It’s New Year’s Eve, so let’s look back at the stories that generated the most traffic and/or comments on the Asthma Mom blog this year. Thank you all for visiting and subscribing to the blog throughout 2008 and for sharing your stories, experiences, and insights with me.
I hope you’ll keep reading in the new year, [...]

Filed under: Asthma Triggers, EPA & FDA Fun, Holidays, Lung Drugs, News & Research | 1 person talking »

So did you have a good Christmas or (if you don’t celebrate) a pleasant week? I can tell you about my Christmas in one word:
Hot.
Yes, hot.
Look, I know I live in Florida (for now). But this is north Florida first of all, and it’s a big state. Secondly, even this far south, December is generally [...]

Filed under: Holidays, My Asthma Girl & Me | 6 people talking »

****CONTEST HAS ENDED****
While I won’t be blogging at all next week, enjoy this Christmas present from me to you.
Actually, this is sort of from me (I’m contributing the blog space) but mostly from the nice folks over at Yes to Carrots, the purveyors of paraben free, organic veggie-filled hair and skin products like those lip [...]

Filed under: Holidays | 7 people talking »

Asthma School Program Reduces Symptoms, Absences
California middle and high school students who participated in an asthma education and management program in their schools exhibited fewer symptoms and fewer missed school days because of asthma. Considering kids take control of their own asthma care sooner than previously thought and they spend the majority of their day [...]

Filed under: Holidays, News & Research, School and Sports | 1 person talking »

No, not that Christmas birthday story.
I’m talking about AG’s Steadfast Sidekick who, as you may recall, turns seven this Saturday and had her party over a week ago.
This is her, sans one front tooth and wearing her favorite present:

I’m talking about those glasses, which are fake. Which are carried around in their own glasses case, [...]

Filed under: Uncategorized | 5 people talking »

Boy Survives Arrow Impalation of Eye, Head
In China, 11 year-old Liu Cheong is okay because even though the arrow went all the way through to the back of his skull, it actually missed his brain. Make sure you click on this one to see the x-rays.
Worst. Retirement. Party. Ever.
This guy wasn’t so lucky. You’ll never [...]

Filed under: Holidays, Weird Health | 1 person talking »

This morning, I read a press release about a new inhaled medication delivery system that wouldn’t require a propellant. As you guys already know, the CFC-based propellant in the older inhalers is officially banned on December 31, prompting the need for the more expensive HFA-propelled models we have now.
The new delivery system from Next Safety [...]

Filed under: Lung Drugs, News & Research | 3 people talking »

I’ve been getting a lot of hits lately through people conducting Google searches for holiday asthma triggers. If you’re one of them and new to Asthma Mom, welcome to the Blog of Inferior Breathing. Starring Asthma Girl (age 9), her Steadfast Sidekick (age 7 on Saturday), and me.
Let’s talk Christmas and asthma.
Wondering if your Christmas [...]

Filed under: Holidays, My Asthma Girl & Me, Tips & Tricks | 1 person talking »

Update on the FDA Panel on Advair and Other LABA’s
The good news: nothing’s getting pulled off the market.
The bad news: but they say the risks are greater than the benefits for Serevent and Foradil.
The good news: Advair seems okay, although the panel was much more supportive of its use in adults than in children. In [...]

Filed under: Air Quality, Asthma Triggers, EPA & FDA Fun, Holidays, Lung Drugs, News & Research | 1 person talking »

December finds the real vs. live tree debate on all the eco-aware websites, and articles about Christmas trees and mold triggers on all the asthma ones.
This year, I’m combining the two subjects and including information from my post last year.

The basics:
- Live trees bring mold indoors.
- But artificial trees are made of polyvinyl chloride, or [...]

Filed under: Air Quality, Asthma Triggers, Holidays, My Asthma Girl & Me | 7 people talking »