Sunday, February 28, 2016 | The Newnan Times-Herald — 1D
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Common causes of seasonal allergies A llerg y triggers are all around, and the rates of those people affected by various allergies seems to be growing. Worldwide, the rise in prevalence of allergic diseases has continued in the industrialized world for more than 50 years, according to the American Academy of Allerg y, Asthma & Immunology. Sensitization to foreign proteins in one’s environment is present in up to 40 percent of the world’s population, continues AAAAI. An allergy is defined as an overreaction of the human i m mune system to a foreign protein (allergen) that is eaten, inhaled, touched, or injected into the body. Allergies can cause such reactions as stuffy or runny noses, itchy eyes, coughing/sneezing, rashes, and hives. More severe reactions can include difficulty breathing, a lowering of blood pressure and asthma attacks. Millions of visits to physician offices result in a pri-
mary diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever — one of the most common allergy manifestations. The CDC says 17.6 million Americans were diagnosed with hay fever in the past 12 months. Allergic rhinitis is a common condition that creates symptoms similar to a cold. Unlike a cold, which is caused by a virus, allergic rhinitis is an allergic response to any number of triggers. Usually hay fever can be brought on by any number of allergens and sometimes it can be difficult to narrow down the exact cause. However, here are some of the more common allergens. • Pollen: Of all things that can cause an allergy, those resulting from pollen tend to be the most prolific. Pollen can be released from trees, grasses, weeds, and flowers throughout much of the year. While the main goal of pollen is to fertilize other plants, pollen that is inhaled can cause allergic reactions. It’s one of the more difficult allergens to
An allergy is defined as an overreaction of the human immune system to a foreign protein (allergen) that is eaten, inhaled, touched, or injected into the body.
avoid since pollen is virtually warmer weather or if indoor everywhere. temperatures are kept at 75 F • Dust: Dust is an accumu- or higher. Cleaning using a lation of microscopic parti- HEPA filter vacuum can keep cles that become trapped in a dust at a minimum. Air purihome. A large portion of dust fiers also may be able to help. is comprised of dust mites. WebMD says about 20 million Americans are allergic to dust mites and their waste. Dust mites feed on skin from pets and humans. They tend to spike in numbers during
NATIONAL RED CROSS MONTH
urine that can cause problems. Keep in mind that there are no truly hypoallergenic breeds, and length of hair or fur will not eliminate allergies. An allergist may be • Animal dander: Millions able to suggest a course of of pet owners have an allergy treatment. to their animals, says AAAAI. • Mold: Tiny fungi with It’s not the fur of the animal spores that float through the that causes the trouble, but air, mold is yet another comusually proteins found in mon allergen. The most coma pet’s shed skin, saliva and mon allergy-causing molds
include Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium. Preventing the environment needed for mold to grow can reduce allergic reactions. This primarily means airing out homes to keep them dry. A llergies ca n occur a ll year long and be bothersome. Working with an allergist and avoiding the most common triggers can help people feel more comfortable.
NATIONAL COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
The stages of colon cancer While the death rates for colon cancer have declined considerably over the last 20 years, it remains the third-deadliest cancer among both men and women in the United States and a considerable threat overseas. But when discovered and treated early, colon cancer has a five-year survival rate of roughly 90 percent. Upon receiving a colon cancer diagnosis, men and women will be informed which stage their disease has entered, and that stage may dictate treatment and influence the diagnosing physician’s prognosis. The following are the stages of colon cancer. * Stage 0: Also referred to as carcinoma in situ, stage 0 colon cancer is diagnosed when abnormal cells have been found in the mucosa, which is the innermost layer of the colon wall. These abnormal cells may become cancer and eventually spread. * Stage I: When a diagnosis of stage I colon cancer has been made, this means that the cancer has formed in the mucosa and spread to the submucosa, a layer of tissue beneath the mucosa. In addition, a stage I diagnosis could mean the cancer has spread to the muscle layer of the colon wall. * Stage II: Stage II colon cancer is broken down into three categories: stage IIA, stage IIB and stage IIC. A stage IIA colon cancer diagnosis means the cancer has spread through the muscle layer of the colon wall to the
Organization leading responder in disaster areas Mother Nature can be fickle and hard to predict. This is evidenced by the number of natural disasters that have taken place in the last several years. People need only recall the tornado outbreak of April 2011, Superstorm Sandy of October 2012 or the Colorado Wildfires of June 2012 to see what a terrible toll natural disasters can take on an area. The American Red Cross is routinely one of the first organizations to arrive to help the injured, homeless and emotionally scarred in a time of devastation. Each year the American Red Cross responds to roughly 70,000 natural and man-made disasters across the United States. These include, but are not limited to, transportation accidents, explosions, earthquakes, floods, and hazardous material spills. The assistance the Red Cross provides is varied. The organization may provide blood products to disaster victims, and volunteers may help individuals get in touch with insurance
representatives or other aid workers to gain access to available resources. Not only does it provide materials such as food, clothing and toiletries to the people directly affected by a disaster, but the Red Cross also will feed emergency workers who are at disaster sites around the clock. Because of its strong commitment to the United States military, the Red Cross will also provide communication conduits to connect family members facing an emergency or disaster with their relatives in the military. Its also helps support wounded warriors and military hospitals. According to their mission statement, the American Red cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. The organization was founded in 1881 by nurse Clara Barton and a few of her friends. Barton had
RED CROSS, page 3D
wall’s outermost layer, which is known as the serosa. A stage IIB colon cancer diagnosis mea ns t he ca ncer has spread through the serosa of the colon but has not spread to nearby organs. When a person has been diagnosed with stage IIC colon cancer, their cancer has spread through the serosa and to nearby organs. * Stage III: Stage III colon cancer also is divided into categories.
A stage IIIA diagnosis can mean the cancer has spread through the mucosa to the submucosa and may have spread to the muscle layer of the colon wall. In addition, a stage IIIA diagnosis means the cancer has spread to at least one but not more than three nearby lymph nodes or that cancer cells have formed in tissues near the lymph nodes. But a stage
CANCER, page 3D
Spring Sinus Allerg y and Asthma Relief Eugene S. Hurwitz, M.D. • John Vickery, M.D. • Diane O`Connor, FNP-BC 37 Calumet Pkwy., Bldg. F, Ste. 201 1975 Hwy. 54 W., Ste. 255 NEWNAN, GA •
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