the docs are in health &
the docs are in health & wellness The Downside of Spring: Surviving allergy season By Neil Jaddou, M.D. and Alaa Toma, M.D. Having survived this past torturous Michigan winter, you may be now headed for a different agony in spring. You feel the itch crawling through your eyes, the never-ending drip from your nose, the rash, the fatigue, the sneezing ... yes, welcome to allergy season. Imagine a country whose army is selectively attacking some of its law-abiding people, inevitably causing bodily harm. Similarly, the army of our body — the immune system — can malfunction and ultimately lead to allergies. NEIL JADDOU, M.D. SPECIAL TO THE CHALDEAN NEWS Allergies occur when the body’s immune system wrongly defends itself against something that is not dangerous. In such cases, the immune system fights harmless materials such as dust, pet shedding, pollen or mold, with production of a special class of antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE), which prompts the release of histamine. Histamine leads to itching, hives, sneezing, red watery eyes (and often dark circles beneath them), scratchy throat, runny nose, coughing, wheezing, clogged ears, a decreased sense of smell, eyelid swelling, fatigue, irritability and headaches. Some allergies are seasonal (hay fever), whereas others occur year-round. Congestion and swelling can trap bacteria in the nasal cavities and lead to sinus or ear infections. Some allergies stop after a certain age, and some start late in life. Heredity and environment can predispose people to allergies. Some people have severe allergies and potentially get a life-threatening allergic reaction to things such as nuts. A substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an “allergen.” Common allergens include foods (cow’s milk, soy, eggs, wheat, nuts, seafood), medications (aspirin and antibiotics), dusts, smokes, perfumes, animal dander, pollen, venom of insect stings, chemical substances such as detergents or latex, or some toxic chemicals in the environment such as those in plants like poison ivy. Inhaled allergens can also lead to asthmatic symptoms. Symptoms of food allergies include abdominal cramps, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, itchy skin and hives. Diagnosis is done mainly by symptoms, family history and physical examination. Allergy skin testing may reveal the specific allergens to which an individual is sensitive. In some individual allergy, a blood test may be helpful in determining specific allergen sensitivity. Treatments include medication and avoiding known allergens. Main classes of medications used includes antihistamines, steroids, decongestants and Leukotriene antagonists. Many of these are taken as a pill or via a nasal spray or eye drops, although epinephrine, which is used to Alaa Toma, M.D. SPECIAL TO THE CHALDEAN NEWS treat severe allergic reactions, is injected in the form of epipen. Immunotherapy or allergy shots is another type of treatment that uses injected allergens to desensitize the body’s response. Soon we will have allergy pills to place under the tongue. The main class of medication is antihistamines, which usually work well to control the symptoms. Be careful because some antihistamines such as Benadryl can cause sleepiness or sedation, so don’t take them before or while driving or operating machines. Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtic are not as sedating. Other treatments includes decongestants mixed with antihistamine. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems do not use decongestants. Afrin nasal spray is not recommended for anyone. Steroid and saline nasal spray, Singulair pill, and Patanol eye drops are helpful. Allergy shots are for more severe cases of symptoms not responding to medication. Shots have to be given for a year before significant improvement of symptoms can be noticed. Allergy season is indeed upon us. But we are not going down easily. We survived this past grueling winter and we are here to enjoy the beautiful spring and summer. Neil Jaddou, M.D., is a former professor of Immunology and Microbiology at Oakland Community College. He specializes in family medicine with offices in Troy and Sterling Heights and is the medical director of St. Joseph Church Free Clinic in Troy. Visit DrJaddou.com or call (248) 816-1010. Alaa Toma, M.D., is an international medical graduate doing an externship at Jaddou’s office and the free clinic. Both are members of the Chaldean American Association for Health Professionals, a nonprofit organization. CAAHP is affiliated with Project Bismutha, a physician volunteer program that aids uninsured Iraqi Christians. Healthcare workers interested in joining CAAHP can visit caahp-usa.org. Try These Tips • Remove carpets or rugs from your room, as hard floor surfaces don’t collect dust as much as carpets do. If you must keep the carpet, shampoo it frequently. • Don’t hang heavy drapes and get rid of other items that allow dust to accumulate. • Clean the air ducts and use a HEPA-type filter in your heating system. • Use hypoallergenic dust-mite-proof covers to encase pillows, mattresses and box springs. Wash sheets, pillowcases and blankets at least once a week in hot water. Do not sleep on a feather pillow or with stuffed animals. • Keep windows closed when pollen season is at its peak. • Change your clothing after being outdoors — and don’t mow lawns. • Avoid damp areas such as basements, and keep bathrooms and other mold-prone areas clean and dry. • If you can’t find a new home for your dog or cat, keep animals out of the bedroom and living room. Bathe pets at least once a week. • If you have a food allergy, avoid foods that trigger symptoms and read food labels. • Switch to perfume-free and dye-free detergents, cosmetics and beauty products labeled as hypoallergenic, for example Dove unscented soap. 28 CHALDEAN NEWS MAY 2014
The sickness of a family member, friend or neighbor is a call to Christians to demonstrate true compassion, that gentle and persevering sharing in another’s pain.” - Saint Pope John Paul II John Paul Home Healthcare has serviced the community for eight strong years with top-notch service, matched only by their unique care for each individual patient. We pride ourselves on having and maintaining the ability to serve the community, especially with the language barriers that can arise between patients and caretakers. We strive to treat each of our patients as one of God’s unique children and provide them with the care and attention necessary to insure that they receive the best health care possible. In honor of John Paul II, we seek to uphold the Christian morals and ethics so that all our patients will know that we make certain to treat each of them with the utmost care and dignity that our faith calls us to do. John Paul Home Healthcare is proud of the canonization of Pope Saint John Paul II.
