It seems like everyone is talking about food allergies these days. If you're a parent, either your child has food allergies, or your child's friend has food allergies. In fact, food allergies are becoming more common, with 4% of all children having some form of food allergy. Over the past 10 years, the prevalence of food allergies has increased by nearly 20%.

Along with food allergies, there's also been an increase in other allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema. Why the increase? No one knows for sure, but the hygiene hypothesis gives a well-accepted explanation.

Learn more:

• Recognizing Food Allergies
• Most Common Food Allergies in Children
• Outgrowing Food Allergies

Yet another new allergy nasal spray has been recently FDA approved. Astepro (azelastine), is a prescription anthistamine nasal spray indicated for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis in people 12 years of age and older. This medication is really just a re-formulated version of Astelin, which is still available and also indicated for the treatment of non-allergic rhinitis.

Compared to Astelin, Astepro has less side effects. Astepro caused less of a bitter taste and less nasal irritation compared to Astelin -- these side effects are common reasons why people don't like to use Astelin. If you like how Astelin works, but don't like the side effects, then Astepro might be a better choice for you. Ask your doctor for more information.

Ok, we'll all busy nowadays. From work, to school, to carting the kids around from place to place, the one thing we don't have alot of is extra time. This is probably why New Year's resolutions were made up - for us to get around to doing what we've been putting off the year before.

For those of you with allergies and asthma, your New Year's resolution should be to get your symptoms controlled. And what better way than seeing an allergist, getting allergy tested, and getting your asthma controlled? Getting your asthma and allergy symptoms under better control is a great way to start off 2009! Happy New Year!!

• Find an Allergist, Find Relief
• Get Tested for Allergies!
• Get Your Asthma Under Control!

For thousands of people living in Texas and parts of Oklahoma, winter not only brings cold weather and the Holidays, but also Mountain Cedar pollen. Mountain Cedar is a tree that pollinates in the winter, leading to severe allergy and asthma symptoms in certain people. If you or your loved ones live in the Lone Star State, find out what you can expect this holiday season from Mountain Cedar allergy season!