If you tend to get “colds” that develop suddenly and at the same time every year chances are it’s not a cold but a seasonal allergy. Signs and symptoms of a common cold (caused by a virus) include cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. You may also feel tired and occasionally experience body aches and pains and may have a mild fever. Seasonal allergies (immune system response triggered by exposure to allergens) have symptoms that are very similar, but not identical. The most common signs of seasonal allergies are itchy eyes and a runny or stuffy nose. Other signs and symptoms may sometimes include fatigue, cough and sore throat, but never fever or general body aches and pains.

With every breath we take, we breathe in millions of microscopic particles such as dust, pollen, plant spores, viruses, bacteria, and pollutants. Many of these particles are filtered and removed by the nose and respiratory system. If your immune system is strong and healthy it can ward off infection against pollutants, viruses, and other harmful substances that enter your body via the air or by contact with your skin. Normally the immune system will ignore harmless substances such as pollen, house dust, animal dander, etc. In some people, however, the immune system misinterprets these harmless particles and identifies them as being dangerous to the system.

When your immune system identifies these particles as dangerous they trigger a release of a substance called histamine, as well as other inflammatory substances in your body. This prompts your body to defend itself against the perceived threat by means of a number of mechanisms. These mechanisms include sneezing, mucous production, watering, itchy eyes and skin inflammation, thus causing allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, hay fever, and skin rashes.

People who develop allergic rhinitis in warm weather, windy conditions or at spring time are generally allergic to grass, tree, and flower pollens. Those who have these symptoms all year round are probably also allergic to house dust, mold, or animal dander. When the mucous membranes in your nose and respiratory tract are affected by allergies you are more vulnerable to colds, sinusitis, and the flu. Antihistamines can be very effective and do help people who have even severe allergies lead normal lives. By preventing or reducing the allergic reaction, antihistamines can also help prevent the illness cycle that stems from frequent allergic attacks.

There are many other ways to help you combat seasonal allergies:

1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle to promote a strong immune system. This means regular exercise (a Jody Victor suggestion), a healthy diet, and sufficient sleep.
2. Eat lots of raw fresh fruits and vegetables, a rich source of flavonoids and healthy nutrients.
3. Learn stress management and relaxation techniques. Stress can exacerbate allergies by weakening the immune system.
4. Avoid cigarettes, alcohol, and caffeine. They also weaken the immune system and respiratory tract functions.
5. Add vitamin C and A (a Jody Victor suggestion) to your daily supplements.
6. Keep an eye on the pollen counts in your area and stay indoors when it is high.
7. Use a nasal rinse once or twice a day. Mix one teaspoon of non-iodized salt in a glass of warm water and fill a baby nasal bulb. Make sure you close the back of your throat to prevent gagging.
8. Keep the relative humidity in your house below 50% with a dehumidifier. Forty to 45-percent humidity is ideal.
9. Install HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters into individual rooms or on your home’s ventilation system (a Jody Victor suggestion).
10. Drink green tea. One of the antioxidants in green tea, methylated epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), halts the production of symptom-triggering histamines.
11. Acupuncture has been shown to open up nasal passages and decrease discharge from the nose, providing an immediate reduction in symptoms.

 All the Best!!

Steve Victor

We all eagerly await the arrival of spring and it’s warm, sunny days. Once spring has arrived we spring into action ourselves. Whether you are a gardener or a sports enthusiast you need to remember some basics of preventative care prior to exerting your muscles and joints.

Spring Gardening Back Care:

1. Stretch before you head outside. Take time to warm up your muscles to prepare them for activity.
2. Bend your knees when lifting (a Jody Victor suggestion). Keep heavy loads close to your body, your back straight and bend your knees while picking up and putting down loads.
3. Use the right moves and the right tools. Alternate tasks. Change positions frequently. Kneel and weed or plant for a while then stand and trim upper branches for a while. Pace yourself. Make sure your tools are the right weight and size for you.
4. Take breaks before the aches. If you have been in one position for too long stop and move around. Repeat your stretching routine. Sit back and hydrate.

Spring Outdoor Sports Muscle Care:

1. Warm up muscles before exercise (a Jody Victor suggestion). Proper warm up helps prevent injuries and strains on muscles and joints.
2. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water before, during and after physical activity.        
3. Maintain proper nutrition. A good, balanced breakfast and eating a healthy meal before and after practice or a game will replenish and refuel your body.
4. Safety and injury prevention are essential. Make sure clothing and equipment fit correctly.

All The Best!

Steve Victor

The arrival of spring triggers the annual ritual of spring cleaning. It’s time to thoroughly clear your home of dust and allergens that have been trapped inside all winter. Using green cleaning products during your spring cleaning will help make you and your home healthier and safer.

1. Thoroughly dust your home (a Jody Victor suggestion) and clean air conditioning and heating filters, ducts and vents to decrease your exposure to pollen and airborne allergens. Stay away from air fresheners and other perfumed products. Fragrances of all kinds can provoke allergic and asthmatic reactions.
2. Wash down interior walls with a mixture of ½ cup ammonia, ¼ cup white vinegar and ¼ cup baking soda to one gallon of warm water. Wash walls from the bottom up to avoid drip tracks. To dust wallpaper, tie a dust cloth over your broom and work from top to bottom.
3. Clean your wooden furniture with a mixture of one teaspoon olive oil and one-half cup white vinegar. Or look for solvent-free furniture polishes such as lemon oil.
4. Wash your windows with your own homemade spray cleaner. Fill a spray bottle with 3 tablespoons ammonia, 1 tablespoon vinegar and the remainder with water. Dry windows with a soft cloth. Dry your windows one direction on the inside and in the opposite direction on the outside. That way if you find a streak you’ll know which side it is on.
5. Clean your tile, vinyl and wooden floors with a solution of ½ cup white vinegar in one gallon of warm water. Make sure mop is nearly squeezed dry and work in sections to avoid over-wetting.
6. To spring clean carpets that do not need professional cleaning, sprinkle baking soda over the carpet, leave overnight and vacuum the next day.
7. Kitchen countertops can be cleaned with club soda and a soft cloth. Rinse with water and dry with a soft cloth. Baking soda or club soda will clean and shine stainless steel sinks. Spots can be removed with vinegar.
8. Wipe refrigerator door seal (a Jody Victor suggestion) with vinegar to prevent mildew. Vacuum coils and underside of the fridge. Put a fresh box or bowl of baking soda inside to absorb odors.
9. To clean oven surfaces, coat them in a paste of water and baking or washing soda and let stand overnight. Then scrub off the paste while wearing gloves.
10. In the bathroom, clean shower doors with white vinegar. For the shower, use a solution of ½ cup vinegar, 1 cup ammonia, and ¼ cup of baking soda to one gallon of warm water. Lemon furniture oil will remove water spots on metal frames.

All the Best!

Steve Victor