(HealthDay News) -- Hay fever and similar allergies increase the frequency and severity of respiratory problems in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study shows.

COPD is a progressive lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe.

In this study, researchers looked at more than 1,400 patients with COPD, and found that those with allergies were much more likely than those without allergies to wheeze, to have chronic cough and chronic phlegm, to awake during the night because of cough, and to have a worsening of COPD symptoms that required antibiotics or a visit to the doctor.

The study by the Johns Hopkins University researchers was published online May 10 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Millions of dogs and cats are put to sleep in animal shelters across the United States each year.

But imagine if you could save some of them with just a couple clicks of your mouse? Thanks to social media, it's not as farfetched as you may think.

It's hard to believe a tail-wagging, yellow Lab named "Splash" was once on death row in an animal shelter.

With the clock ticking, the rescue group "Lucky Lab" posted his picture on its Facebook site in hopes of finding him a home ASAP. One thousand miles away, Peter Christmas and Janet Belsky fell in love with the lab.

"He was an older dog that's hard to adopt and we kinda figured that he was not going to have a very good shot at getting adopted," Christmas said.

Janet soon typed this response on the Facebook post: "With a name like Splash he belongs here on the lake. We would love to take him."

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Homebrewing is now legal in Alabama. The Alabama Homebrewing Association estimates there are 5,000 homebrewers in Alabama. One is Jeff Benedict who just moved to Alabama.

"I'm from Maryland. When I moved here I was kind of disappointed homebrewing was illegal. I brought most of my equipment with me but I've yet to brew here," Jeff Benedict said.

At the Hop City Wine and Beer company their phone has been constantly ringing. The company earlier offered homebrewing products and equipment until the Alabama Alcohol and Beverage Control agents seized them. The general manager said that will change starting next Tuesday.

"It's retailing verses the big brown truck dropping it off at your house. There are retail sales that gain taxes, there is benefits to that as well," Chris Reid said.