Allergy Testing: How They Do It

Posted on01. Dec, 2011 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

.Allergy Tests According to the Americam College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology: More than 50 Million people in the US have allergies Adults and children of any age can be tested Testing options include Skin tests, or Blood tests 2 types of skin tests: Drop of suspected allergen is scratched on the skin surface, usually [...]

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You CAN Control Your Child’s Allergies

Posted on04. Aug, 2011 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

Allergic rhinitis – usually simply called “allergies” – is a chronic illness resulting in stuffy, runny nose, nasal congestion. Itchy, burning eyes and general low energy are often associated. Take a look at those couple of pollen grains and it’s easy to see why your eyes might itch. Ouch! You know all that, or you wouldn’t [...]

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When Your Allergic Rhinitis Is NOT Allergic

Posted on16. Jun, 2011 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

Most of the readers of this blog site are familiar with the symptoms of rhinitis: Stuffy nose – nasal congestion Runny nose – “rhinorrhea” Phlegm in the throat – “post-nasal drip” Most of us make the assumption that these are signs of allergies – allergic rhinitis – that these symptoms result from an allergic reaction [...]

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Poll Results: What is Your Method for Nasal Saline Rinses?

Posted on31. Mar, 2011 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

Well, the poll results are in. I usually  try to take a poll down once a couple hundred results are recorded. This poll has reached over 290 results, and the results were not what I had expected: What Methods Do We Use for Nasal Saline Rinses? 51% still use the Neti pot, as you can [...]

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Rhinitis of Pregnancy – What It Is, What To Do About It

Posted on03. Mar, 2011 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

Miracles Yes, growing a new human inside you is a miracle, one of life’s wonders. Something to cherish, and we men envy this about you. You –  woman – are amazing! But, we don’t envy the physiological toll that pregnancy collects from you women – pregnancy, for all of its beauty, can be physically grueling. [...]

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Ask The Expert – Teach Your Child to Blow Their Nose

Posted on20. Jan, 2011 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

I often receive emails asking how parents can get their toddlers or children to blow their noses. It can be frustrating – for both parents and their children. And all of that nose goop is just setting your child up for a more serious rhinitis or sinusitis. In this Ask The Expert article, Dr. Hana tells us how she teaches kids to blow their noses.

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Rhinitis, Sinusitis, Otitis, Laryngitis, Adenoiditis, Tonsillitis Are All Connected

Posted on25. Nov, 2010 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

Cut From the Same Cloth The Unified Airway Model helps explain why children who have rhinitis also get more than their share of otitis (ear infections) or adenoiditis or tonsillitis or sinusitis or asthma exacerbations, etc. All these anatomic regions have a similar lining, and when one area becomes inflamed or infected, they can all [...]

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Dust Mite Dust-Up

Posted on30. Sep, 2010 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

That image is a scanning electron micrograph photo of a group of American House Dust Mites having a party.  These little guys are the most common indoor allergen and trigger for asthma, and they contribute to rhinitis and eczema. Here are some facts, and 12 STEPS that you can take put a damper on their [...]

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Chronic Airway-Digestive Inflammatory Disorders: do YOU have CAID?

Posted on23. Sep, 2010 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

Allergic Rhinitis: 40 – 50 Million in USA with allergic rhinitis 10-30%  of adults have allergic rhinitis Almost 40% of children miss some school each year due to allergies! 12 Million doctor-visits per year for allergic rhinitis! 55% of those with sinusitis have history of allergic rhinitis. Sinusitis: estimated 20-30 Million in USA with sinusitis [...]

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Better Living Through LESS Chemistry: 8 Natural Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

Posted on26. Aug, 2010 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) are ubiquitous – they are all around us, and in us. In addition to allergies, rhinitis, asthma, alterations in our immune systems, and neuro-toxicity, these toxins have been linked to cancer, diabetes, and birth defects. We have recently reviewed how to reduce them in our water and our food. Here are some small steps that will make a BIG difference in your life.

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Better Living Through LESS Chemistry: Food & Water

Posted on12. Aug, 2010 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

Bottled Water It’s Embarrassing Americans spend more money on bottled water than iPods or movie tickets! Not that those are expenditures to be proud of. It’s a WASTE Americans churn through 2.5 Million plastic bottles EVERY HOUR of every day.  It is estimated that the amount of oil used to produce those bottles could fuel [...]

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The 8 Basic Principles to Control Your Child’s Sinusitis

Posted on10. Jun, 2010 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

For most of my sinusitis patients, the doctors have tried everything to treat their sinus troubles. Their parents feel like their kids are an ongoing experiment for those docs. Chronic sinusitis is a challenge. Everyone is frustrated: the child, the parents, the docs. There is no easy answer. No quick cure. Even so, you CAN make things better with a few simple rules. Here are the 8 basic tips that you can follow to improve the quality of life for YOUR little boogor-head.

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Thanks ShoutOut

Posted on07. Jun, 2010 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

I want to thank “Dr. Hana” for helping put a check mark next to one of my BIG to-do’s. It isn’t often that one of the BIG items on my long (way too long) to-do list gets a check-mark. It is truly remarkable when someone else takes care of the check-mark, with no effort on my part.

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Can Your Child’s Allergies be Cured with Drops Under the Tongue?

Posted on05. Apr, 2010 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

Allergic Rhinitis will affect nearly half of our children. Treatment options include: medications that risk changing brain development and sleep or behavioral problems; “allergy shots,” but nobody likes needles, especially kids. So, are “drops under the tongue” an option? Here’s the scoop …

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6 Impressive Facts About Allergic Rhinitis

Posted on26. Mar, 2010 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

Nearly half of our children will be affected by allergic rhinitis. A simple stuffy nose can lead to missing school, lots of doctor visits, and worse – sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Here are the facts and numbers.

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What is Sinusitis ?

Posted on15. Mar, 2010 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

Strictly speaking, sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses ― air-filled cavities in the skull and facial skeleton. Sinusitis often follows infection in the nose (virus, bacteria, or mold), or inflammation in the nose (rhinitis) from some other cause, such as from allergies – allergic rhinitis. Here are the details, with figures.
There will be a pop quiz …

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Anatomy of Nose Bleeds in Children

Posted on04. Mar, 2010 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

I have been seeing my recurrent and chronic nose-bleeders in clinic again. It goes with the season. Now that we are in the cold-weather, heat-is-on-air-is-dry season, you are bringing your children with nose bleeds to see me in clinic again. So I thought now would be a good time to review nasal bleeds (epistaxis) in children.

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Allergic Rhinitis CAN Be Controlled – Here’s How

Posted on04. Mar, 2010 by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD.

Allergic rhinitis – usually simply called “allergies” – is a chronic illness resulting in stuffy, runny nose. Itchy, burning eyes and general low energy are often associated. It is estimated that allergic rhinitis affects nearly 50 Million Americans. Over half of those with sinus disease have a history of allergic rhinitis, and it is estimated that close to 95% of those with asthma have rhinitis. Your child may have both too. How to ‘freeze’ those allergens?

The good news – allergies CAN be controlled.

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