140 Uptown Newsletter September 2016

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September

Hidden Allergies Here’s what could really be causing those troubling symptoms… If you escaped allergies as a child or a young adult, then you’re home free now, right? Well…maybe not. And if you have had allergies for years, then you surely know exactly what triggers a reaction, right? Not necessarily. These are just two of the instances when people can get walloped by hidden allergies. NEVER TOO OLD Contrary to popular belief, a first-time allergy can occur at any age. While the reasons are not completely understood, it’s believed that adult-onset environmental allergies can occur when people move to a new area (and get exposed to different allergens)…or when a genetic predisposition to react to an environmental or food allergen finally kicks in after years of being exposed to it. Takeaway: If you have typical allergy symptoms, including sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes (telltale signs of, say, s p rin gt ime alle rgie s)… o r nausea, diarrhea and itchy hives (common red flags for

food allergies), do not rule out allergies just because you’ve never suffered from them before. See your doctor for advice and possible allergy testing. COMMON ALLERGY MIXUPS Allergies are a tricky health problem—largely because people tend to self-diagnose based on what they believe to be their allergic trigger. But that can lead to mix-ups, as allergies, related to those below, go undetected… Tree pollen. While most hay fever sufferers have zeroed in on tree pollen as the culprit, they often fail to realize that having this allergy means that they may also react to tree fruits, such as apples, pears or peaches, and tree nuts, such as walnuts. For these people, exposure to tree fruits or tree nuts can set off the same immune response as pollen. This so-called oral allergy syndrome (OAS) may cause swelling and irritation in the mouth, lips and throat. •

What to do: Cooking these fruits may help. Otherwise, avoiding these fruits and nuts (as well as melons, which also may cause symptoms) is the simplest solution.

• Pet fur. People who get watery eyes or start sneezing around pets often assume that they’re allergic to the pet’s fur…and look for a dog or cat breed that’s touted as “hypoallergenic”—a loosely defined term that usually suggests the animal’s fur produces fewer allergens. But this often does not help, because animal fur is typically not the allergen—it’s almost always pet dander (shedding skin flakes) and/or saliva, each of which contains proteins that trigger the allergic immune response. Even hypoallergenic pets produce at least some dander—and all pets groom themselves, leaving bits of saliva on their fur. What to do: If you are allergic but want a pet, try grooming the animal frequently, isolating the pet to certain areas of the house and using a highefficiency particle arresting (HEPA) air-filtration system. • Chocolate. If a piece of chocolate causes symptoms, such as a rash or trouble breathing, the actual culprit may be one of its ingredients, such as soy lecithin, milk or nuts. What to do: Get checked to (Continued on back page)

WOW…it has been a great summer for our gift shop. Unlike in the past when we attended the annual Las Let’s Talk Vegas Gift Dr. Jerry Shapiro Show, this summer we chose to shop the unique merchandise at the Atlanta Gift Show. What didn’t change was that I am thrilled to share that my lovely wife, Jo Ann, once again outdid herself and found wonderful new products for our customers at Uptown Drug & Gift Shop. Our goal was to purchase a wide variety of items from new, predominantly exclusive vendors. In Atlanta, there were numerous small, local vendors who can’t typically showcase or market their products as easily as the bigger vendors. It was very exciting to be able to view so many of these special, clever items that, I may add, are usually handmade and homemade right here in the USA. “Made in America” isn’t always easy to find but something we are always on the lookout for. I would love to detail all of what we saw but there are too many products to list. As the merchandise arrives at the store, we will try to announce

them on our Facebook page but even easier for you, we recommend frequently stopping by to check out the new items, which should begin arriving this month. For now, here are some updates… Our baby department has grown with some incredible baby gift items and also some very practical products such as a teething necklace. These are known to contain an antiinflammatory plus dramatically help reduce a baby’s drooling, discomfort and fussiness associated with teething. •

We ordered a new line of electrolyte replacements. This comes in a powder that you simply add to a glass of water or a water bottle. It is great for people who work out because it contains almost triple the amount of electrolytes found in ® Pedialyte , is easy to carry and has no sugar nor artificial sweeteners. •

Another new product soon to arrive is a multi-purpose ice wrap. This is perfect for providing long lasting relief and is reusable for up to 6 times. •

From our pharmacy. More and more of you have chosen to utilize our pharmacy department to fill your prescription medication. If you haven’t yet filled a prescription with us, we encourage you to add convenience to your life by h a v i n g y o ur m e d i c a t i o n

prepared while you work. Then easily stop in on the way home and we’ll have it waiting for you. Our knowledgeable, longstanding pharmacy staff including three Pharmacists - is here to serve your healthcare needs and answer any questions you have. Last but quite important is my reminder that flu season is soon approaching. As always, we will provide flu shots at the store from 10 am-5 pm, Monday thru Friday, with no appointment necessary. We also make “Office Calls”! If you are in an office or company with a minimum of 12 employees, we suggest that you have your Manager give us a call to schedule a day for us to come to your office to immunize onsite. Please note that the previously available nasal flu mist has been discontinued, which is probably a good thing since this is a live virus and you could catch the flu from it. The flu shots are not a live virus therefore you cannot get the flu from taking one.

Did you know? No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

Let’s talk a b o u t c l e a n i n g things today:

Hints from

JoAnn

To prevent mildew in y o u r re frigerator wipe down the i n s i d e occasionally with white vinegar.

