Allergy & Asthma Care of Fairfield County

Dr. Bloom Joins our Practice

Allergy & Asthma Care of Fairfield County is pleased to announce Katherine Bloom, MD has joined our practice. Dr. Bloom has expertise in the full range of allergic disorders, with particular interest in food allergy and immunodeficiency. She is board certified in pediatric and adult allergy and asthma. Click for more information.

Hypoallergenic Hotel Rooms Advance

Connecticut Allergist Kenneth Backman, MD, notes many companies, including hotels, are becoming more sensitive to those with allergies. The following is a brief part of a larger story from the New York Times. Click for the full story.

From the Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel to the Mandarin Oriental in Miami, hotels are doing everything from replacing feather duvets to installing air purifiers in guest rooms. Some are ripping out carpets and drapes, which tend to harbor dust and trap odors, and replacing them with smooth surfaces. Hilton and Millennium Hotels, each of which is testing the concept in a few hotels, said they might consider expanding it to more properties depending on demand. NYLO Hotels, a new brand scheduled to open its first hotel in Plano, Tex., in November, plans to offer at least one floor of allergy-friendly rooms at each of its locations. Hotels say it’s not uncommon to get special requests from guests with allergies. “We get a lot of requests for special blankets, special pillows, no spray in the rooms,” said Maureen O’Brien, director of sales at the Premier, a Millennium Hotel, which spent $30,000 to convert three floors to Pure rooms this year.

Warning: Zicam Nasal Products

Says Dr. Backman: Patients should immediately discontinue using Zicam products, and discard any of the listed items so they are not accidentally used in the future. 

Discontinue use of three Zicam Nasal Gel/Nasal Swab products sold over-the-counter as cold remedies as they are associated with the loss of sense of smell that may be permanent. The FDA received 130+ reports of loss of sense of smell. Many who experienced a loss of smell said the condition occurred with the first dose; others reported a loss of the sense of smell after multiple uses. 

People who have experienced a loss of sense of smell or other problems after use of the affected Zicam products should contact their health care professional. Click for more Information.

Prepared for Spring Allergies?

Winter's over, and spring is here. Take charge of your life before allergies take over. There are some measures you can take, and effective treatments are available. If you are unsure what you may be allergic to, or desire more effective treatment options, call the office of Dr. Kenneth Backman, Dr. Irena Veksler, and Dr. Katherine Bloom at 203-259-7070 for an appointment at our Fairfield or Monroe office. 

Spring is a beautiful time, but if your allergies act up because of the blooms and pollen you may not think of it as such a nice time. Here are proactive ways that you can take control of your life and, if not enjoy, at least survive the spring.

• Change your heating and air conditioning filters now so that regardless of the temperature outside, you can remain comfortable inside with the windows closed.
• Clean your windows before the season starts.
• If you use your garage for storage, clean it out now so you can park your car there.
• If you work in an office with a garage, you might want to pay for a space during the height of allergy season to avoid coming in contact with a pollen coated car at the end of the day.
• Clean your property now. Eliminate weeds whose blooms may cause you problems.
• Use a portable high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) air purifier to clear away allergy triggers such as house dust, dust mites, mold and mildew, pollen, pet dander, bacteria and viruses.
• See your physician now to begin appropriate medications. Medications work best when started before symptoms develop.