Disease Prevention Articles

With Spring Comes 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 together with the blooming season is some people's dreaded seasonal nightmare: hay fever.

Hay Fever Prevention

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.

• 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.

What the “Toes” Know

As odd as it may seem, your feet may be the window to your overall body health. Here are some things to look for regarding your feet that will give you clues that there may be other important body issues to look into.

Toes, Signs and Symptoms

Thick, yellow toenails -

Toenails are not supposed to be thick and/or yellow.  Thick, yellow nails are most often an indication of a fungal infection living beneath your toenails.  People that have other medical conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and other immune deficiencies are more likely to get a fungal infection than those that do not have these conditions.  To treat thick, yellow toenails, you will need to consult a podiatrist.  While there are plenty of over-the-counter treatments for thick, yellow toenails, by the time your nails are already discolored and thick it is too late for any over-the-counter creams or medicines to work. You must discuss your options with a professional.

No hair on your feet or toes :

If your feet or toes are lacking hair, it can be a sign of having poor circulation because of vascular disease.  If you notice that your feet and toes do not have any hair on them, you will want to consult your doctor to find out ways to improve your circulation thereby reducing your risk of acquiring vascular disease.

A wound that won't heal on your foot : Wounds on your feet that just won't heal could be an indication of diabetes.  Over time, elevated blood glucose levels can lead to serious nerve damage in your feet and because of this damage you may not feel when you have a sore or a wound on your foot.  If your wound continues to go unhealed there could be major problems, including amputation.  If you notice a wound that won't heal on your feet be sure to contact your doctor to discuss your wound.  If you are currently living with or being treated for diabetes, be sure to check your feet often and mark any changes.

Awareness 101: It's Movember-No Shave November

Wondering why all of the men in your life seem to be sprouting more and more facial hair these days? Then wonder no more : it's Movember! (Also known as No Shave November.)

No Shave November

The meaning behind Movember is to raise awareness for prostate cancer and testicular cancer and the movement began in Australia more than 13 years ago.  Males participating not only talk about why they are participating but also get other men to start talking about men's health and cancer awareness.  Men participating are also encouraged to donate what they would otherwise spend on grooming/shaving to the American Cancer Society.

Don't worry, ladies, you are encouraged to participate as well, you can forego shaving your legs or cancel the waxing/threading appointment that you have planned for the month.

How to Treat and Deter the Outbreak of Cold Sores

Cold sores on the lips can be one of the most aggravating infections that a person gets.  Caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1), the virus can remain dormant in a person's body for years and then resurface , normally at the most inopportune time.

How to prevent cold sores

Some causes of cold sores include stress, insomnia, menstruation, too much exposure to UV rays, digestive disorders, the common cold, influenza, and dry, cracked lips.  While we can't do anything to cure our bodies of this virus for good, we can treat cold sores and deter the outbreak of cold sores if we follow these pieces of advice:

Recognize the symptoms: oftentimes you will get a stinging and burning sensation on your lips prior to a cold sore outbreak.  By recognizing this major symptom, you can purchase an over-the-counter medicine and apply it before the cold sore has a chance to appear.

Practice good hygiene when using OTC medicines for treatment: always wash your hands prior to and after applying an over-the-counter cold sore treatment medicine. Apply the treatment at least 5 times a day and use a cotton swab if possible, to avoid touching the sore.

Keep your lips moisturized: dry and cracked lips are both causes of cold sores, so by keeping the lips and skin well moisturized, you can help deter the outbreak of cold sores. 

Use sun block on your lips: too much exposure to the sun's UV rays can cause the outbreak of cold sores.  By remembering to apply and reapply sun block or a lip balm containing sun block to your lips when you are outdoors will also decrease the number of cold sores that arise.

Eat lysine-rich foods: foods that are high in lysine also help to deter cold sores. This includes beef, fish, chicken, eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt.