Allergies - General

Everyone has cells called Mast Cells. These cells are made from our bone marrow and only mature once they attach to our tissues. The connective tissues they connect to are all portals to the 'outside' of our bodies, such as our lungs, stomach, skin, nose, etc.. They are very active in controlling infections, and there is some information which states that in the 'days of yore' they were used to fight off parasites, such as tapeworms.

Despite efforts to provide comprehensive asthma care, mortality rates from asthma continue to rise. In the past 25 years, there has been a significant rise in deaths due to asthma in the United States. African-Americans seem to be more at risk than either whites or Hispanices.

Asthma is a disease of the lungs in which the airways become blocked or narrowed causing breathing difficulty, and sometimes respiratory arrest in severe cases. This chronic disease affects nearly 20 million Americans.

An allergy is an inappropriate and potentially damaging immune system response to a substance in the environment, such as pollen or house dust mites.

If a person reacts to such a substance, it means their body has become hypersensitive to that substance. Another person in the same place at the same time might not react. A substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen.

According to an article in the Washington Post, lodging giant Marriott International Inc. announced it will ban smoking in its 400,000 hotel rooms (2,300-plus hotels) in the United States and Canada.