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Respiratory: Allergies & Sinus Problems/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| How to Minimize Exposure to Cat Allergen | 1/24/2012 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I am hoping you can give me some advice to help me survive an upcoming tip. First, I need to give ... A: Chip... You have identified everything that can be done. You are just highly allergic to cats, and ... | ||
| Allergies and Climate Change | 1/11/2012 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: My boyfriend recently moved from Louisiana to Oregon. Everytime he has visited Oregon he leaves home ... A: Rochelle ... I suspect that his allergies are tied to your somewhat cooler climate and the trees ... | ||
| Allergies and Climate Change | 1/8/2012 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: My boyfriend recently moved from Louisiana to Oregon. Everytime he has visited Oregon he leaves home ... A: Rachelle, From your description I am having a difficult time telling where home is and where the ... | ||
| Need Help | 1/4/2012 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I haven't been feeling too well for the past year and have been diagnosed with autoimmune chronic ... A: Shelly.. The immune system works over a time interval with out bodies systems. Problems usually ... | ||
| Is Apple Cider Vinegar safe for sinuses? | 12/10/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: Sperling, I have suffered from Sinusitis for over 10 years. I have been to many doctors over the ... A: Diane...I cannot answer this question with assurance since the long term effects of vinegar on the ... | ||
| fibres and particles inhalation | 11/30/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: What are the dangers from prolonged inhalation of fibres and particles that come from cotton and ... A: Peter... What you see in the air and on your clothes is also residing in your nasal sinus's and ... | ||
| Frontal sinus pain | 11/29/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I was wondering if you know what can cause frontal sinus pain. I get sinus headaches and very tender ... A: Most definately...allergies can cause this pain. Chronic sinus soreness not only indicates a ... | ||
| fibres and particles inhalation | 11/27/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: What are the dangers from prolonged inhalation of fibres and particles that come from cotton and ... A: Peter....Your question contains the answers. Both cotton and polyester materials are intrinsically ... | ||
| MDF TV cabinate-husband cut it in home | 11/27/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: Today my husband moved our TV cabinate the only cheap MDF China thing we have-anyways he cut a hole ... A: Catherine...while the dangers of exposure to mdf can be significant, I would not worry about an ... | ||
| post nasal drip, etc.. | 10/19/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: you have answered my question previously about inner ear infection labyrinthitis, I am not sure if ... A: Albina... It sounds as if you may have a resistant chronic infection set up in one or both of your ... | ||
| Seasonal Allergy - Itchy Ears | 10/8/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I am suffering from itchy ears due to seasonal allergy. It happens mostly during fall or winter. I ... A: John...Let's assume that your condition is seasonal allergy, because of your very concise ... | ||
| Loss of Taste and Smell from Mucinex DM | 10/6/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I just read a response from you to Joanne regarding her allergies. Respiratory: Allergies & Sinus ... A: Yes Patti, I have heard of this and cannot believe that it is just dropped from the radar screens. ... | ||
| Allergies? Or a weird cold? | 9/25/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I'm not sure if I'm in the right category but hopefully you can clear up a few things for me. For ... A: Diana...Involved question, but a good one. Allergies could have been started when you went to your ... | ||
| Smell of cigarrette on person | 9/25/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I'm currently going to university and I have to sit next to a smoker. He is not a heavy smoker, but ... A: Johnny...While obnoxious, this is not destructive to your health unless, possibly, you have ... | ||
| allergy injections | 9/22/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: My allergy serum comes in little numbered bottles in a box. I get my allergy shots at a Ready Care, ... A: Cassandra...I have never seen statistics on this, but I suspect that it is VERY low compared to a ... | ||
| wild fire soot damage | 9/16/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: Gene, Our town, Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada recently had a wild fire rip through town and burn down ... A: Byron...This is a fairly extensive question to answer. I did a good deal of work on the 'Station ... | ||
| Thanks! | 9/5/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I think I am very close to determining that my symptoms are allergies and not something like cfs. ... A: josh...in all probability these spots are normal reactions that your immune system responds to and ... | ||
| Non allergic rhinitis | 9/2/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I have been having problems with allergy like symptoms, bad post nasal drip, dry eyes, fatigue, ... A: Josh...I have never fully understood the term 'non-allergic' rhinitis. If the nasal tissue becomes ... | ||
| allergies and asthma? | 8/27/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: this started about july 18th. -It started with: a throat tickle/dryness & became a sore throat. ... A: H...Although you didn't give me a time period that this malady came on over, I am going to assume ... | ||
| Non allergic rhinitis | 8/27/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I have been having problems with allergy like symptoms, bad post nasal drip, dry eyes, fatigue, ... A: If your description is accurate then you may have a classic case of environmentally induced 'chronic ... | ||
| Allergy | 8/24/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I have a medical question. About a mouth ago I was having a really bad dizzy episode, prior to that ... A: Albina...This question is best answered in stages. There are a lot of moving parts. The dizziness ... | ||
| Mattress | 8/23/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I recently bought a memory foam mattress. Not a cheapy, it was $2400 Serta from a reputable store. ... A: Roger...In my environmental consulting/auditing business in Los Angeles I have removed just short of ... | ||
| Potential Cause of Cough/Chest Congestion | 8/12/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: At a party a few weeks ago, I accidentally spilled a bottle of "Poppers" (a type of alkyl nitrate, ... A: Yes, take airborn every 4-6 hours and use an over the counter product called guifenisin which comes ... | ||
| Potential Cause of Cough/Chest Congestion | 8/10/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: At a party a few weeks ago, I accidentally spilled a bottle of "Poppers" (a type of alkyl nitrate, ... A: Luke....I doubt that the 'poppers' have been the source of your congestion. A more logical ... | ||
