dermatitis Contact...

Can you travel with food allergies? You bet! This is how! In this episode, Kortney and Dr. G talk to Allie Bahn, a travel guru, who has been blogging about her adventures since 2008. Despite her allergies, Allie always finds various ways of exploring the world, while being conscious about her condition. Travel has evolved for Allie from road trips with her family as a kid to solo adventures around...

Kissing, love, drinking, oh my! How does a young adult navigate this and more when they have food allergies? Dr G and Kortney sat down with Amanda Orlando, the blogger behind Everyday Allergen-Free and author of the cookbook Everyone's Welcome and Dan Kelly from the podcast May Contain to talk about dating! They set out to talk about navigating love life with food allergies, but the conversation m...

How do you know if you have an under reactive immune system? Did you know Dr G is an allergist-immunologist. This episode explores the function of an immunologist, what they treat patients for and how they go about it. But to fully understand immunology, we first have to know more about the immune system and what can go wrong with it.  What we cover in this episode:   A brief overview of the immun...

What better way to start 2020 than to bust some food allergy myths?   We asked our listeners what food allergy statements they wonder are a myth. Dr G sheds some truth on common misconceptions that circulate the food allergy community.   The myths tackled in this episode: Only kids are affected by food allergies Each reaction is worse than the last Exercise can make a reaction more severe Aspirin...

How do you start giving your allergy kid more control in managing their food allergies?   Live from the Food Allergy Bloggers Conference! Dr. G and Kortney interview mom and daughter pair Gina and Jill as they share some of their presentation about self-advocating and the steps that a family can take in managing their food allergies or any other medical condition.    Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed, works...

How do you navigate life with food allergies when food plays such a significant role in so many cultures?   Dr. G and Kortney talk with Sharon Wong from Nut Free Wok. Sharon is in an allergy mom of two who blogs about recipes, cooking techniques, Asian ingredients, and food allergy related awareness and advocacy issues. She has made it her passion to share her Chinese heritage with her kids despit...

You get home after receiving a food allergy diagnosis, look into your fridge, where do you even start?   In the second part of answering questions on what new food allergy suffers should know, we tackle the lifestyle side of a food allergy diagnosis. Dr G and Kortney are joined by Stefanie Lowe to discuss grocery shopping, navigating labels, how to approach friends and family about your needs, how...

You have been given a new food allergy diagnosis now what? We asked what the most prominent questions people had after receiving their food allergy diagnosis and we answered them for you! In part ONE of 'the questions that arise after a food allergy diagnosis,' Dr G and Kortney answer the medical and science-based questions. In part TWO, they will be tackling the lifestyle side of a food allergy d...