SEASONAL & SWINE FLU VACCINE UPDATE
H1N1 VACCINE - we are now re-allocating our swine flu vaccine back to the Department of Health. We are retaining a few vials for booster shots. If you have not had your child's booster shot, please contact the office to see when you could come in.

POLLEN COUNTS
NW Asthma & Allergy is a nationally registered pollen counting station. Although we started screening for pollens in January, we just started getting daily or consistent measurable levels of pollen. We just started posting them daily on the website, as well as supplying this data to local media. We collect 24 hour specimens mid-late afternoon, Monday thru Friday. So what we are reporting is the reading for the 24 hour period just prior to the posting.

Keep in mind that pollen is very “location driven”, what we measure here in metro Seattle, may not be what you are noticing in your neighborhood. More rural neighborhoods will experience higher pollen concentrations.

NORTHWEST ASTHMA HIGHLIGHTED BY PUGET SOUND HEALTH ALLIANCE
Puget Sound Health Alliance is a consortium of hospitals, providers, insurers and employers that have been working to improve the quality of healthcare in our region. They have been collecting data on hospitals and clinics for several years.Our practice has consisently scored very high in the treatment of asthma patients, as reported in the Community Report by PSHA that was just released. Dr. Michael Kennedy spoke at the meeting on July 16th which was attended by all factions of this group. He outlined our treatment methods that produce the outstanding results.
To read more about the clinics and hospitals that were rated by PSHA, go to
www.wacommunity checkup.org

DR. AUDREY Y. PARK JOINS NORTHWEST ASTHMA
Dr. Park will be working at our eastside offices, Redmond, Redmond Ridge and Issaquah starting July 23rd.
Dr. Park did her undergraduate work at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. She obtained her PhD in immunology at the University of Pennsylvania. She did her residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in allergy at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. She is Board Certified in both pediatrics and in allergy and immunology.
You may make an appointment with her by calling any of our offices or by filling out the information on our website under the Contact Us tab.

REDMOND RIDGE OFFICE NOW OPEN
Due to the strong demand for appointments on the eastside, we have opened a new office that is about 10 miles northeast of our current Redmond office. Address: 22635 NE Marketplace Dr, Redmond. This is 1 block south of Novelty Hill Road.
Dr. Tilles will move his practice to this location. Dr. Audrey Park, our newest physician, will also have hours at the Redmond Ridge office. You may receive your shots at this site. There will be some expanded hours. This office is open Mondays-Thursdays, closed on Fridays.
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NEW STUDIES ON PEANUT ALLERGIES
There have been some exciting studies that show promise for the treatment of food allergies. It is important to remember that the peanut oral desensitization study only included a small number of children (30) and nearly everyone reacted during the desensitization. This is still considered very new and experimental but your physician would be happy to discuss this and other studies at your next appointment.

NEW RISKS LINKED TO ASTHMA RISE
A decline in aspirin use, exposure to household sprays and cleaners and lack of vitamin D may all help explain surging asthma rates in the past few decades.
For years the hygiene hypothesis has been used to explain stark differences in asthma rates around the world. In Western countries, asthma rates are about 50 times higher than in rural Africa, for instance. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that Westerners have less exposure to bacteria, viruses and parasites, altering the immune response and increasing risk for allergic diseases.
But Dr. Harold S. Nelson, professor of medicine at the asthma and allergy specialty hospital National Jewish Health in Denver, says the hygiene hypothesis doesn’t fully explain rising asthma rates in the United States and industrialized countries. The incidence of asthma has doubled in the United States since the 1980s.
In a recent talk at National Jewish Health’s annual Pulmonary and Allergy Update conference, Dr. Nelson noted that lower levels of vitamin D, exposure to spray cleaning compounds, and a wider use of acetaminophen in place of aspirin have contributed to the asthma epidemic.
The concern with household cleaners is that the spray mist can be inhaled and irritate the lungs, increasing risk for asthma. The biggest culprits appear to be glass cleaners and air fresheners. A major European study of cleaning product use in 10 countries found that people who used the cleaners four days a week faced double the risk of adult asthma. Weekly use increased risk by 50 percent. Australian researchers have also found a link with household cleaning sprays and asthma in children.
In a November 2007 article in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston reviewed the evidence showing a link between low vitamin D levels in mothers and childhood asthma. The authors wrote:
We hypothesize that as populations grow more prosperous, more time is spent indoors, and there is less exposure to sunlight, leading to decreased cutaneous vitamin D production. Coupled with inadequate intake from foods and supplements, this then leads to vitamin D deficiency, particularly in pregnant women, resulting in more asthma and allergy in their offspring.
Declining aspirin use may also help explain rising asthma rates. Young children should not be given aspirin because it increases risk for Reye’s syndrome. But a common alternative, acetaminophen, the ingredient in Tylenol, may increase a child’s risk for asthma when used in very young children or in high doses. The drug lowers levels of the antioxidant glutathione, which can help protect against lung damage caused by oxidants. In a study of more than 200,000 6- and 7-year-olds, use of acetaminophen in the first year of life was associated with a 46 percent increase in prevalence of asthma symptoms. Children using higher doses of acetaminophen had three times the risk of asthma.
Dr. Nelson notes that the research isn’t conclusive, but that people can take simple measures to lower their exposure to these new risk factors. Use liquid cleaners or pump sprays that don’t generate a fine mist. Eliminate use of spray air fresheners. Pregnant women and mothers should talk to their obstetricians and pediatricians about whether they should consider vitamin D supplements. And parents should discuss pain relievers with the pediatrician. Every pain reliever carries risks, and alternatives to Tylenol like ibuprofen can increase risk for gastrointestinal complaints. However, doctors may recommend switching between pain relievers or limiting exposure to acetaminophen in certain cases.
“There is a lot of supporting evidence for all three of these new risk factors,” Dr. Nelson said.
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LONG-LASTING COLD SYMPTOMS MAY BE SINUSITIS
If your stuffy nose and headache last for more than two weeks, it may be more serious than a cold. Winter is prime season for sinusitis, as the condition most often results from the common cold. Allergy sufferers are also more likely to develop sinusitis.
An estimated 31 million Americans develop sinusitis each year, leading to 18 million physician visits and $5.8 billion in overall health expenditures according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
“Early on, the symptoms of colds and sinusitis are similar,” said Anju Peters, MD, Chair of the AAAAI Rhinosinusitis Committee. “But if symptoms are worsening after 3-5 days, or if they are present for more than 10 days, then sinusitis is the likely culprit.”
Sinusitis occurs when drains in the sinus cavities – hollow areas behind the forehead and cheeks – become blocked due to inflammation caused by a cold or allergies. The blockage prevents mucous from draining normally, leading to infection.
Sinusitis is easily recognized by a green or gray nasal discharge, foul tasting post-nasal drip, facial pain/pressure or light fever.
Sinusitis can last for months, or even years, if not properly treated. A physician will typically prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection and patients may also use decongestants to relieve stuffiness.
An allergist/immunologist is the best-qualified medical professional to diagnose and treat underlying allergies that contribute to sinusitis. Use the AAAAI Physician Referral Directory at www.aaaai.org to find an allergist/immunologist near you. For more information about sinusitis and controlling allergies, visit www.aaaai.org.

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR BILL?
You will be able to have quick access to our Patient Accounts staff via the internet. They will contact you within 48 hours.
ptaccounts@nwasthma.com