3. Watch pollen counts; if they’re very high, have your daughter play inside.

4. Get out the umbrellas and rain boots! Rainy and wet days (and cloudy and windless ones) are better for outdoor play. Pollen is less likely to be in the air.

5. Have your child wash and change after coming inside.

6. Don’t hang laundry outside to dry.

7. keep the car windows closed when you drive.

8. Mow the lawn and rake leaves when your child isn’t at home.

It’s hard to prevent all exposure, though. That’s where medication can help. Here are some of the options:

Diphenhydramine. This tried-and-true antihistamine can be very effective for allergy symptoms, and it’s available without a prescription. the downside is that it can make some children sleepy — and some children hyperactive.

Loratadine, cetirizine and fexofenadine. These once-a-day antihistamines are also available without a prescription. They’re less likely to make children sleepy (cetirizine may, but less then diphenhydramine). it can take a week or so before you really see results, so be patient.

Leukotriene modifiers. Leukotriene modifiers (such as montelukast) are prescription medicines that block leukotrienes, another chemical released during allergic reactions.

Cromolyn. An over-the-counter nasal spray (NasalCrom) that can help the nasal symptoms of allergies.

Nasal steroid sprays. These are sprayed into the nose, and can really help nasal congestion and sneezing. They’re available only by prescription.

Topical eye medications. if your child is plagued by itchy, runny eyes, and oral medication isn’t enough, your doctor may advise eye drops.

Some children with very severe allergies may need immunotherapy (allergy shots). but this is only after the above medications didn’t help — and after consultation with an allergy specialist.

(Claire McCarthy, M.D., a senior medical editor for Harvard Health Publications, is an assistant professor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. She is an attending physician and medical communications editor at Children’s Hospital Boston.)

(For additional consumer health information, please visit health.harvard.edu.)

(c) 2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

York, PA – Shannon McElroy wakes up with a stuffy nose almost every day.

Since moving to York from Baltimore in 2010, she has had reactions to seasonal allergies. this year, she’s one of the many people experiencing early spring hay fever — seasonal allergic rhinitis — symptoms because of the warmer-than-usual winter.

McElroy, 31, said her nasal congestion started becoming more severe in mid-February.

“They have really been bothering me . . . because the weather has been so weird,” she said.

McElroy takes Alavert and uses Nasonex, but she hasn’t yet been to an allergist to figure out what exactly is causing her reactions.

“I’m hoping that I can get in to see an allergist soon and maybe get some relief,” she said.

Dr. David Coutin of Allergy & Asthma Consultants Inc. in Spring Garden Township said tree pollen is the main culprit in the spring. he said he’s already seen an increase in patients with sneezing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion and difficulty breathing.

Coutin said that trees started pollinating early this year and that the pollen count is about 25 percent higher than last year so far. Tree pollen counts peak at different times each year, with the average being the last week of April or first week of may. he said the count peaked last year April 8. he anticipates an early peak this year, as well.

Kelly Navarro, lab supervisor, said she recorded a pollen count Monday of 85 grains per cubic meter in York County, with maple as the dominant pollinator. She said that 90 and above is considered high and that many of the local trees — willow, pine, oak, maple, cedar and juniper — are producing pollen.

People with hay fever can be allergic to one or several trees. For those who are allergic to all pollinating trees: “This (Monday) is not a good day for them,” Navarro said.

Coutin said an early start to seasonal allergic rhinitis doesn’t necessarily mean a longer period of symptoms for sufferers. After tree pollen, pollen from grass, weeds and ragweed — respectively — trigger reactions until the first frost.

He said temperature and rainfall affect how soon grass pollinates.

Coutin said there could be some relief for people with allergies today if the temperature dropped to freezing last night and temporarily shut down pollen production.

However, if you have symptoms, don’t wait for them to blow over.

“Allergies do not go away,” he said.

771-2101; @leighzaleski

Allergy advice

Dr. Michael Nickels of Allergy & Asthma Consultants in Spring Garden Township said people suffering from seasonal allergies typically use antihistamines such as Allegra, Zyrtec and Claritin; as well as Flonase and Nasonex.

He recommends allergy shots when a patient’s symptoms aren’t reduced by medications.

Nickels said people with hay fever should try to avoid pollen by closing windows, bathing pets and showering after being outside.

“If it’s bad, see your allergist,” he said.

Natural remedies

Dr. Diane Hawk of Hawk’s Natural Health Consultations in Springettsbury Township said she received some early calls from clients suffering from seasonal allergies once trees started budding. One of her East Coast suppliers ran out of an allergy formula she offers because of the early onset, so she had to order it from the West Coast.

