Allergies at School are No Sneezing Matter

Allergies at School are No Sneezing Matter


(ARA) - When parents send their children to school, rarely do they think of the many allergy triggers lurking in the classroom or the playground. The culprits include indoor allergens like dust from the chalkboard, mold in the locker room and dander from class pets, as well as outdoor allergens like pollen, which can travel from the recess field to the classroom on clothing and hair.



Many kids have trouble concentrating on schoolwork because they are distracted by their allergy symptoms. In fact, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, up to 40 percent of American children have allergies.



“Kids miss about two million school days a year due to bothersome symptoms like itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and a runny nose,” says Dr. Paul Ehrlich, pediatric allergist and associate chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. “They can get frustrated when allergy symptoms interrupt their day and prevent them from doing the same things their friends do.”



It’s a good idea to have a plan in place to treat your child’s allergies before they leave home. Dr. Ehrlich explains that choosing the right allergy medication is key to making sure your child stays focused while at school.



“Some allergy medicines can make children drowsy or jittery,” he says. “I suggest using Children’s Claritin since one dose lasts the entire day without making kids feel jittery or drowsy. It’s safe for kids as young as two, and it’s available in several forms including easy-to-take grape chewables and a grape syrup.”



So what else can you do to relieve your child’s allergy symptoms and prevent them from flaring up during the school day? Dr. Ehrlich offers the following tips:



* Identify the specific allergens that trigger your child’s symptoms so he or she will be able to avoid contact with them.

* Tell your child’s teachers, school nurse, coaches and caretakers about his or her allergies, triggers and medications.  

* If your child is seated near classroom pets or plants, ask the teacher to change his or her seat.

* Remind your child to wash his or her hands frequently to avoid spreading allergy -- causing dust, pollen, pet dander or other substances.

* Before your child leaves for school, treat allergy symptoms with a non-sedating antihistamine, such as Children’s Claritin, that will last through the school day without making him or her drowsy. That way your kid can enjoy recess and all the other activities throughout the day.



Speaking of school, allergy education goes right alongside treatment of those pesky symptoms. Kids are inquisitive by nature, and it’s important to help them understand the causes of their symptoms so they can concentrate on their schoolwork, not their allergies.



“Casey and the School Day Sneezes” is an educational story designed to help kids understand the indoor and outdoor allergy triggers they may encounter during the school day, while providing tips on how to manage them. Parents and teachers can visit www.claritin.com to order a free copy.



Courtesy of ARAcontent

Are You Ready to Change Your Life ?

Are You Ready to Change Your Life?</b>

Feel like there is something missing from your life?  Do you ever hear yourself saying, “If only I could (make that change, loose ten pounds, had more time/money),” or “If my (spouse, child, parent, friend) would only ‘blank,’ then I’d be happy?”



For Jane Freres, it wasn’t so much an “if only” or something that was missing, but the struggle to get through a major transition period in her life. After going through a difficult divorce, she had to figure out who she was, what she wanted in life and how to be her own person.



“I spent a lot of my life working hard to take care of others, but when my kids went away to college and my marriage came to an end, I didn’t know how to take care of myself,” she says.



Freres tried working with a therapist, but that didn’t improve her situation, nor did talking  to other people change the way she was feeling. Then, one day, a close friend returned home from “The Mountain Experience” and convinced her it was something she should try. “It really transformed my life,” says Freres.



The Mountain Experience, offered by The Garden Company, based in Sandpoint, Idaho, is a unique personal growth program that, over the course of five days, teaches people how to overcome the obstacles that are holding them back. The program was created 20 years ago and is taught by Kyle Mercer and Janice Lindgren, who are constantly refining the techniques and tools of the original process.



“The people who come to The Garden Company have an awareness that there is something in their lives that they would like to change. They are intent on finding a way to make that happen. Our knowledge, care and experience provide clients with the best-known tools to make it possible,” says Mercer.



Here’s how the process works: days one and two of the Mountain Experience are the self-discovery phase, during which you will get a clear and accurate picture of your current life, identifying what’s working and what’s not working. Exercises clarify if and how you are hard on yourself. You expose areas where you are not giving yourself choices, which creates a trapped, frustrated feeling. You begin to understand what’s behind difficulties in your most important relationships, and how a shift in awareness can create a more loving and fulfilling connection.



