Asthma is the most common, potentially serious medical condition to complicate pregnancy. In fact, asthma affects almost 7 percent of women in their childbearing years. Well-controlled asthma is not associated with significant risk to mother or fetus. Although uncontrolled asthma is rarely fatal, it can cause serious maternal complications including high blood pressure, toxemia and premature delivery. Fetal complications of uncontrolled asthma include increased risk of still birth, fetal growth retardation, premature birth, low birth weight and a low Apgar score at birth. Asthma can be controlled by careful medical management and avoidance of known triggers, so asthma need not be a reason for avoiding pregnancy. Most measures used to control asthma are not harmful to the developing fetus and do not appear to contribute to either spontaneous abortion or congenital birth defects. Although the outcome of any pregnancy can never be guaranteed, most women with asthma and allergies do well with proper medical management by physicians familiar with these disorders and the changes that occur during pregnancy. What is asthma and what are its symptoms? Asthma is a condition characterized by obstruction in the airways of the lungs caused by spasm of surrounding muscles, accumulation of mucus, and swelling of the airway walls due to the gathering of inflammatory cells. Unlike individuals with emphysema who have irreversible destruction of their lung cells, asthmatic patients usually have a condition that can be reversed with vigorous treatment. Individuals with asthma most often describe what they feel in their airways as a “tightness.” They also describe wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough. Symptoms of asthma can be triggered by allergens (including pollen, mold, animals, feathers, house dust mites and cockroaches), environmental factors, exercise, infections and stress. What are the effects of pregnancy on asthma? When women with asthma become pregnant, a third of the patients improve, one third worsen, and the last third remain unchanged. Although studies vary widely on the overall effect of pregnancy on asthma, several reviews find the following similar trends: • Women with severe asthma are more likely to worsen, while those with mild asthma...

Advice from your Allergist You may have allergic rhinitis if … You sneeze a lot, often in rapid succession…your nose is runny, congested or stuffy…you’re bothered by itching of the nose, eyes, throat or roof of the mouth…you’re nagged by postnasal drip… your ears pop or are plugged… you have a decrease sense of smell…and/or you get sinus headaches. What is allergic rhinitis? Known to most people as hay fever (see box below), allergic rhinitis is a very common medical problem affecting more than 15% of the population, both adults and children. Allergic rhinitis takes two different forms – seasonal and perennial. Symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis surface in spring, summer and/or early fall and are usually caused by allergic sensitivity to pollens from trees, grasses or weeds, or to airborne mold spores. Other people experience symptoms year-round, a condition called perennial allergic rhinitis. It’s generally caused by sensitivity to house dust, house dust mites, animal danders and/or mold spores. Underlying or hidden food allergies are considered a controversial cause of perennial nasal symptoms. Some people may experience both types of rhinitis, with perennial symptoms worsening during specific pollen seasons. As will be discussed later, there are also other causes for rhinitis. What causes the sneezing, itchy eyes, and other symptoms? When a sensitive person inhales an allergen (allergy-causing substance) like ragweed pollen, the body’s immune system reacts abnormally with the allergen. The allergen binds to allergic antibodies (immunoglobulin E) that are attached to cells that produce histamine and other chemicals. The pollen “triggers” these cells in the nasal membranes, causing them to release histamine and the other chemicals. Histamine dilates the small blood vessels of the nose and fluids leak out into the surrounding tissues, causing runny noses, watery eyes, itching, swelling and other allergy symptoms. Is allergic rhinitis ever the cause of other problems? Some known complications include ear infections, sinusitis, recurrent sore throats, cough, headache, fatigue, irritability, altered sleep patterns and poor school performance. Occasionally, children may develop altered facial growth and orthodontic problems. Allergy treatment can eliminate or alleviate most of these problems. Are all...

Updated Press Release: Sanofi US Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of ALL Auvi‑Q® Due to Potential Inaccurate Dosage Delivery Please see below for important updates about the Auvi-Q recall. Sanofi US has added an additional phone number for consumers to call to get directions for returning your device & reimbursement information. Please call EITHER 1-877-319-8963 OR 1-866-726-6340. Sanofi US previously noted that, due to the high volume of calls, callers may have received a message that the line is down. They are asking consumers to please call back and try both numbers if this happens. Sanofi US is recommending consumers visit the Auvi-Q website – www.Auvi-Q.com – for more information, and has also posted additional information about common questions.