Winter was milder than usual in many parts of the country this year. Warmer weather has brought earlier pollination of trees and – you guessed it – an earlier hay fever season as well.

If you suffer from hay fever, buckle your seat belt. You and about 35 million other people may be in for a rougher ride not only this year, but also in years to come.1 That’s because recent studies suggest that rising temperatures and carbon dioxide levels from climate change are behind earlier and longer hay fever seasons.2

But what exactly is hay fever? And how can you know for sure whether your sniffles and sneezes are due to a late winter cold or an early hay fever attack? Hay fever is a nasal allergic reaction to airborne particles such as pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds. It’s more likely to be hay fever than a cold if your symptoms last longer than a week or so and your nasal discharge is clear. Also, colds can cause body aches and fevers, but allergies don’t.3

The symptoms of hay fever may include:

Runny or stuffy nose
Sneezing
Coughing, along with postnasal drip
Itchy eyes, nose, and throat
Dark circles under the eyes
Sore throat or hoarse voice
Facial pressure or pain
Fatigue4,5

You can do many things to ease the discomfort of allergies. First, track pollen counts in your area. In general, it may help you to know that pollen levels tend to be highest in the morning during ragweed pollen season (late summer and early fall). They tend to be highest in the evening during grass pollen season (spring and summer). And, as you probably already know – sunny, windy days are often the worst.6

One easy way to find pollen counts in your area is to visit the web page of the National Allergy Bureau. Here, you can also sign up for free email alerts with daily pollen and mold reports.7 Then, try to stay inside on high pollen-count days. Also:

Keep house and car windows closed. If necessary, use air conditioning instead.
Avoid outdoor chores such as yard work or mowing grass.
Wear a facemask that filters pollen out if you can’t avoid being outdoors.
Take a shower and wash your hair right after being outdoors.2,6

See me if you need help selecting over-the-counter allergy medicines such as nasal sprays and rinses and oral medication. I can also answer your questions about any prescription medications you might need. And if your hay fever is really wreaking havoc, ask an allergist about whether you’re a good candidate for allergy shots. They can provide long-term relief by making you less sensitive to pollen.

Source: HealthMart Pharmacies, Feb 2012

More than a million Americans have heart attacks each year. Nearly half of them die. Why does this happen? In many cases, it’s because people don’t take action quickly enough – or at all.

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked. If blood flow isn’t restored quickly to that part of the heart muscle, it lacks nutrition and dies. That’s why it’s so important to seek medical help right away.

If you or someone you’re with may be having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 without delay. This needs to be an ambulance trip to the hospital, not a joy ride. If you get caught driving in traffic, you can lose valuable minutes. To help you visualize the urgency of the situation, think of a heart attack as a gunshot to the heart. If symptoms stop within five minutes or come and go, don’t just thank your lucky stars. Call your doctor and describe what happened. A blood vessel could be on its way toward blockage.

Cardiologists call the 60 minutes after a heart attack the “golden hour.” That’s because this is the narrow window of time when treatment can open arteries and prevent permanent heart damage. These heart specialists have two methods for doing this. They can use a clot-dissolving drug. Or, they can perform a procedure to open blocked heart arteries (angioplasty).

If treatment is so effective, why don’t people get themselves promptly to the hospital where they belong? Maybe it’s because many have a Hollywood image of a heart attack: the clutching of the chest, the unbearable pain, the dramatic collapse onto the floor.

But a heart attack can have several guises. Symptoms can begin quickly or slowly. They can be severe or mild. They may come and go. They can even vary from one time to the next. And some people may have no clear symptoms at all. These are called “silent heart attacks.” They are more common in people with diabetes.

Chest discomfort or pain may be a hallmark of heart attack. But it can feel more like pressure than pain. It may be a squeezing or heaviness, making it difficult to catch your breath. Or, you may have a feeling of fullness or indigestion, resembling heartburn.

You may have other warning signs of a heart attack, including:
Discomfort in one or both arms, or your back, neck, jaw, or stomach
Nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, or fainting
Sweating

So if this happen to you or someone you know, will you take the needed action? Or will you be afraid you’re being alarmist and worry that the symptoms were nothing but a case of indigestion? If so, remember this: You can’t die of embarrassment. But a heart attack can most definitely kill you.

After a heart attack, doctors often prescribe medications to prevent a second one. These work in various ways. For example, they might prevent blood clots, lower cholesterol, or lower blood pressure. Don’t stop taking these without your doctor’s okay. If you run into any problems or have any questions, I’m here to help guide you.