A growing number of patients learn of allergies to new hips & knees only after surgery is done

DENVER, CO -- Imagine what Paula Spurlock must have been going through.  Shortly after having a hip replaced in 2011, the trouble started.  “I had horrible itching and intense pain throughout my body,” she said.  “I couldn’t take it.  Every single thing in me itched.”

After many months and several trips to specialists, Spurlock was told it could be anything from food allergies to her medication.  But no matter what she changed, the symptoms persisted and Spurlock resigned herself to a life of misery.  “I just kind of thought that’s what life was going to be like,” she said.

Rise in temperatures & carbon dioxide levels are boosting pollen, extending allergy seasons

DENVER, CO - March 2013 -- There may be different opinions about the causes of climate change, but experts say there is no denying its existence - and the effects are nothing to sneeze at.  Researchers say global warming is leading to larger plants, earlier and more robust pollination and, as a result, worsening allergies.

“With the combination of increased temperature and carbon dioxide, we are seeing a dramatic change, and allergy sufferers can probably feel that change,” said Richard Weber, MD, an allergist at National Jewish Health in Denver, and president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.  “We are experiencing longer allergy seasons, earlier onset and there is just more pollen in the air,” he said.

Research supports later start times for high school

DENVER, CO - March 1, 2013 -- In the first study of its kind, researchers have determined that teens who are homeschooled benefit from healthier sleep habits than those who go to most private and public schools.  The findings provide additional evidence of teens’ altered biological clocks and support an argument for starting traditional high school later in the morning.

Energy-efficient homes trap air pollution indoors, may contribute to rise in asthma rates

DENVER, CO - December 2012 -- In an effort to protect the environment and save on energy costs, we are in the midst of a “green” home boom in this country.  Between remodeling older houses and building new ones, it’s estimated that millions of American homes will get a lot greener in the next decade.  While that may bode well from an energy-efficiency standpoint, the trend certainly doesn’t have everyone breathing easier.

By exposing children to the foods they’re allergic to, doctors may gradually boost tolerance

DENVER, CO - November 19, 2012 -- The holidays can be a stressful time for parents of the six million children in the United States with food allergies.  With so many parties and gifts involving food, parents may worry that their children will come into contact with the very allergens they are so vigilant about avoiding year round.