Lung Health Archive

People who develop asthma as adults may have a higher risk of developing heart disease than those without asthma. Adult-onset asthma is often triggered by air pollution and tends to be harder to control than asthma that starts during childhood.

Hidden causes of shortness of breath can make the problem tricky to treat.

Regular marijuana use does not appear to have a negative effect on lung function.

Immunotherapy takes time and commitment, but can be the best way to manage your symptoms.

Image: Nadofotos/Thinkstock

Many people know all too well the misery of allergies—the chronic sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip, watery eyes, and itchy throat. They try to fight back with over-the-counter or prescription drugs, but there may be a better option: immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots.

"People often resist allergy shots because they fear injections and only turn to them as a last resort," says Dr. Paul Hesterberg, instructor in medicine in the allergy and clinical immunology unit at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. "But they can be an effective means to control symptoms that interfere with daily life, as well as to reduce dependency on allergy drugs."