People who are sensitive to medications or who want to avoid drowsiness might seek natural remedies. Hawk advises specific herbs and supplements based on an individual’s history and condition. She provided these general natural recommendations for allergy symptoms:

— use Neti Pots and nasal rinses help remove pollen from the nose to mitigate symptoms.

— Eat more vitamin-C-rich foods, such as citrus fruits and broccoli.

— Quercetin, a plant-derived flavonoid found in many fruits, flowers and vegetables, acts as an antihistamine and might reduce allergy symptoms. Stinging Nettles also have an antihistamine effect. These are sold as supplements.

What Florestine Jones, a motivational speaker, said Wednesday night at the Frank W. Hale, Jr. Black Culture Center may raise some eyebrows.’The original Jews are jet black,’ Jones said. ‘we are Hebrew children from Africa. If your ancestry came in the belly of the slave ships, you are a Jew.’Jones’ remarks prompted discussion after the event. several students liked what she had to say. Tylon McGee, a junior majoring in business, said Jones backed up what she said.’I trust her,’ she said. ‘I am going to do research on my own. I want to gain knowledge.’on Thursday, Professor Cecil Magbaily Fyle, director of African Studies Center, said there is enough evidence to show that Christianity originated around the Nile River. There are links between black Jews in Ethiopia and Israel but the issue is complicated, Fyle said. ‘People tend to generalize without adequate evidence,’ he said.Michele Cushnie, a graduate student in human resource development who coordinated Jones’ speech, said that the Hale Center seeks different types of people nationwide to speak at the center. it is up to the individual to decide whether he or she accepts the view expressed or not.’It’s a learning process,’ Cushnie said. ‘The information is out there. whether I agree or disagree will not make any difference.’Jones said she started a research project called ‘my Brothers, who are we?’ 20 years ago. About six years ago she came to the conclusion that the Old Testament was about Africa.’everything begins in Africa,’ Jones said.Jones said that Christianity originated in Africa. Black people are Hebrew children taken from the west coast of Africa and its interior and scattered all over the world by slave trade. Jones, who lives in Columbus, said her research was based on the Bible as well as history and science. ‘we are Hebrew children according the Bible and history,’ she said. ‘Since all 12 original Israeli tribes are African tribes, where do you think I am from? None of them was born in Europe, not one. I don’t care what people think. ‘Everybody knows his history but our people,’ Jones said, ‘The reason why I have to do what I am doing, the way I am talking, the research I have done, the evidence I have found out is for our people.’Jones said she wanted to give blacks a sense of worth. ‘We(blacks) are the only people on the face of the earth that have been given so many names. why so many names? to keep us further confused,’ she said, ‘I’m here to identify the children of Israel and this through world history and Bible history. That’s my calling.’Professor Ruben Aharoni of Near Eastern, Judaic and Hellenic Languages and Literatures Department, who specializes in biblical studies, doubted that Jones based her studies on the Bible.’The Bible, as far as black people are concerned, says something about Moses being married to a Kushiet who is understood to be a black woman,’ Aharoni said. ‘Solomon was visited by the Queen of Sheba who is believed to come from South Arabia. Ethiopians believe that their royal family are descendants of the Union between Solomon and Queen of Sheba.’ Falasha, black Jews from Ethiopia, are a small minority of Africa, he added. Their pure Jewish origin was doubted in the past but they are an integral part of Israel today, Aharoni said.That biblical evidence ‘points to the land of Israel as the origin of Christianity and Judaism,’ he said.

Assistant coach turns to Flagler basketball for support and comfort

Many people around the nation take the saying, “basketball is life,” to heart. But for men’s basketball Assistant Coach James Link, basketball has been more than just life — it has been his salvation.Link began his basketball career at Buchholz High in Gainesville, under the tutelage of Coach Bob Hordodyski.

He came to Flagler and played for Coach Bo Clark from 1999-2003 as a non-scholarship walk on in his first year at Flagler.

“He was the ultimate teammate,” Clark said. “In my 22 years of coaching, he is the best lock-down defender I ever coached.”

After graduating, Link decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, Art Link, who is an art teacher at Santa Fe Community College, and his brother Artie Link, who is a Div. I football coach at Campbell University.

“My brother [Artie] is my hero and anything he says, I take into consideration,” Link said. “So, after graduation, I did not know what I wanted to do and my brother suggested that I pursue a career in coaching basketball — so I did.”

