Published: April 11, 2007 10:31 pm            

Health Matters: Don’t let allergies keep you at home

TERRE HAUTE — Achoo! (sniffle) Sorry, but it’s allergy season. Actually, with pollens, molds and such, it’s pretty much allergy season all year ’round—depending on your allergy—but right now, it’s trees: maples, poplar, cedar and juniper, aspen and cottonwood. Next will come pollen from grass, then weeds, flowers, and who knows what else?

“We were starting to get a really big peak of pollen, then we got the rain and colder weather,” which brought some reprieve, says Allergist Diane Jordan-Wagner, M.D., who practices at AP&S Clinic in Terre Haute and at Scott Air Force Base near Belleville, Ill. Now that it’s warming up again, those allergens will be back.

But if you don’t want to stay indoors, safe behind closed windows and with the air conditioner filtering the air, what can you do? Dr. Jordan-Wagner suggests the following:

• Don’t dry your clothes on a clothesline. Pollen can settle on the clothing and come indoors.

• Keep the windows closed in your car when you’re driving.

• Shower yourself off at the end of the day if you’ve been outdoors. Don’t forget to shampoo, too. That way, you won’t be sleeping with pollen.

• If you’re allergic to grass, don’t be the one who mows the lawn. If you can’t avoid mowing, take a non-drowsy antihistamine, keep the grass short, wear goggles and a mask; shower and change your clothes as soon as you finish with the lawn.

• Wipe down pets when they come indoors. They can carry pollen in on their fur.

• Change your furnace/air conditioner filter every month.

“For people bothered by spring ocular allergy — the itchy, red, watery eyes — keep sunglasses on,” Dr. Jordan-Wagner says. She was speaking of the sports-style sunglasses that “fit close to the face to keep so much pollen from getting into the eyes.” And try not to rub your eyes; there’s probably pollen on your hands, too.

As far as medications go, she recommended some over-the-counter remedies, such as Visine Allergy for red, itchy eyes, but cautioned that if you need to use it regularly for more than one week to consult with your doctor. Nasalcrom works for nasal spray—and so does plain ‘ol salt water, Dr. Jordan-Wagner says. And grab some Claritin or Alavert—make sure it’s the non-drowsy formula—if you need an antihistamine.

Want to know what the pollen count is in your area? Go to www.weather.com, www.aaaai.org, or www.pollen.com. I like the last one because it gives you a four-day allergy forecast, plus you can have a two-day allergy alert e-mailed to you.

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People who have shingles—the kind caused by the vericella zoster virus; not the ones on your roof — could benefit from practicing the ancient Chinese art of tai chi.

A study of 112 people by researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles and UC San Diego found that tai chi appears to boost immunity to vericella zoster and even to further boost vaccine-stimulated immunity.

Tai chi combines aerobic activity, relaxation and meditation, all of which are believed to boost cell-mediated immune responses. And it seems that shingles is believed to be strongly related to cell-related immunity. Tai Chi is also low impact and can be performed by older people with limited mobility.

The Tribune-Star’s Valley Datebook lists tai chi classes at St. Joseph University Parish at 113 S. Fifth St., phone (812) 235-5417, and at the Wabash Valley Senior Citizen’s Center at 300 S. Fifth St., phone (812) 232-3245.

Classes are also offered through The Maple Center at 1801 N. Sixth St., Suite 600. Two classes began recently and more are likely to be offered in the future. Call (812) 234-8733 for more information or visit its Web site at www.themaplecenter.org.

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Oops! The time for the cancer survivor’s luncheon at Clabber Girl on April 21 was incorrect in last week’s column. It’s from 1-3 p.m., not 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., as previously printed. I suppose the name of the meal should also be changed from “brunch” to “lunch.”

The luncheon is for those who have survived cancer, plus one guest, with cancer survivors learning there is such a thing as a free lunch. RSVPs are limited to the first 50 people, and “we are nearing the maximum number of attendees,” says Dawn Clinkenbeard, community program representative for the Wabash Valley office of the American Cancer Society.

Chef Eddie will prepare items from the American Cancer Society’s Healthy Living cookbook, and those who attend will get first crack at the 2007 Relay for Life survivor shirt. Make your reservation by calling (812) 232-2679 or (888) 635-9258.

        

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