Guest Author - Amy Anaruk

Today I�m using this space to introduce two minor changes to the Asthma site. First, I�m setting a regular day for new articles. From now on, I�ll post articles about asthma fundamentals, triggers, medications, maintenance, and nutrition every Tuesday.

In addition, I�ll post a weekly news round-up on Fridays. This article will contain short write-ups and links to the week�s 2 or 3 most intriguing news items from the world of asthma research and clinical studies.

As always, articles will end up archived in the subject folders to the left even after we stop featuring them on the front page.

To start the new format, I've included 2 short write-ups about recent asthma research. For more information about either story, please see the links at the bottom of the page.

1. The online version of Chest, the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, features the results of a Manitoba study that shows early antibiotic use can increase asthma risk in children by age 7. Perhaps most interesting is that these results apply only to rural children. Kids living in urban areas showed no increased risk no matter their early antibiotic use. Traditionally, children living in rural areas have lower rates of asthma than those in urban settings. (Published April 5, 2007)

2. Doctors have long known secondhand smoke is a risk factor for asthma, but researchers at Columbia University�s Mailman School of Public Health report the increase in cigarette smoking in the past century may explain the enormous increase in childhood asthma. According to the study, the sharp rise in childhood asthma cases parallels a drastic increase in cigarette smoking over the same time. (Published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in May 2007)



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"Smile, breathe and go slowly." -Thich Nhat Hanh



This article is not written by a medical professional, and information on this page should never be substituted for your physcian's advice. If you have any questions about your asthma and/or allergies, you should always contact your physician first.