After a short volunteer coaching stint here at Flagler in 2004-2005, and becoming a full-time assistant at high power Div. III Washington College, Link returned for a second go-round at Flagler as a part-time assistant coach,

“I came back because Coach Clark needed someone he could trust and rely on,” Link said. “Div. II is a step up for me, but more importantly, I love this school, the program and the players on the squad.”

Since his return to Flagler, things have not exactly gone as planned. over the course of a year and a half, Link has lost three of his family members, his grandmother, Elaine Kane, his sister, Charlaine Boone and most recently his mother, Tina Link, who died Jan. 7 of bone cancer and leukemia.

“The whole fall semester I knew my mom was sick, but I though she had been doing great,” Link said. “She just lived every day to the fullest and was really the glue that held our family together.”

Finding comfort and salvation in basketball, Link never faltered or missed a beat with his coaching duties over the course of the season.

“The day after my mom’s funeral, I was right back on the court, figuring out what we could do and who we could recruit to make this team better for next year,” Link said. “My mom was our No. 1 fan and I came back because I knew that this is what she would want me to do, because this is what I love. I love recruiting and teaching the game of basketball.”

Not only has the game of basketball brought Link inner peace, but according to Clark, so has the Flagler basketball team.

Because Tina loved the team warm ups, when the Link family held the funeral, to honor her memory, the entire team wore their red warm ups to the funeral.

“I think this season and the team in general helped a lot with the grieving process,” Clark said. “We want this team to be a second family for him, because he is a huge part of this team and our success and we want to be there for him, like he is for us.”

Do you find yourself constantly reaching for a tissue during the holiday season?  your coughing and sneezing may not just be symptoms of a winter cold – they could be a sign of what I like to call ‘Christmas Tree Syndrome.’

Believe it or not, there are documented cases of people who suffer allergic reactions to their Christmas trees.  certain molds that are prevalent in conifer trees can irritate people who suffer from those allergies.

These molds, as well as the spores and other fungi present, can increase the risk of wheezing, persistent cough and allergic sensitization.

And of course, your symptoms will only be exacerbated when the tree is inside a confined space like your home.

RELATED: Boy, 3, Allergic to Things That Are Christmas

Now before you all start yelling at me for ruining Christmas, I want to clarify that I’m not telling people not to buy a Christmas tree this year.

Rest assured, there are ways to reduce the effects of Christmas tree-related allergies.  many places where you can buy trees will offer to spray the tree down with water.  You can also hose down the tree yourself and wait for it dry out before bringing it inside.

Furthermore, don’t let the tree stand for too long in your house.  I recommend that people stick to the 12 days of Christmas, then throw it out.  this will limit your exposure – and your health issues.

Finally: You can always buy an artificial tree.  some are even scented to smell real, and you don’t have to worry about them dying before Christmas.  But if you’re planning to keep it in the attic, keep in mind that next year it’ll probably be coated in dust, which can certainly trigger an allergic reaction as well.

However you plan to decorate your house this year, I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.

Are you a Linkin Park fan? I am! if you want to hear their new song, Blackbirds, you have to play the rock band’s new game first. Yes my friends, Linkin Park has teamed up with game developer Artificial Life to bring us a rockin’ app experience called Linking Park 8-Bit Rebellion! this game will be released for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Unfortunately, no firm release date is available yet. but lots of fans are desperately awaiting.

For those who didn’t know Linkin Park began partnering with Artificial Life more than a year ago. in the game, all of you will help the band get back its music from an evil entity called PixxelKorp, who has stolen Linkin Park’s music. all you fans out there will travel through different districts, each one themed after a band member. and to keep us even more excited, the game includes 8-bit interpretations of some of the biggest hits, including in the end, new Divide, and Crawling. get to the end and you get to hear Blackbirds.

Be ready to rock it with your iPad. You never know, Linkin Park may come out Crawling from that beautiful screen.

