Denise Miller – Delaware County Magazine

Many people suffer from seasonal allergies, including myself. Some people are more susceptible to them, such as children with asthma or if allergies run in the family. