http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/health/hayfever.html#top
Am I born with allergies?
No.
You develop them after you are exposed to allergens. It
usually happens during your first few years but it can
happen anytime – even well into adulthood. Sometime
a child's allergy symptoms will diminish later in life.
Maybe even go away completely.
How
do I know that my allergy symptoms aren't just a cold?
You
can be pretty sure your hacking and sneezing are the result
of an allergy if:
-
There is no fever and no muscle ache.
-
Mucous secretions are clear and runny.
-
Sneezes
occur in rapid, multiple sequence.
-
Your
nose, ears and throat (especially the palate or roof
of the mouth) are itchy.
-
Your
symptoms last longer than the typical cold, which is
usually seven to 10 days.
If
you're still not convinced, your doctor can perform skin
or blood tests to confirm whether you are allergic to something.
What
can I do to reduce my exposure to the stuff that makes
me so miserable?
There are a number of steps you can take, short
of moving into a hermetically sealed chamber:
-
Stay
inside when the pollen count is high (especially between
5 a.m. and 10 a.m. when it's usually at its highest),
and keep your windows and doors closed.
-
Air
conditioning can also help – but you must clean
or change your furnace's air filter often.
-
If
you need to get out of the house on days when pollen
counts are high or it's windy outside, consider going
to air conditioned venues for your leisure activities.
-
Wear
a filter mask if you're going to be working around the
yard.
-
If
you're driving, keep the windows closed and use the
air conditioner.
-
Keep
your home as allergy-free as possible. Consider replacing
carpets with wood or laminate flooring.
-
Change
your sheets and pillowcases often.
If you're
a woman, consider having several children. An Italian study
suggests the more children a woman has, the less likely
she'll suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis.
There's
a theory that a small family size increases a child's risk
of developing allergies because of the "hygiene hypothesis."
It argues that fewer infections in childhood leads to increasing
allergic sensitization, because your body does not have
as much opportunity to build up protection against some
antibodies. Without regular priming, the theory goes, the
immune system gets bored and overreacts to pollens, or other
allergens.
I'm
not staying in all spring and summer. How can I treat my
allergies?
Antihistamines.
These pills contain drugs that are supposed to neutralize
the histamines that are produced when allergens irritate
your immune system.
Allergy
pills have come a long way in the past 30 years. It wasn't
that long ago that the only allergy pills on the market
may have cleared up your symptoms, but left you so drowsy
you couldn't function very well.
That
type of pill is still on the market – and may be the
best choice for some people. Newer allergy medications are
less likely to make people drowsy. Some of them, however,
can leave your mouth and your skin feeling dry.
In
Canada, most allergy pills are available over the counter
– you don't need a prescription.
If
your symptoms are more severe, there are nasal sprays and
eye drops you can also take. Several require a prescription.
Nasal
sprays work by coating your nasal passages and protecting
them from becoming irritated by allergens. However, you
should start taking these sprays well before allergy symptoms
start for them to work effectively.
What
about allergy shots?
This
is another option, for some people. Injection therapy,
however, has been shown to have little or no effect for
about 30 per cent of allergy sufferers. As well, showing
up for a shot once a week for three to five years is tough
for a lot of people.
With
allergy shots, you are injected with a small amount of
the allergen once a week. The exposure is slowly increased
until you build up a resistance to the allergen. Forty
per cent of patients can expect excellent results.
Can
allergies lead to more severe illnesses?
In
some cases, severe allergic symptoms can lead to asthma.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways.
The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology
estimates that as many as 38 per cent of people with allergic
rhinitis may also have asthma.
According
to the 1996-97 National Population Health Survey, more than
2.2 million Canadians have been diagnosed with asthma by
a physician (12.2 per cent of children and 6.3 per cent
of adults).
The
survey also found that asthma in children has become a bigger
problem over the past 15 years. Asthma mortality rates increased
from 1970 to the mid-1980s – especially for people
aged 15-24 or over 65. By 1995, mortality rates had decreased
to below the 1970 level – except among in the 15-24
year age group.