Berkeley, CA — (SBWIRE) — 12/01/2011 — Kaneland Allergy & Asthma Center offers allergy patient handouts on its website to support the needs of its patients in North Aurora, Illinois.  It understands the importance of patient education, to improve clinical care and patient satisfaction. Kaneland Allergy & Asthma Center (kanelandallergy.com/health-information) now provides its patients with convenient, online access to allergy resources on its own practice website. Surveys have shown that U.S. adults frequently search online for patient handouts, but are frustrated by the large volume of health information they find from questionable sources. a majority of health consumers state that they would prefer to get that information directly from their own doctor. unfortunately, a majority of physicians report finding it difficult to provide education during an office visit and most medical practice websites lack health information. Kaneland Allergy & Asthma Center now joins other allergy practices that use the “From Your Doctor” service from Vivacare to manage their allergy patient handouts (vivacare.com).Dr. Sakina Bajowala has been practicing in the Fox River Valley since completing her extensive training in allergy and immunology. She received her Undergraduate Degree from the University of Chicago and her Medical Degree from rush Medical College in 2003. As an allergy sufferer herself, she has a unique ability to identify with her patients and assist them in developing a comprehensive plan to control their most troublesome symptoms. Dr. Bajowala has presented at national and state conferences, and has designed research investigating the interplay of allergic and gastrointestinal diseases. Dr. Bajowala is prepared to provide you with allergy, asthma & immunology care for your entire family.Kaneland Allergy & Asthma Center offers comprehensive evaluation and management of allergies, asthma and immune deficiency.  the office is committed to providing the highest quality of compassionate and evidence-based care. the medical professionals at Kaneland Allergy & Asthma Center are eager to make your experience a pleasant one.

By Cari Nierenberg

Allergic to cats? Then beware of pigs — or at least, the meat that comes from these sty-dwelling swine. a small number of people who are sensitive to felines may also get allergic reactions to eating pork.

Dubbed “pork-cat syndrome,” this food-induced allergic reaction can occur after consuming pork in people who are also allergic to cats, says Jonathon Posthumus, MD, a fellow in the division of asthma, allergy and immunology at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville.

Although this rare syndrome was first recognized in Europe in the mid-1990s, Posthumus and his colleagues recently described the first six documented cases of it in the U.S. he presented his preliminary findings at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

According to Posthumus, the true allergen in people with pork-cat syndrome is albumin, a protein that’s found in both cat dander and in pork meat. when albumin is consumed in a pork-containing meal it can trigger an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.

But not all people who are allergic to cat dander are sensitive to cat albumin. so, most cat-allergic individuals would probably not have reactions to pork. 

In this research, five out of six cases of pork-cat syndrome were seen in women, and the average age of those with this rare food sensitivity was 28. Blood tests were positive for cat dander and pork antibodies in all six people.

Following a meal containing pork, one person reported having an itchy mouth, three broke out in hives, and two had anaphylaxis, a severe and sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction. 

People with this syndrome may also develop swelling of the mouth, lips or tongue, and these same areas could become itchy after consuming pork products. Posthumus suspects the reaction may be related to how much pork is on your plate, but he says, there is no way to determine the threshold amount that triggers these symptoms.

Those diagnosed with this unusual food hypersensitivity are advised to steer clear of eating pork, and told what signs to look for and treatments to seek if they accidentally slip-up.

The UVA scientists discovered the country’s first reported cases while researching people with meat allergies. Perhaps pork-cat syndrome has been under-recognized in the U.S. because “it can easily be missed if the patient is not properly evaluated and the relationship to cat allergy is not appreciated,” Posthumus points out.

Readers, if you’ve ever experienced these strange sensations after eating pork, we have to hear about it. Leave us a comment telling us your story.

Related:

• When an apple allergy suddenly appears
• Allergic to orgasms? Man’s sad story has a happy ending
• The perfect excuse to skip the gym: ‘I’m allergic to exercise’

Want more weird health news? Find the Body Odd on Facebook.

If ??u are ?n debt of multiple loans ?nd w?nt t? consolidate them t? ?n? loan, th?n gett?ng familiar t? student loan consolidation program ??n h?l? y?u ? lot. Many students n??d financial support for th??r higher studies, which th?y ??n afford to pay back on?e studies ?r? completed. Managing multiple loans i? ?bvi?usl? a difficult task and ??uld s?met?m?s lead t? late payments or even missed payment; th?? c?n result ?n giving a bad credit nam? t? you, wh?ch might affect your future borrowings.

Application Processing and the Interest Rates

Student debt consolidation accumulates ?ll y?ur outstanding loans and forms a single loan. the interest rate calculated under student loan reduction program w?ll b? le?s th?n wh?t you w?r? paying before. the rate is low and fixed for th? time till the loan exists. this gives ??v?r?l benefits t? the student, attached w?th the consolidation program th?t includes low interest burden, le?? hassles, ?nd good credit rating.

Student debt consolidation application can be applied online ?nd th?r? are number ?f institutions offering college loan consolidation programs. so, you ??n choose ?mong them, depending u??n th? offers ?nd services th?y ?re providing ?s ??r your choice.

When And who All Can Consolidate Loan?

