Disease Prevention Articles

In the News All About Hay Fever

Spring is finally here! After a long and cold winter, everyone is in their glory with the sunshine and warm weather.

However, coming hand-in-hand with the blooming season is some people’s dreaded seasonal nightmare: hay fever. 

One of the best plans of action for fighting spring allergies is to avoid the things that make your sneezing, itching and watering eyes worse.  Warren V. Filley, M.D., a spokesperson for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, recently told www.health.com which plants you should avoid. 

• Ragweed – It is common along riverbanks and in rural areas. Dr. Filley says that almost 75 percent of people with allergies are sensitive to ragweed.
•  Mountain cedar –This tree is commonly found in mountainous regions and, according to Dr. Filley, causes some of the “most severe allergy symptoms I have ever seen.”
• Maple – These trees are found along streams and in woods all through the eastern United States and Canada. The maple produces potent allergens.
• Elm – Common in the wetlands, these trees will most likely aggravate your allergies.
• Mulberry – This pretty tree can be very deceiving. Found in woods and river valleys, it is often associated with contributing to hay fever.
• Pecan – Although it makes many good desserts, the pollen from pecan – found in woods and orchards – is second only to ragweed as the most severe source of allergens.
• Oak – It may have less potent pollen, but it produces very large quantities of it, Dr. Filley says. Avoid the woods just for this one.
• Pigweed/Tumbleweed – This common weed is found in lawns and along roadsides, but be aware.

In the News Osteoporosis Warning Signs

Osteoporosis is one of the most common ailments of adults over the age of 50 and it is a problem that people do not want to live with.  Weak bones lead to fractures and many other scary problems that could leave you disabled.

Before turning into full-blown osteoporosis, osteopenia – the process of thinning bones - precedes the ailment.  There are some warning signs to look for to determine if your bones are in fact thinning.

Here are nine warning signs for osteoporosis:

Warning Sign #1 - You have had more than one fracture in the past two years or a fracture that seemed severe considering the circumstances.

Warning Sign #2 – You are naturally a small or thin person.

Warning Sign #3 – You have an autoimmune condition that causes you to take prednisone or another corticosteroid.

Warning Sign #4 – You are a smoker and have been throughout your adult life. 

Warning Sign #5 – You drink more than two alcoholic beverages a day. 

Warning Sign #6 – You do not drink milk, or you have a lactose intolerance that prevents you from drinking milk. 

Warning Sign #7 – You have an eating disorder. 

Warning Sign #8 – You are an Asian or Caucasian female over the age of 50. 

Warning Sign #9 – You have a family member who had osteoporosis before the age of 50 or before menopause.

In the News Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer is the most feared disease in the world and the worst feared word in the English language… and rightfully so.  Every day we hear stories of cancer – both of people who have lost their battle, people who are battling or people who have survived. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and because it is one of the most common cancers in the United States we offer these facts, symptoms, signs, possible causes and ways that you can decrease your risk of having breast cancer. 

BREAST CANCER FACTS:

• One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women.
• Each year it is estimated that more than 220,00 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die.

BREAST CANCER SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

• A lump in the breast or thickening that feels different than regular tissue.
• Discharge from the nipple.
• Change in size or shape of your breast.
• Changes to the skin of the breast, including dimpling.
• Redness of the skin of the breast.

RISKS:

• Being female.
• Increasing age.
• A personal history of breast cancer.
• A family history of breast cancer.
• Inherited genes that cause breast cancer.
• Radiation exposure.
• Obesity.
• Beginning your period at a young age.
• Beginning menopause at an older age.
• Drinking alcohol.
• Having children later in life or not at all.

Arthritis 101: Stress Management for Rhematoid Sufferers

Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating disease for many people.  While stress can make the condition much worse for some people, rheumatoid arthritis can also create lots of stress for you as well.

Stress can cause the release of chemicals in your body that will trigger inflammation and pain, therefore making the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis increased. To de-stress and help alleviate the pain and inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis, here are some ways to cut some stress out of your life: 

• Exercise
• Breathe deeply
• Talk out the things that are bothering you
• Get organized
• Embrace the outdoors
• Enjoy life