Days three and four are dedicated to learning and practicing the art of letting go of emotional baggage. When we let go of the persistent, heavy emotion, from the past, which creates unhealthy patterns in our lives, we experience freedom and possibility. Letting go is a skill you will be able to use repeatedly, retain for a lifetime and teach to young children.



Day five is devoted to showing you how to take what you’ve learned and integrate it into your life, preparing you for your return home. You learn specific tools for making decisions easily, communicating effectively, leading in your career, deepening relationships and engaging in life with energy, awareness and intent.



“There are a lot of different programs that talk about personal transformation and motivation,” Mercer says. “Our effectiveness is what sets us apart. We’re unique in our capacity to teach people how to make lasting change.”



It wasn’t a personal problem that brought Dr. Michael Feldman, a dentist from Hewlett, N.Y., to the Mountain Experience, but his sense of curiosity. “I was taking a consulting course several years ago and was very intrigued by what one of the speakers, Janice Lindgren of the Garden Company had to say: ‘Some days you wake up and know it will be a bad day. Others, you wake up and know it will be a good day. How would you like to have more good days?’ That really hit home for me,” says Dr. Feldman.



So, he signed up for the course and came away with a better strategy for coping with stress, which used to run rampant in his life. “The Mountain Experience was instrumental in helping me better understand and accept myself, friends, family and coworkers, which in turn helped me create a process for eliminating the cause of stress,” he says. “Now, I know how to step back and look at things from a different perspective and I have a lot more better days.”



To learn more about The Mountain Experience and the difference it can make in your life, sign up for a free one hour personal consultation by calling (877) 554-6836 or log on to www.gardenco.com.



Courtesy of ARAcontent

Gender’s Role when Heeding Health Warning Signs

Gender’s Role when Heeding Health Warning Signs


(ARA) - We’re all familiar with the saying ”A stitch in time saves nine” -- in other words, take care of a problem when it first comes up so it won’t become overwhelming later on.



“Whether repairing a leaking faucet, mending a small tear or getting the car in to the mechanic, people understand the importance of recognizing symptoms and taking appropriate action,” says Denise Pozen, creator of the SO TELL ME ... personal health organizer. “However, when it comes to medical symptoms, there seems to be a gender gap. Not only can symptoms vary by gender, but the response to those symptoms can also vary.”



For example, the classic symptoms of a heart attack -- a crushing feeling on the chest, shortness of breath and pain radiating down the left arm -- are now recognized as being more common in men. Women may experience more subtle symptoms such as:



* Mild or severe pressure in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes;



* Nausea, lightheadedness, or a sudden cold sweat;



* Extreme fatigue.



But both men and women may experience discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach and shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.



While women’s symptoms may sometimes be more subtle than men’s, their “stitch in time” approach to health is not. According to the Centers for Disease Control, women are 100 percent more likely to visit the doctor for annual exams and preventive services than men. And men die at higher rates than women from the top 10 causes of death, possibly because they do not go to the doctor as often as women.



“Men may consider some symptoms to be the normal aches and pains of ‘weekend warrior’ activities or an active lifestyle, but it’s important for men as well as women to consult with their doctor when they feel something is ‘different’ or when they experience certain symptoms,” says Pozen. "By recording noticeable changes in your health, you will be better prepared to discuss symptoms with your doctor. You may even identify a symptom before the medical issue becomes severe."



Maintaining a personal health record allows you to map out any changes in your health and provide a corresponding timeline to your physician. It can also prepare you to discuss what illnesses are part of your family's health history. A binder system with pre-printed forms such as the SO TELL ME ... personal health organizer (www.sotellme.com) makes it easy to organize all your health information, including appointment histories and test results -- and note any new symptoms. A CD version is available for those who prefer computerized record keeping.



Because of the often more strenuous and physical activities men engage in, they may tend to ignore many of the following symptoms and relate them to lifestyle. However both men and women should take very seriously symptoms like unintended weight loss, blood in the stool or urine, persistent abdominal pain, changes in urination habits, swollen extremities and skin lesions that change shape or color.



Be sure to take your health symptoms seriously. Create a personal health record that is specific to you, schedule regular check-ups with your doctor and ask how to recognize the warning signs for your gender.



For more information on organizing personal health records or to purchase the So Tell Me ...  personal health organizer, visit www.sotellme.com or call (888) TELLME2 (888-835-5632).



Courtesy of ARAcontent