Pollen-food Allergies
Allergies aren’t always easy to detect. Some of us may have mild reactions to plant pollens - a runny nose, itchy eyes and mild headaches in spring or fall. But what happens when you bite into an apple? Or a bowl of melon? Does your tongue begin to itch or tingle? If so, it’s quite possible that you have pollen-food allergies, otherwise known as oral allergy syndrome.
If you’re allergic to particular plant pollens, you might also react to the proteins in certain fruits, vegetables, spices and nuts. In fact, research indicates that those allergic to ragweed may react to melons. If you’re allergic to birch pollen, biting into an apple may make your tongue tingle.
Pollen-food allergy symptoms vary, but may include:
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting
- Itchy tongue or mouth
- Swelling of the face, throat, lips, or tongue
- Difficulty breathing
- Hives or itchy skin
- Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
Find yourself stuffed up, sneezing, with watery eyes and a runny nose? At this time of year, most people assume that these symptoms are indicative of a cold. But if you have a Christmas tree in your home, they could be signs that you suffer from pine tree allergies. If you are allergic, simply smelling the tree, touching the tree or even inhaling fragrant pine oils can make you have an allergic reaction.
The symptoms can be
- a red, itchy rash
- hives or blisters
- itchy and watery eyes
- sneezing
- itchy mouth and throat
- cough
- runny and/or stuffy nose
- asthmatic reaction
Do you have pine allergies? Your doctor can answer that question with a skin or blood test. Also, think back - do you typically have these symptoms each year when your Christmas tree is brought inside? Do you have similar symptoms during spring pollination?
If you find you are allergic to pine, your physician can suggest over-the-counter or prescription medications that help alleviate the symptoms. If you suffer from a rash, hives or blisters, calamine lotion or cortisone creams usually help.
An aspirin a day? Perhaps not. But a recent study offers compelling new evidence that the anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin can play a role in preventing death from cancer. The new research indicates that aspirin taken on a regular basis — especially by those in middle age — may help prevent death from non-smoker lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.
According to an NPR report, “Deaths from adenomatous lung cancer were cut 30 percent, those from colorectal cancer 40 percent, and those from prostate cancer 10 percent.”
While the American Cancer Society hasn’t yet endorsed the taking of aspirin, the research is worth paying attention to. Taking aspirin regularly is not recommend for everyone, so be sure to speak to your doctor before doing so.
In the United States, one of every 15 people will suffer from appendicitis. And those most likely to be affected are people between the ages of 10 and 30. So, is appendicitis an emergency? Yes. An inflamed appendix, if left untreated, can burst and release infectious materials inside your body. If these materials are released, it can lead to peritonitis - inflammation of your abdominal cavity - which can be fatal if not treated with antibiotics.
Just what causes appendicitis? It can be the result of an infection, cancer or blockage caused by stool.
It’s important you be aware of the various symptoms of appendicitis, particularly as appendicitis can often mimic the symptoms of other conditions such as a urinary tract infection, a gallbladder problem, ovarian pain, gastritis, a bladder infection or an infection within the intestines.
When it comes to healthy living — think moderation. That goes for your intake of dietary supplements as well. Vitamin D has been in the headlines a lot lately — touted as a possible preventative measure against everything from cancer and autism, to diabetes, heart disease and the flu. And recommendations for increased doses of Vitamin D have filled the press. Now, recent research from the Institute of Medicine indicates that Vitamin D supplements may not be as beneficial as recently assumed. And, further, too much Vitamin D over a sustained period of time may have negative effects. The Institute of Medicine panel also notes that they found no evidence of a national epidemic of vitamin D deficiency, contrary to earlier articles by American media. This article from NPR is worth a read — Medical Panel: Don’t Go Overboard on Vitamin D.
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