Let‘s Clear the Air! All Things Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

In this episode Marcella Feathers and Dr. Phil Jones discuss how summer activities like fireworks, bonfires, and campfires can trigger asthma and other lung conditions. They explain common asthma symptoms, how smoke particles and gases worsen airway inflammation, and practical precautions such as checking wind direction, keeping distance, carrying a rescue inhaler, and following an action plan.

 

They also cover diagnosis steps including medical history, spirometry with bronchodilator testing, and methacholine challenge, and encourage listeners with uncontrolled symptoms to seek care so they can enjoy summer safely.

In this episode, host Marcella Feathers and Dr. Nicholas Cline examine mail-in allergy tests that use hair or saliva, explaining why experts warn they’re unreliable: they’re often unvalidated, may measure IgG (not the allergy-linked IgE), produce confusing false positives or negatives, and can be costly.

Learn why certain methods of allergy testing are preferred by the specialty and why consulting an allergist before avoiding foods or purchasing an at-home kit can save you money and keep you safe!

In this episode, Dr. Nicholas Cline identifies the "heavy hitters" of spring allergies: trees. From oak to poplar, Dr. Cline describes the way in which allergens are determined and how far their reach can be. (Hint: thousands of miles.) He also shares some simple tips for managing your exposure and why avoiding some nearly perennial allergens may require a more clinical approach for relief. 

In this episode of Let's Clear the Air!, Dr. Phil Jones and host Marcella Feathers discuss the differences between hives (urticaria) and eczema, how the conditions often diminish patients' quality of life, and how several effective treatment options are now available.

Dr. Jones shares the differences between allergically triggered and chronic urticaria and eczema. He explains how each one presents on the skin, how long they last, and how patients can break the itch-scratch cycle through a variety of treatment options. One of the most effective options he describes is biologics, which Dr. Jones says has helped tremendously, causing some patients to declare them as life-changing. 

Most importantly, Dr. Jones emphasizes the importance of letting eczema and urticaria patients know they are not alone – and do not need to suffer anymore!

 

Host Marcella Feathers speaks with Nurse Practitioner Pam Wright and patient Ben (with his mother Amy) about Ben’s struggle with frequent sinus infections, poor sleep, daytime fatigue, and missed school. After allergy testing revealed new results, Ben began allergy shots and experienced dramatic improvements.

The conversation covers the steps involved in testing, his treatment experience, and the life-changing benefits of better sleep, fewer illnesses, and getting back to soccer! Listen as this patient's story offers hope and practical encouragement to families facing similar issues.

Host Marcella Feathers and guest Dr. Erin Rohman address some of the tricky signs of food and environmental allergies in infants and toddlers (spit up, chronic diarrhea, persistent eczema, and frequent runny noses) while providing reasons for comfort and hope to their parents or caregivers. The first step: a conversation with a board-certified allergist.

Dr. Rohman shares how an allergist can help parents work through possible causes of the child's symptoms and how, together with the allergist, they can determine what testing or eliminations are reasonable. This relationship and dialogue can ease parents' doubts and the anxieties that come with any unknowns. And by focusing on how to improve the quality of life for everyone involved, an allergist can help "open up the world for both parents and children."

Listen to learn more about how an allergist works with patients to decipher the causes of allergic triggers and how that expertise can eliminate your child's allergic reactions and improve their immunity and resilience for the long term.

In this episode of Let's Clear the Air, host Liz Edwards and Nurse Practitioner Jim O'Rourke discuss how allergies and asthma disrupt sleep in children and adults — from nasal congestion, mouth breathing, and snoring to histamine’s wakeful effects.

They offer practical tips on how to improve your sleep environment, how to sleep better with pets and stuffed animals, and how (and when) to use a saline sinus rinse. Jim also shares what to expect from an initial visit with an allergist and how medications or allergy shots can help restore better sleep.

Dr. Erin Rohman talks with host Marcella Feathers about acute and chronic sinusitis: the symptoms, the causes, and, most importantly, the solution!

Dr. Rohman begins by describing the differences between acute and chronic sinusitis, which aren’t always very obvious. For example, the color of nasal discharge can be yellow, white, green, clear.... But other symptoms are usually involved: the thickness of the discharge, headaches, cough, bad breath, even a foul smell or taste. Dr. Rohman also shares how the time of year, including the presence of viruses like the common cold, can lead to sinusitis, as well as how allergies introduce yet another variable into the diagnosis.

All of this to say that, like allergies, every patients' symptoms and the root causes of those symptoms are different, and that’s why seeing an expert can help. By conducting a physical exam, reviewing patient history, and ordering imaging if needed, experts like Dr. Rohman can zero-in on your unique situation and offer a unique solution.

Listen to learn more about sinusitis and how board-certified allergists can help make a big difference in your ability to live and breathe better.

Are you confused about pet allergies? In this episode of "Let's Clear the Air," host Liz Edwards and Dr. John Overholt reveal the truth from fiction! 

Listen as Dr. Overholt addresses common questions (or myths) about pet allergies, including the real meaning of "hypoallergenic" breeds. You'll discover why banning your pet from the bedroom is often not enough and how swapping a dog or cat for a "pocket pet" like a hamster or guinea pig can be just as risky for allergy sufferers.

Learn the single most effective cleaning method and, most importantly, how modern immunotherapy makes it so that you and your pet can live together happily ever after–all on this episode of "Let's Clear the Air!"

Dr. Nicholas Cline talks with host Marcella Feathers about a form of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) known as allergy drops.

Allergy drops can be a preferred immunotherapy route for allergic patients who have busy schedules, travel, or are afraid of needles.

Dr. Cline shares his experiences with SLIT patients as well as the results of various studies and how allergy drops compare to other, more limited non-needle options.