Dear Friend,
As your family allergy and asthma specialist, we take pride in offering tips on common allergic conditions, informing you of new developments in the field of allergies, as well as the new things happening at Adult & Children Allergy-Asthma Center.
So, please take just a few minutes to read the following helpful information and don't forget to contact us if we can be of further assistance in providing relief of your allergies.
Change in Office Hours
Just in case you have not seen the notices posted, our office will now be closed on Wednesday mornings. We will not be open for appointments or allergy injections on Wednesdays. There will be someone in the office to answer the phone and schedule appointments. The office will still close at 5:30 and the allergy lab will still close at 5:15 for allergy shots. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Our office hours are the same as other days including Saturdays by appointment.
Flu Season Is Here
The flu vaccine is here and ready for our patients! F]l shots are encouraged for everyone on a yearly basis. They are recommended for anyone over 50, children 6
through 59 months, anyone with a chronic health problem (including asthma). anyone with a weakened immune system, residents of nursing homes and healthcare workers. You do not need an appointment for a flu shot. We are charging $40.00 and are not filing with insurance. Here are a few interesting facts about the dreaded FLU:
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The flu is spread by respiratory droplets when infected people cough and sneeze.
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A person with the flu can infect others one day before getting symptoms and up to 5 days after symptoms have started.
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Antiviral medication is available for the flu but must be started within 2 days of the illness, therefore see your doctor early if you think you may have the flu.
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Flu season can start as early as October and go through March.
Adult Onset Asthma
Most of us are aware that asthma frequently develops during childhood but many people are not aware that it can develop during adulthood as well. We wanted to bring attention to this issue and disprove that commonly believed myth that asthma can't develop later in life. Unfortunately, no matter what your age, asthma can develop even at age 50, 60 or later. Studies have found a few reasons for adult onset asthma:
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The most common cause is allergies. In fact, 50% of adults who have asthma also have allergies.
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Obesity also appears to significantly increase the risk of asthma during adulthood.
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Exposure to substances commonly found in the environment such as cigarette smoke and perfume can trigger adult onset asthma.
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Different illnesses including viruses and other infections can also be a factor.
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In general, women are more likely to develop asthma as an adult and it appears hormonal fluctuations play a role.
Sinus Headaches
There are many different types and causes of headache. One of the most common types, especially among allergy sufferers, is sinus headache. Sinus headaches occur due to swelling of the membranes lining the sinuses. This swelling can cause pain around the eyes and even in the top teeth. Sinus headaches tend to worsen as you bend forward or lie down. We've compiled a list of things that can help alleviate sinus headaches:
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Breathing moist air. This can be done easily with a basin of hot water or steam from a hot shower . You can also use a steam vaporizer or cool-mist humidifier
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Alternating hot and cold compresses. Start with a hot compress across your sinuses for 3 minutes and then replace with a cold compress for 30 seconds. Repeat this three times per treatment, two to six times a day.
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Nasal irrigation. There are many nasal irrigation products available over-the- counter. Irrigation helps to clean the sinuses and decrease inflammation.
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Over-the-counter pain relievers. These include Ibuprofen, Naproxen and Tylenol. Take them as directed for headache pain. It can be helpful to alternate them.
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Over-the-counter decongestants (most commonly known as Sudafed). Decongestants taken as directed can help shrink the swollen sinuses and allow them to drain better. Just make sure if you are taking any prescribed allergy medicines that they don't already contain a decongestant. We also recommend not taking decongestants if you have high blood pressure to too close to bedtime because they can cause insomnia.
Tips for Gardeners
Allergies can take all the fun out of gardening. Here are some tips so you can enjoy gardening without sneezing or wheezing:
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Be sure to take your allergy medicines before going out in the garden. all allergy medicines work best preventively instead of after symptoms start.
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Wear a pollen mask and gloves while gardening and try not to touch your face or eyes.
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Pay attention to the pollen counts and try to garden on days that the pollen count is lower or on days that are cooler, cloudy and less windy or after a good rain.
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When finished in the garden, wash well (including your hair) and change clothes.
When it comes to what to plant here are a few tips:
Bright and colorful plants are usually insect-pollinated, not wind pollinated. Their pollen is larger and heavier, therefore less likely to cause allergies.
Wind-pollinated plants including trees, grasses and weeds have lighter pollen released in large quantities, therefore more likely to cause allergies. These plants often have smaller blooms with little or no color.
When buying trees for your yard try to buy types that don't tend to cause allergies such as: crape myrtle, dogwood, fig, fir, palm, pear, plum, redbud and redwood. Additionally, the following female cultivars do not produce pollen; ash. box elder, cottonwood, maple, poplar and willow.
We hope this information is helpful and thank you for your referrals. We will continue to treat your family, friends and neighbors in a caring manner.
Sincerely,
V.M. Bommanna M.D.
Sherrel Lyman O.M.
Adult & Children Allergy-Asthma Center
