Lisa’s allergy story and her path to becoming an allergy consultant. From teacher to a counsellor to an allergy advocate.

 Food allergies in the school system: how schools are modelling exclusion for kids with food allergies and what the psycho-social impact is. How teachers and school psychologists can help recognize food allergy anxiety.

 How do food allergies impact mental health

 How anxiety starts after the food allergy diagnosis.

 Helpful anxiety versus debilitating anxiety - how to recognize this and what strategies and skills you need to help manage it.

 The signs of anxiety, and how to differentiate an anxiety attack versus a reaction

 How anxiety impacts diet leading to disordered eating, restriction, and eliminating foods out of fear.

 Should you keep allergens in the house? How does this help or hinder your child learn skills to navigate their allergens later in life

 How to get help if you are concerned with your budget

What do you do when your son dies from a food allergy?

Dr G and Kortney talk to Dina and Thomas Silvera who had to face that very question. After their son passed away from ingesting dairy, they made it their mission never to let another family go through what they did. 

The Elijah-Alavi Foundation is an initiative designed to raise awareness on the severity of food allergies and anaphylaxis as well as the importance of education and training. Their goal is to bring training to daycares and communities and provide resources that cater to all socio-economic groups. 

Dina and Thomas discuss the health disparities in asthma and allergies, and how bringing education to these groups needs to be done in a way that is respectful and culturally sensitive. 

Health disparities refer to differences in the health status of different groups of people.  

• Why Thomas and Dina started the Elijah Alavi Foundation

Supporting information here: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-16

Prevalence of food allergies in kids and adults. 

What are the top allergens for kids and adults, how do those differ from adults  

What are the common allergens that children tend to outgrown 

Adult-onset food allergy: How did the recent study done by Dr. Ruchi Gupta figure out 1 in 10 adults have food allergies?

20% of adults reported having an allergy - why we need to pay attention to that number and what it means. 1 in 5 adults are giving up food that negatively impacts them

Allergy testing: when should be testing done and what should be tested

How to accurately diagnose an allergy 

Allergies in teens - what is helping and hindering managing their food allergies and the role of peers and classmates 

The importance of building a community, especially for college-bound teens. 

What allergy kids and teens think the positives are of having food allergies

Supporting info: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-15

 Shahla's journey into becoming an allergy mom and fabulous cook

Why you don't want to restrict your diet if you don't have to and how to work with your allergist to expand your diet

When and how to try new foods

How to navigate foods that are 'cross-reactive' to your allergens

How to empower yourself and your kids in the kitchen by teaching them to cook and recreating foods that you can't have out at home

How to make food fun and take away any fear that food could bring 

Tips on eating out: allergy cards and why to call ahead

Supporting information: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-14

• Inhaler tips: know that there are different brand names for the same medicine, using a spacer, how to remember to take your controller

Supporting information and a graphic of all asthma medications: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-13

• Types of inhaled asthma medication: Inhalers: short-acting beta 2 agonist (SABA), long-acting beta 2 agonist (LABA), inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), combination LABA/ICS, and anticholinergic inhalers (tiotropium bromide)

Supporting information: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-12

• The reason Joey started FATE

Supporting info: www.itchpodcast.com/blog/episode-11

• What is uncontrolled asthma and why is it dangerous

Supporting info: www.itchpodcast.com/blog/episode-10

 How to determine whether a source is legitimate and what things to look out for when choosing your source of information

 How to navigate social media

 How to build a trustworthy online and offline community that is informed and provides a safe space for mental health: forums, meet-ups, and Facebook groups 

 Briefly discuss Emma's new book, touch upon gut biome, why the increase of food allergies, and feeling guilty about your child's allergies

 Anxiety with allergies and asthma: when to experience it and when information can be helpful or harmful

• Dr Alex Thomas's journey into creating comics about asthma and how he started his company, Booster Shot Media

Supporting information: www.itchpodcast.com/blog/episode-8