To clean underneath the fridge, tie a sock around the end of a yardstick and go at it. For cleaning blenders & such, fill the container halfway with hot water & a couple of drops of dish detergent. Cover and blend; rinse and dry. Electric can opener, loosen dirt with a toothbrush & run a paper towel through the cutting assembly. Then spray with non-stick vegetable spray.

baking soda down the drain followed by a large amount of boiling water. For stainless steel sinks, you can make them really shine with club soda or white vinegar. After normal use wipe with a damp cloth and dry with a soft cloth. To deep clean, wipe with a solution of ammonia and water or dish detergent and water. Dry thoroughly to avoid spots. Treat rust marks by rubbing with lighter fluid. Then wipe clean with a liquid cleaner. To clean copper pots: Fill a spray bottle with vinegar & 3 tablespoons of salt. Spray on the copper, let stand for a while, then rub clean. For burnt-on stains, sprinkle pots liberally with baking soda & add just enough water to moisten. Let stand for 3 hours, then lift the burned food right out of the pan!

Clean your thermos by adding a few tablespoons of baking soda & filling with Prevent ID theft after a loved one dies. w a r m Send copies of the death certificate by certified mail to water. Let the three credit-reporting bureaus (Experian, s t a n d ; TransUnion and Equifax), and request that a "deceased alert" be placed on the credit report. Mail copies to banks, insurers and other financial firms, along with a request to close the account or change it to joint ownership. Report the death to the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213...IRS at 800829-1040...and Department of Motor Vehicles. In the obituary, don't include the deceased person's birth date, last address or most recent job. Check the deceased's credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com for suspicious activity starting one month after the death and continue to do so for about one year.

To dissolve grease in a clogged drain, pour 1 cup salt and 1 cup

rinse thoroughly. I kind of get grossed out by sponges. I just feel like they are perfect for harboring millions of germs. I do like the sponges with the rough side for scrubbing out hard-toclean pots and pans, but end up throwing them out before their life cycle is over. What a waste! Instead, put them in the microwave for a couple of minutes and watch as the microbes sizzle away. Remove labels easily by adding a scoop of Oxiclean to a sink full of warm water and dumping all your labeled items in to soak. Walk away and in about 30 minutes all of the labels magically float off. Clean your iron: 1. Sprinkle a generous amount of salt onto your ironing board 2. Turn your iron to the highest setting, ensuring that the steam option is set to OFF. 3. When heated, iron over the salt--what happens is that the dirt sticks to the salt, leaving nothing but a wonderfully, shiny iron!

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see if you’re allergic to cocoa, the health-promoting substance in chocolate. If you’re not, get further testing to reveal the true source of your allergy, which then can be avoided.

(such as peanuts, eggs, soy, milk, etc.) • Skin tests. A suspected allergen is introduced into the body by pricking, scratching or injecting it into the skin—or by applying a skin patch coated with it.

• Alcohol. Many people who drink wine, beer and/or hard liquor experience flushed skin, itching, nasal congestion and even an elevated heart rate. For some individuals, protein residues from the alcoholic beverage cause the reaction.

• Blood tests. These tests can be used if the doctor is concerned about a dramatic skin reaction that could cause a severe allergic response…or if a person has psoriasis or some other skin c o n d it io n t h a t c o u ld b e aggravated by skin testing.

But for many others, the trigger is actually sulfites, chemicals that act as a preservative and prevent the growth of mold or bacteria. Other examples of foods and drinks that may contain sulfites: dried fruits…soft drinks… cookies…crackers…noodle or rice mixes…and shellfish. For a more detailed list, go to: Sulfites.org/sulfite-foods/.

For example, with the radio allergosorbent test (RAST), a sample of your blood is exposed to a suspected allergen.

What to do: If testing shows that you are allergic to sulfites, read labels and avoid products that contain this additive. It can also be listed on the label in one of various forms, such as potassium bisulfate…sulfur dioxide…and potassium metabisulfite. Note: alcoholic beverages also may contain contaminants, such as gluten and yeast, that may require further testing by a doctor. BEST TESTING OPTIONS The only way to know for sure that you have an allergy is to undergo allergy testing. If you are truly allergic to something, your immune system mistakes an otherwise harmless substance for an intruder, producing immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. Two main types of tests identify environmental allergies (such as pollen, dust, mold, etc.) and food allergies

Note: sometimes you may not have an actual allergy, but rather a sensitivity that produces allergy-type symptoms when you are exposed to the substance. A separate test is needed to identify an environmental or a food sensitivity. THE RIGHT DOCTOR TO SEE To get an accurate diagnosis, it’s fine to start with a family physician who is well versed in allergies. If you suspect a food allergy, be sure the d o c t o r i s experienced in this problem. Other options… • Allergists and immunologists may be the best choice for difficult cases. To find one near you, consult the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, AAAAI.org. • Integrative m e d i c i n e physicians, who

identify allergies as an aspect of overall health, are another choice. To find one near you, check the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine website, ABIHM.org, and search “allergy/immunology” in the specialty field. • Naturopathic physicians can also be helpful, especially in offering guidance on diet and the use of supplements (such as butterbur and quercetin). To find a naturopathic physician, consult the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Naturopathic.org. Source: Richard Firshein, DO, founder and director of the Firshein Center for Integrative Medicine in New York City. A leading authority in preventive and nutritional medicine that integrates Eastern and Western medical practices, he is the author of Reversing Asthma and The Vitamin Prescription (for life).

Frustration is trying to find your glasses without your glasses.