The Great Outdoors

You may have heard the term "hay fever," but seasonal allergies, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, are triggered by several different types of pollen, but not by hay. When trees and grasses begin growing in the spring and early summer, they release light, powdery pollen that floats in the wind. If you're allergic to this pollen, it can result in sniffling, sneezing, wheezing, a runny nose, and itchy and watery eyes.

Allergy triggers, or allergens, vary depending on the time of year. In late summer and early fall, weed pollen (especially from ragweed) and fungal spores are the main culprits. As well, the specific allergens in the environment will vary with the geographical area.

So if you're an allergy sufferer, how can you enjoy the outdoors without experiencing unpleasant symptoms? Here are a few tips:

• Keep windows closed so pollens can't drift in. Air conditioning will keep you more comfortable in hot, humid weather. But don't forget that air conditioners also create the best conditions (damp and dark) for moulds to grow in your home. Do some spring cleaning, and do it regularly.
• Stay inside when pollen counts are high (watch for these in weather reports) and on windy days when pollen and spores can get blown around. Avoid being outdoors in the early morning hours (between 5 am and 10 am), when pollen counts are usually highest.
• If you’ve been outside all day, take a shower after coming home. This will prevent you from taking all that pollen to bed with you.
• Don't hang your laundry outside to dry - it can trap pollen and mould, bringing them inside. Use your dryer instead.

If these measures don’t work, talk to your health care provider about what you can do if you’re suffering from allergies.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/The-Great-Outdoors

When you're camping, it's tempting to drink water straight from pristine-looking lakes and streams – but don't do it! Microscopic single-celled parasites can cause illnesses in humans if ingested. Here are two common waterborne diseases that could ruin your week:

• Cryptosporidiosis (crip-toh-spore-id-ee-oh-sis) is caused by Cryptosporidium (crip-toh-spore-id-ee-um). The symptoms include watery diarrhea, headache, nausea, and stomach cramps. It can show up 2 to 10 days (average of 7 days) after becoming infected, and the symptoms usually last for 1 to 2 weeks.
• Giardiasis (jee-ar-dye-a-sis), also known as "beaver fever," is caused by Giardia (jee-ar-dee-ah). It shares similar symptoms with cryptosporidiosis. Symptoms include diarrhea, gas, stomach cramps, weakness, and weight loss. Vomiting, chills, and headache may also occur. Symptoms first show up 1 to 14 days (average of 7 days) after becoming infected and usually last 1 to 3 weeks.

How to prevent waterborne diseases:

• Use bottled water only, or boil water at least one minute before using it. Alternatively, you can purify water with special water filters that remove microscopic parasites.
• Don't brush your teeth, wash dishes, fruits, or vegetables, or use ice cubes made with water that hasn't been purified.
• Peel raw fruits and vegetables before you eat them.
• Wash your hands with bottled or purified water only, and do it carefully several times a day.
• Don't swallow water when you're swimming.

If you think you have cryptosporidiosis or giardiasis, see your doctor right away. You may need to give stool samples to see if you have the parasite, and then get treated with prescription medications to get rid of it for good.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/The-Great-Outdoors

Contact dermatitis is another kind of allergy, one that appears as a skin rash. One of the most common triggers of contact dermatitis in the great outdoors is poison ivy. The resin of the plant contains an oily substance called urushiol that's easily released and spread when the leaves are crushed, rubbed, or burned.

There's usually no reaction the first time you're exposed, but watch out! Most people will eventually develop an allergic reaction to poison ivy after being exposed to it several times. Within 24 to 48 hours of exposure to this innocent-looking shrub, susceptible people will typically develop an itchy rash, starting as reddened skin, leading to bumps and blisters. After a few days, the blisters break and the oozing sores begin to crust over and heal.

Your best defense is to avoid contact with poison ivy plants. Learn to recognize them by their slightly glossy green leaves growing in groups of three – but their shape can vary. If you're in heavily wooded areas and it's impossible to avoid them, wear long sleeves, long pants, and gloves. Remember, the oils can cling to your family pet's fur, so be careful when handling your pet after spending time in wooded areas - a bath may be necessary.

