Sleepless Nights May Hurt School Performance of Kids With Asthma TUESDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Urban elementary school children with poorly controlled asthma are likely to experience sleep problems and suffer academically, new research indicates. "In our sample of urban schoolchildren, aged seven to nine, we found that compromised lung function corresponded with both poor sleep efficiency and impaired academic performance," said study author Daphne Koinis-Mitchell, an associate professor of psychi...

Most Americans Say 'No' to Smoking in Their Homes, Cars THURSDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Drop by for a visit or share the drive -- but please, no smoking. That's the message the vast majority of Americans send to the smokers within their social circle, a new study finds. Four out of five adults now have smoke-free rules in their homes, while about three out of four have enacted the same ban in their cars, according to the national survey from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gett...

Health Tip: Exercise With Allergies and Asthma (HealthDay News) -- Exercise is a good idea for anyone, but it poses special challenges for people with allergies and asthma. The American College of Sports Medicine offers these suggestions: Talk to an allergist before starting an exercise program. Take all medications for allergies and asthma as prescribed by your doctor. Breathe through the nose while you exercise. Exercise indoors when outdoor pollen counts are high. Keep windows and doors closed, and e...

Some Blackboard Chalks Might Spur Allergies in Kids: Study TUESDAY, May 7 (HealthDay News) -- Dustless chalk may cause allergy and asthma symptoms in students with a milk allergy, researchers have found. Many schoolteachers use dustless chalk to keep hands and classrooms clean. But this type of chalk often contains a milk protein called casein, which can trigger respiratory problems in children with a milk allergy, according to the study, which was published in the May issue of the journal Annals of All...

For Pregnant Smokers, Vitamin C Might Help Babies' Lungs TUESDAY, May 7 (HealthDay News) -- Vitamin C may help prevent lung problems in babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy, according to a small new study. Pregnant women are advised not to smoke because it can harm the baby's lungs and lead to problems such as wheezing and asthma. But if a pregnant woman can't quit smoking, taking vitamin C may help protect their baby's lungs, researchers found. The study included 159 women who were less th...

Health Tip: Help Prevent Exercise-Induced Asthma (HealthDay News) -- Exercise-induced asthma occurs when swelling and constriction of the airways trigger shortness of breath and chest tightness during or just after exercise. The American College of Sports Medicine suggests how to help reduce the risk of an EIA attack: During exercise, breathe through your nose to help warm the air before it reaches your bronchial tubes. Avoid exercising in air that is cold and dry. Wear a face mask or scarf to help warm...

Trees Plus Man-Made Pollution Creates Smog, Study Suggests FRIDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- Molecules emitted by trees interact with man-made air pollution and create tiny particles that can get lodged in the lungs, potentially leading to lung cancer and asthma, researchers suggest. Trees produce and emit isoprene, a molecule that protects leaves from oxygen damage and temperature fluctuation. But after isoprene is chemically altered by exposure to the sun, it reacts with pollutants called nitrogen oxi...

Allergies: As American as Apple Pie? MONDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Children living in the United States who were born elsewhere are less likely to have allergies than those born in the United States, a new study shows. However, the risk of certain allergies among foreign-born children increases after they have lived in the United States for a decade, according to the researchers. For the study, published online April 29 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics , they examined data from more than 91,600 chi...

Protect Your Kids From Pollen Allergies: Expert SATURDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Many children suffer allergies at this time of year as trees and other plants start releasing pollens into the air. So parents need to monitor their youngsters for symptoms, an expert says. "There are different types of allergies, but if you notice that your child has more symptoms and reactions during the spring it's a clue that they have a pollen allergy," Dr. Joyce Rabbat, a pediatric allergist at Loyola University...

Insurance Loss Hampers Young People With Asthma MONDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- The loss of health insurance is the main reason asthma care for young people deteriorates after age 18, according to a new study. Certain social factors -- such as leaving school and no longer having adult supervision -- also contribute to the decline in care, according to Harvard Medical School researchers. "This study suggests that expanding insurance coverage will help many young adults with asthma receive the care t...