Is Your Christmas Tree Making You Ill?

If you find yourself reaching tissues during the holiday season, you might find that the cold you think you have may not just be symptoms of a winter flu but actually could be a sign of “Christmas Tree Syndrome.” There are now documented cases of people who have suffered allergic reactions to their Christmas trees…

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Food Allergen Legislation

On 13 December, new legislation (the EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation 1169/2011) will require food businesses to provide allergy information on food sold unpackaged, in for example catering outlets, deli counters, bakeries and sandwich bars. There will also be changes to existing legislation on labelling allergenic ingredients in prepacked foods. Guidance has been developed…

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It’s Okay To Get A Little Dirty…

That is correct – our immune systems were designed to cope with a world full of germs. Unless you live on a farm, postindustrial life can be relatively sterile. According to the hygiene hypothesis, a lack of exposure tips the immune system toward inflammation and allergic tendencies, as does the use of antibiotics in the…

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Why Coughs Don’t Go Away

Ever wondered why coughs don’t seem to go away? The common cough is the most common reason for people to go to their local doctor. Usually, a cough only lasts for up to a couple weeks, so not that long, and is most likely related to an upper respiratory tract infection (URI), for example the…

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Love You Gut Awareness Week

As part of “Love your gut awareness” Yakult are hosting a training day in London . Unfortunately I am unable to attend but I am a Member of the distinguished panel of experts. My interest in this is multi-disciplinary since as well as being an Allergist I am a Home Perentral Nutritional nurse. Gut flora…

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National Eczema Awareness Week

National Eczema Week 2014 has kicked off today with a series of helpline events, the first being today in Union Square, Torquay Apologies to those who don’t have eczema but do have a read to give you an insight into the wonderful world of eczema and taming the itch. In 2005 Eczema affected around 5.7…

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Can We Prevent Allergies Whilst The Child Is In The Womb?

Sometimes it seems as though we are ruled by what we can’t do.. Don’t do this, don’t do that – don’t eat this don’t eat that. When a woman is pregnant these rules are rammed home even more, some of them such as don’t smoke make perfect sense and some such as don’t eat blue…

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