Allergy Apps: How to Choose a Pollen, Food or Symptom Tracker You Can Trust
An allergy app can tell you when to keep the windows shut, help you spot patterns in your symptoms, and keep your...
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Hypoallergenic Cats: Is There Such a Thing as an Allergy-Friendly Cat?
No cat breed is truly allergen-free. The main cat allergen, Fel d 1, is made in a cat’s saliva and spread over...
Parasites and Allergies: What the Hygiene Hypothesis Gets Right and Wrong
In places where gut worms are common, allergies tend to be rare. That observation helped fuel the “hygiene hypothesis,” the idea that...
Air Quality Index (AQI) and Asthma: What the Numbers Mean and How to Lower Your Exposure
You can’t lower your city’s Air Quality Index, but you can lower how much polluted air you breathe. The AQI is the...
Acupuncture for Seasonal Allergies: What the Research Shows
Acupuncture is one of the most studied complementary treatments for hay fever. The largest trial, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine...
Pollen Magnified: What Pollen Looks Like Under a Microscope
To the naked eye, pollen is just yellow dust. Under a scanning electron microscope, each grain turns out to have its own...
Salt Water Gargle for Allergies and Colds: Recipe, Benefits and Limits
A salt water gargle is a cheap, simple way to soothe a sore or scratchy throat for a while. Mayo Clinic recommends...
Do Sinus Infections Need Antibiotics? What the Evidence Says
Most sinus infections get better on their own, and most don’t need antibiotics. The CDC says viruses cause most sinus infections, and...
Ultrasonic Humidifiers and Air Quality: How to Choose and Use One Safely
Ultrasonic humidifiers are popular because they’re quiet and make a cool mist. But the EPA notes that ultrasonic and impeller (cool-mist) models...
Air Purifier Myths: 8 Common Beliefs Checked Against the Evidence
Air purifiers can help with some allergy and asthma triggers, but marketing often promises more than they deliver. The EPA’s reviews of...
Why Is Claritin-D Behind the Counter? And Can You Take It With Theraflu?
Claritin-D is kept behind the pharmacy counter because it contains pseudoephedrine, a decongestant that can be used to make methamphetamine. A 2005...
Diet for Allergy Sufferers: What Science Supports and What to Skip
No food or diet has been shown to cure hay fever or other allergies. A balanced diet still matters for your overall...