| allergies | 8/10/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I have been advised to see an allergist for allergy shots. I have been told that the shots contain ... A: Great question...and the first time I have fielded it Michael. I am a pharmacist that views all ... | ||
| runny nose | 7/29/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: i have this problem of excessive fluid coming out of my nose.it has been a continuous problem for ... A: Priyanka...This question points to an environmental solution and is dependent upon where you live, ... | ||
| Allergys | 7/23/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: What do you think is the best and strongest over the counter antihistamine/decongestion for ... A: Debbie... Allegra D followed by Claritin D taken in the am, and using the 12 hour tab so that it ... | ||
| Progressive Cough | 7/22/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: About a few months to a year ago, I developed a very minor cough that I though was just something ... A: Nicholas, a fungal infection is possible, but unlikely if you have a healthy immune system. Tinea ... | ||
| Progressive Cough | 7/22/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: About a few months to a year ago, I developed a very minor cough that I though was just something ... A: Nicholas...I is possible that you have some type of immune situation going on, but intuition tells ... | ||
| allergic rhinitis | 7/14/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I am suffering from allergic rhinitis and want to ask that when i use perfume i feel some burning in ... A: zafar, thanks for the question. Although it is unlikely that perfumes will cause the development of ... | ||
| cat allergy | 7/13/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: We got our first pet (kitten) about 3 and a half weeks ago. For the last couple of days, I've had ... A: OK, your description throws me a little....The kitten being in the home 3 weeks before the onset of ... | ||
| cat allergy | 7/12/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: We got our first pet (kitten) about 3 and a half weeks ago. For the last couple of days, I've had ... A: I answered this same question twice in my business last week. It's a tough call. I cured my cat ... | ||
| moldy closet | 7/2/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: There is a storage closet in my apartment that is very musty. i can't work for long in there before ... A: James....This question has a number of variables and they depend upon how much your immune system is ... | ||
| reactions | 7/1/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: i dont know if this question is outside your expertise,but i will give it a shot.i have type 2 ... A: howard... NO to vinegar, and No to household remedies to diabetes. With 35 years in pharmacy I can ... | ||
| ears | 6/28/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: since coming to live in the states from the uk i have developed allergies..i can live with these but ... A: steve... I would love to help you, but there is very little history information here. I have ... | ||
| Allergy? | 6/27/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: A few months back I injured my shoulder and was put on prednisone for about 2 months. A week after ... A: John, there are so many issues involved in your question that it is not practical to do anything buy ... | ||
| fabric softener ? | 6/23/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: As dumb as it is, I accidentally purchased fabric softener instead of laundry detergent, and even ... A: TH...This is a field that I have been educating my clients on for the past 2 years. Your description ... | ||
| Low grade sinus Infection | 6/19/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: Could a very minor sinus infection cause fatigue especially after excerise, congestion, headache, ... A: Josh...I believe we covered this several emails back, but; Yes, chronic sinus inflammation, even ... | ||
| Thanks! | 6/13/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: I am currently doing my best to do what you have advised. The intresting thing is yesterday I took a ... A: Josh... I THINK that this sounds typical of a combination of two things going on. One a problem ... | ||
| possible peanut allergy | 6/11/2011 | Gene Sperling |
| Q: today I felt fine and then I ate a peanut butter bagels and by the time I. Finished my stomach ... A: Josh...Peanut butter, hmmmmmm. Peanut growth and packaging is at the top of contaminated food ... | ||
Answers by Expert:
Gene Sperling
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions about indoor air quality, respiratory medications, home toxins, allergies and VOC's (volatile organic compounds). Home and office environmental issues and general medication questions regarding side effects and interactions.
Experience
I have been a pharmacist for 30 years. I have been director of pharmacy services for a large teaching hospital, and have served as a consultant pharmacist to various out-patient programs. I have organized and managed various infusion programs treating infectious disease, immunologic diseases, and metabolic disorders. For the past 15 years I have operated a national respiratory pharmacy and devoted my time to assessing asthma, COPD, and emphysema patients and their problems. I know how to set-up and maintain a 'clean room' environment and I know how to resourcefully remediate environmental issues that cause health problems.
Organizations
I am a current or past member of IAQA, IESO, CA Pharmacists Assoc., NCPA, Consultant Pharmacists Assoc., Calcerts, and many others. I have licensing from the GSA (Government Services Organization). I have served on the California Task Force for Disaster Preparedness under the Department of Health Services.
Publications
I am in the process of researching the application of Building Science as it relates to the Healthcare Industry. The purpose is to show the relationship(s) between 'sealed environments', poor construction, and improper equipment installations in modern homes and offices. The building boom of the 90's and 00's accelerated at a pace that did not allow proper oversight or adequate research of new techniques in construction design and the trades that applied them.
Education/Credentials
I have a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Oklahoma. I have upper division courses in bio-pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, immunology, microbiology,etc. I have taken numerous post-graduate courses on respiratory disorders, mold, environmental issues, indoor air quality, building science, HVAC, clean room set-ups, womens health, and medication therapy management.
Awards and Honors
I have received a distinguished achievement award from the County of Los Angeles for work with the Asthma Reading & Education Program sponsered by the UCLA clinics and Martin Luther King Medical Center. I have sponsored winter ski retreats for children with asthma. I have served on the Boards of several home health agencies. My highest honor comes when I can help someone understand how their personal environment influences their health, and how their own awareness positively impacts their quality of living. There is no greater award than helping others.
Past/Present Clients
My past and current clients have been the thousands of patients and physicians that I have consulted for and with to assess alternative approaches to disease management through common sense treatment, and how our personal environment influences our overall health.
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