Student loans c?n be consolidated any time dur?ng y?ur six-month grace period ?r after th? repayment of the loan h?s started. If in case th? loan ?s consolidated dur?ng y?ur grace period, th?n ??u might loose th? advantage ?f g?tting ? low interest rate. However, since ?ou w?ll lose th? rest ?f the grace period, it ?? recommendable to wait until the fifth month ?f th? grace period bef?re consolidating. the ov?rall student loan consolidation program usuall? takes 30-45 days to g?t completed.

Further, your spouse ?nd ?our loans can al?o be consolidated together, but it ?? n?t v?ry much recommendable, bec?us? by ?n? chance you both g?t separated ?n future then als? both of ??u will be responsible f?r paying ?t together, ?nd ?f defer payment ?n the student debt consolidation loan i? preferred then y?u both hav? t? meet th? deferment criteria.

For th? payment ?f th? student loan consolidation amount, th?re ?r? man? payment plans ?nd th? students ??n choose from th?m ?? p?r th?re convenience. For ?n? assistance, ?ou c?n choose Student loan debt counseling, which can h?l? ??u in deciding. Students ?an e?ther choose standard payment ?f set monthly payments, variable plan where th? payments can be changed as y?ur income increases ?r decreases, graduated payment plan ?n wh?ch ?ou hav? t? pay low monthly installments ?n the beginning ?nd then it gradually increases, ?nd the l??t is extended payment plan, wh?ch ?ll?w? y?u t? reduce the monthly payment b? extending the loan payment period.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Dealing with allergies

St. Luke?s Health Watch

By Dr. Julie Lyons

Ahhchew! It’s that time of year again: allergy season. each year during the spring and fall, our clinic sees a burst of patients suffering from typical allergy symptoms: itchy nose, eyes and throat, sneezing and wheezing, cough and fatigue. as a sufferer myself, I know just how burdensome allergies can be.

Allergies are common in the United States; up to 40 percent of children and 10-30 percent of adults suffer from them. in Blaine County, the common culprits are sagebrush, which blooms in the fall, ragweed, which blooms in the late summer and fall, and willow, which blooms in the spring. Some exotic and invasive grasses also cause our residents trouble. Indoor triggers include dust mites, animal dander and mold spores.

There are several known risk factors that predispose us to developing allergies. these include family history of allergies, male sex, early introduction of food and formula, birth during pollen season, early use of antibiotics, smoking exposure during the first year of life and firstborn status. Allergies are less common in children under 5, and become more common as children start to enter school. in early adulthood, we also see a rise in allergy prevalence.

The more you are exposed to an allergen, the more sensitive you become. over time, less allergen is needed to cause significant symptoms, and the nose becomes more sensitive to all sorts of substances, including tobacco smoke, perfumes and chemicals. Allergies can significantly decrease a patient’s quality of life. Children with allergies may have more fatigue, decreased test scores during allergy season, higher rates of attention-deficit disorder, poor concentration and lower self-esteem. in adults with allergies, work productivity is decreased and patients have higher rates of anxiety and depression.

So how can allergies be treated? The first step is to accurately diagnose the disease. sometimes your primary care provider can do this based on history alone; do you sneeze every time you play in a sage field in the fall? Then maybe you have allergies. if the diagnosis is not clear, or a patient is not getting better with routine treatment, then skin testing may be helpful. Skin testing is the most convenient and least expensive screening method to detect allergic sensitization. Blood tests (traditionally called RAST testing) provide similar information as that obtained with allergen skin tests, though they are more expensive and less sensitive for the diagnosis of allergy to inhalant allergens.

once a diagnosis is made, there are three main components of treatment. The first is to avoid allergens. for some of us, that may be difficult; maybe we don’t want to give away the family dog or perhaps we work outside near sagebrush. The second part of treatment is pharmacotherapy (using drugs). The most effective single therapy is intranasal glucocorticoid sprays (like Flonase). Over-the-counter antihistamines can also help some patients with mild symptoms, but the older ones, like Benadryl, can cause significant sedation. Antihistamine nasal sprays are sometimes prescribed when other medications are ineffective. Steroid shots are no longer indicated for the routine treatment of allergies due to their potential for harmful side effects.

for the patient with severe allergies that does not respond to traditional treatments, immunotherapy is available. Gradual administration of increasing amounts of allergens over time helps to decrease immune response and alleviate allergic symptoms, but this takes one to two years of frequent shots to become effective.

Dr. Julie Lyons is board certified in family medicine. she is seeing patients at St. Luke’s Clinic in Hailey.

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