What if you're unlucky enough to get poison ivy on you? First, try to wash it off right away. Even a running stream will do, but soap and water is best to keep the oil – and the rash – from spreading. The rash will usually go away on its own in a few days, but it can be uncomfortable in the meantime. If soap is not available, vinegar (2 table spoons in 1 cup of water) or rubbing alcohol may be used Oral antihistamines can also be helpful in controlling itchiness. See a doctor if the rash is severe or widespread, or is on the face or genitals. Prescription medications, such as corticosteroids, can help in such cases.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/The-Great-Outdoors

Are ticks just a harmless nuisance?

Tick bites can present a temporarily annoying experience in the summertime. However, the additional possibility of catching Lyme disease is one more reason to take action against these bugs. Lyme disease is caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is spread by the bite of ticks of the genus Ixodes, commonly known as deer ticks or blacklegged ticks.

These ticks are tiny – about the size of a pinhead when immature – and grow only slightly bigger as adults. They crawl onto a person's skin from grasses and shrubs in wooded areas. The tick digs its mouth into the skin and feeds for 2 or 3 days before dropping off.

The risk of getting a tick bite is higher in the spring, through until the fall, when the weather is warm. However, ticks can also be active in the winter, if there is not much snow and it’s relatively warm. You can find blacklegged ticks most often in forests, wooded areas, shrubs, tall grass and leaf piles.

Signs of Lyme disease

A characteristic sign of Lyme disease is a skin rash that starts with a small red patch that gradually expands, often clearing in the centre to form a "bull's-eye" pattern. The person may develop "flu-like" symptoms including fatigue, headache, chills, fever, muscle and joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Less commonly, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet or facial paralysis has also been reported.

Preventing tick bites

To avoid tick bites when hiking or camping in wooded areas:

• If possible, stay away from tick-infested areas, especially in May, June, and July.
• Stay in the middle of hiking trails and try not to brush against grasses or leaves.
• Wear light-coloured clothes to make it easy to spot ticks "hitching a ride" on you.
• Wear closed shoes and long pants with the pant legs tucked into your socks or boots. As an extra precaution, put tape around the area where your pants and socks meet.
• Wear a hat and a long-sleeved shirt for extra protection.
• Spray your clothes and exposed skin with an insect repellent that contains 30% DEET, or treat clothes with the insect repellent permethrin, which kills ticks on contact. If using DEET, never spray it directly on your face or broken skin. And, for children aged 6 months to 2 years, do not use a repellent containing more than 10% DEET.

If you spend several days outdoors in areas that might contain ticks, inspect yourself daily once you're indoors. Check your skin carefully for ticks, and ask someone to check your scalp for ticks. If a tick has already latched on to you, don't panic. Even if the tick has bitten you, remember that not all ticks carry Lyme disease.

Removing ticks

The best way to remove a tick is with a tick-removing device or a pair of fine-point tweezers. Grasp it where its mouthparts enter the skin or, if that is not easily visible, grab it by its head (as close to your skin as possible) with the suggested removal tools. Pull the tick straight out firmly and steadily. Do not twist, squash, or crush the tick when you are removing it. Be patient, as proper tick removal takes time. If you notice that the tick's mouthparts still remain in your skin, don't worry; the bacteria that cause Lyme disease reside in the tick's gut or salivary glands.

Do not squeeze the tick's body, do not apply petroleum jelly or alcohol, and do not use a hot match, nail polish, or other products while the tick remains attached. These actions could transmit the Lyme-disease-causing bacteria to you.

Once you remove the tick, place it in a container (e.g., a small jar with a lid) with alcohol to kill and preserve it so you can take it to your doctor to check if it carried Lyme disease. Cleanse the affected area of your skin with an antiseptic (e.g., alcohol) or mild soap and water. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. You should also have the tick bite examined by your doctor, especially if you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms.

Treating Lyme disease

For people who require treatment for a mild infection associated with Lyme disease, their doctor will usually prescribe an antibiotic for 2 to 4 weeks. The types of antibiotics used include doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime. The specific antibiotic used will depend on the disease variation, as well as the person's medical history and medication allergies.

If you have Lyme disease, your doctor will determine the most appropriate treatment for you.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/The-Great-Outdoors