Hospitalization
rates for asthma increased for children in the 1980s. By
the mid-1990s the rate had started to decrease but remained
higher than the rate in the 1970s.
Asthma
kills more than 500 Canadians a year – and sends
another 150,000 to hospital for treatment.
Qs
Your Daddy!
This Father's Day, give dad the thrill of a grill
But know how to choose the right one
TORONTO, May 25 /CNW/ - Everyone knows that men love to
grill. Grilling is perceived by most guys as one of the
few remaining male-only, testosterone-filled rituals -
starting and maintaining the flame, watching the food
sizzle and sear while enjoying a chilled beverage of choice,
then presenting family, friends or neighbors with a finished
culinary delight that generates a plethora of praise.
No wonder that many families want to buy the ultimate
gift of a gas grill for Dad on Father's Day.
However, shopping for the right grill for your dad can
be challenging if you don't know some of the basics. Overall,
keep in mind that the top three things grilling enthusiasts
want to avoid are 1) uncontrollable flare-ups,
2) grills that fall apart after a couple of seasons, and
3) burnt food (most people blame burnt food on the chef,
but often times it's the quality of the grill). It's important
to make sure that a one-time bargain doesn't turn into
a long-term disappointment: Invest in a quality grill
so Dad can focus on dinner and not his toolbox!
Here are some insider tips to find the right gas grill
for Dad that will be part of the family for years to come:
-
Choose a Grill with Preassembled and/or Welded Parts.
It will be much more stable and stand up to everyday
use. Look for easy-to-follow instructions and precision
cast and die-cut parts for easy and accurate assembly.
Even if the store assembles it for you, you want the
least number of fasteners which can come loose over
the grill's life.
-
Choose a Grill with a Long Warranty Period. The best
manufacturers can afford to stand behind their products.
The warranty should be at least five years on all parts.
Make sure promises for long-term or lifetime warranties
aren't shrouded in fine print
-
Choose
a Well Known Company with a Reputation for Quality.
Do you know and trust the name on the hood? Look for
company with a history of great customer service-one
you can reach later if you need accessories, service,
and (eventually) replacement parts. Look for a customer
service phone number and website address.
-
Give it the Wiggle Test. Grab the grill by the sides
and give it a good shake. If it doesn't feel sturdy
at the store, you can bet it's going to fall apart in
your backyard. A well built grill feels solid and stable
and is made of high-grade steel, baked-on porcelain
enamel, and heavy-gauge stainless steel.
-
Take a Good Look Inside. Most grill shoppers stop at
opening and closing the hood. If it feels heavy, they
think the grill is good. But just like buying a new
car, you need to check under the hood and inspect the
inner workings.
-
Cooking Grates. Look for durable cooking grates made
of porcelain- enameled steel, stainless steel, or porcelain-enameled
cast iron.
-
Under
the Grates. Beneath the cooking grates you will see
some type of system to disperse heat from the burners
and channel away food drippings. Stay clear of lava
rock or ceramic briquets. Drippings can pool on these
surfaces causing nasty flare-ups. The best design is
a v-shaped metal bar that rests on top of the burners
to vaporize drippings.
-
What about the Burner System? Make sure the grill is
equipped with at least two individually controlled burners
to enable you to cook by the Direct and Indirect cooking
method. Burners should be made of high-grade stainless
steel.
-
Where Does the Grease Go? Look for a system that funnels
drippings down and away form the burners into a high-capacity
catch pan - at least one inch deep - that can be accessed
easily from the front of run from the tank to the grill
- is it a safe distance from the hot underside of the
grill? Are the wires for the igniter also tucked safely
away? Cheap grills from unskilled manufacturers don't
always put safety first.
To download
a copy of the "How to Shop for a Gas Grill" guide
that has illustrations and even more tips, visit www.weber.com(R). |
