The Itch: Allergies, Asthma, Eczema & Immunology

#7 - Asthma Part 1 - What is asthma & how is asthma diagnosed?

How is asthma diagnosed?

 

Similar to many of the atopic diseases, asthma is not black and white. When it comes to diagnosing asthma, there are many factors including history, allergies, biology, and tests that are performed by your doctor (allergist, pulmonologist or primary care doctor).

 

Asthma is a massive topic, and we can't cover in it one episode, let alone take a deep dive. We will be breaking down asthma into three episodes covering all the essential aspects you need to know.

 

In the first part of our three-part series, we outline the symptoms and triggers of asthma as well as the tests that doctors perform to diagnose asthma. Dr G and Kortney also talk about differentiating an asthma attack and allergic reaction.

 

Part 2 of the series will be about the types of asthma and severity. Part 3 will cover the treatments available for asthma and what goes into an asthma action plan.

 

What we cover in this episode:

• Dr G and Kortney briefly discuss their time advocating for patients with asthma and allergies on Capitol Hill
• The anatomy of the lungs
• Define asthma and outline its symptoms and triggers
• How doctors diagnose asthma
• The tests used to diagnose asthma
• How an asthma attack can mask an allergic reaction

Supporting info: www.itchpodcast.com/blog/episode-7

#6 - Interview with Meg from Allergy Awesomeness: her allergy mom journey with EOE

Managing life with 2 multiple allergy kids and EOE

 

Dr G and Kortney talk to Megan Egbert Lavin the blogger behind Allergy Awesomeness and author of An Allergy Mom's Lifesaving Instant Pot Cookbook.

 

Meg opens up about her journey as someone who knew nothing about allergies to having two sons with multiple allergies. On top of the food allergies, Meg's oldest son was diagnosed with EOE before the age of two. She also shares how she works with her husband to manage allergies in the home and how you can get your partner to take a more active role as a caregiver.

 

Not sure what EOE is? No worries, Dr G breaks it down.

 

What we cover in this episode:

• Meg's journey from her son's first reaction to yoghurt to his EOE diagnosis
• How to engage your partner when managing food allergies.
• Whether to keep an allergy-free house or not
• Cooking for multiple food allergies
• What is EOE (Eosinophilic esophagitis)

Supporting info: www.itchpodcast.com/blog/episode-6

#5 - The types of allergy testing & why they can be so hard to interpret

Figuring out the art of allergy testing.

 

Allergy testing can feel overwhelming, scary, and not always black and white. Like most things that pertain to allergies, both food and environment, the answer is not always a straight path. So what do you need to know about allergy testing?

 

Dr G explains the types of allergy testing you can expect to undergo at the allergist office (skin prick, blood test and oral challenge). She also describes how an allergist uses the data from tests and patient history to help deduct what the allergen may be. Kortney chimes in with her own experience, since she has experienced it all from passing an oral challenge, to failing one, and many false negatives.

 

What we cover in this episode:

• Types of allergy testing: skin prick, blood test, and oral challenge
• Explain why allergy tests are a challenge to interpret
• Why it is important to know what a false positive and false negative are in regards to allergy testing
• The importance of patient history when it comes to interpreting allergy tests
• The mind-body connection when undergoing an oral challenge
• What happens in a double-blind oral challenge

Supporting info: www.itchpodcast.com/blog/episode-5

 

#4 - Interview with Emma Amascato: her allergy journey & managing her son's asthma

An allergy mom takes action and writes a book about it!

 

Kortney and Dr G interview Emma Amoscato the blogger behind The Free From Farmhouse and author of the book Living with 'Allergies: Practical Tips for All the Family'.

 

Emma shares her journey into becoming an allergy mom of two and her son's experiences with asthma. Emma also talks about how her son copes with severe asthma attacks and having multiple allergy testing done at a young age.

 

Plus, Dr G explains a little more about asthma and the treatments available.

What we cover in this episode:

• Emma's journey into becoming an allergy and eczema mom 
• How Emma discovered her son's allergies and how she was prepared for her second child's allergies 
• A brief overview of asthma, pedantic asthma, and available treatments
• How to help your children take ownership of their allergies and asthma

Supporting information: https://www.itchpodcast.com/blog/episode-4

#3 - Managing food allergies as an adult & tips on dining out and traveling with allergies

What is it like growing up with food allergies, asthma and eczema?

Time to get to know our co-host Kortney, aka allergy girl, a little better. Kortney opens up about her journey with allergies, asthma and eczema, and shares some tips on how to manage them, so they don't hold you back from living your fullest life.

What we cover in this episode:

• Kortney's story and why she decided to start a blog about food allergies
• What it is like living with food allergies, asthma and eczema as an adult
• Tips on how to dine out with food allergies and how to use an allergy card (chef card)
• How to travel with food allergies
• The importance of defining boundaries when managing a health condition

Supporting information: https://www.itchpodcast.com/blog/episode-3

#2 - The science behind an allergic reaction & why are allergies on the rise?

Why have allergies increased so drastically in the last two decades?

This episode takes a more in-depth look at what causes an allergic reaction, breaking down the parts involved in a reaction, and what symptoms to look out for in an allergic reaction. Dr Gupta also explains some theories into why someone may develop allergies and why they are on the rise.

What we cover in this episode:

• The symptoms of an allergic reaction
• What happens during an allergic reaction
• What the term IgE means and how it relates to allergies
• The atopic march
• Theories looking at the rise of allergies such as the hygiene theory

Supporting information: https://www.itchpodcast.com/blog/episode-2

#1 - TUNE INTO EP 95 FOR UPDATED SCIENCE BEHIND AN ALLERGIC REACTION

THIS EPISODE HAS BEEN UPDATED! Please tune into episode 95 for the most recent information about the science behind an allergic reaction and more!

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Why did an allergy girl and an allergist immunologist decide to team up and start a podcast? Listen on to find out why they want to spread awareness about allergies, asthma and immunology. Plus learn what an allergist does and why you should see one. 

MORE INFO

• Our website: https://www.itchpodcast.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theitchpodcast/
• Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill:http://www.allergyasthmanetwork.org/advocacy/allergy-asthma-day-capitol-hill/
• Article "More than 1 in 10 US adults has a food allergy, study finds": https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/04/health/adult-food-allergies-prevalence-study/index.html