a blog for women… I'm just sayin'

Numerous household effects make asthma worse or can cause attacks. These are known as triggers. The most common asthma triggers are allergens, infections, environmental irritants, stress, and exercise. Often times with asthma have allergies, major cause of asthma symptoms. House dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, mold, and pollen top this list of common allergens.
Infections of the airways including viral infections of the nose and throat, pneumonia or sinus infections also trigger attacks.
Environment irritants such as cigarette and other smoke, air pollution, fragrances, and cleaning products contribute to triggering asthma attacks. Be sure to check all of the child’s surroundings including classrooms at school, day care centers, and relatives’ homes for exposure to these triggers.

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To many it comes as a surprise that asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness in children in the United States. Statistics articulate that it affects as many as 10%-12% of children and this amount is ever increasing. Even though asthma can begin at any age, children have a propensity to demonstrate initial symptoms by the age of five. A particularly frustrating circumstance for parents is the child’s inability to express the symptoms such shortness of breath or labored breathing. WebMd lists common asthma symptoms as coughing especially at night, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness, pain, or pressure.

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Avon “Solutions” Skin Care Products

For many years, I was an Avon representative. I thought it might be nice to share with you my personal views and experiences with Avon and other skin care products. Or perhaps you have a pointer for me?
One of the most impressive lines of products was the Solutions skin care products. The packaging has been redesigned several times over the years however the products remain constant. Two of the products I use regularly are the Solutions Total Radiance Day and Night Cleanser and the Solutions Plus Total Radiance Thermal Cleanser.
While I am not a “high maintenance” kind of woman, and do not buy into the idea that skin regimens will keep the epidermis looking twenty, I do care for my skin. In my opinion, I wash my face every day, so why not use a product that is easy, effective, and economical.

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Surviving Spring Allergies

Sneezing; itchy ears, nose and throat; runny or stuffy nose; coughing; watery and itchy eyes – these symptoms blossom each spring for some 35 million Americans.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as “hay fever,” can make beautiful spring days miserable.  In order to treat allergies effectively, it’s best to have a qualified allergist/immunologist examine you and determine your allergen triggers and an appropriate treatment.

The most common spring allergens include:
* Pollen, a fine powder released by trees, weeds and grasses. Ash, cottonwood, poplar, elm and maple are some common spring pollinating trees.
* Johnson, Bermuda, Kentucky bluegrass and rye are possible grass allergens.
* Molds are microscopic fungi with spores that float in the air like pollen. Molds don’t have a specific season, but are more affected by weather conditions.
* Dust and pet dander are common allergy triggers found inside the home.

“Symptoms can be minimized by staying inside air-conditioned environments,” says Gretta Bogaard, a Sam’s Club Pharmacy Manager. “If people have an activity they love, which requires time outdoors, check the weather/pollen reports to determine which day of the week has lower ragweed/pollen counts. Pre-medication with oral or ophthalmic antihistamines might also help to reduce symptoms when going outside.”

Other tips for managing spring allergies include:
* Keep home and car windows closed to prevent pollens or mold spores from drifting in. To keep air cool and fresh, turn on the air conditioning (set on “recirculation”), which also cleans and dries the air.
* Maintain a clean environment at your home and, if you’re able, your office.
* Minimize early morning outside activity between 5 and 10 a.m., when the greatest amount of pollen is usually released.
* Try to stay inside when the pollen count or humidity is reported to be high, and on windy days when dust and pollen are likely to be more of a problem.
* Take medications prescribed by your allergist/immunologist regularly, in the recommended dosage.
* Flush your nasal cavities regularly with an over-the-counter saline spray which provides relief of congestion.

Pharmacists, like those at Sam’s Club, are easily accessible and can offer a wide variety of over-the-counter treatment options for non-life-threatening allergy responses. If these options are unsuccessful, though, it would be advisable to consult with a physician.

Spring allergies don’t have to keep you from enjoying the season. For more tips and information, visit www.samsclub.com/health.

While many people used to believe that the cold winter weather put us at greater risk for illness, the truth is that it’s not the cold, but the spread of germs through the environment -such as the hundreds of surfaces we touch everyday-that cause illness.

During the warm-weather months, we spend lots of time outdoors, whether at the playground, local zoo, or sports arena, to name a few favorites. As we’re traveling or simply out and about, we rarely stop to think about the germs that our hands pick up in public, outdoor places-settings that offer fewer opportunities to wash hands at a sink with soap and water.

According to Dr. Charles Gerba, nationally known germ expert and professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona, eighty percent of all common infections are spread through the environment around us-meaning we’re more likely to come into contact with germs at all those crowded public places that we frequent in the summer months.

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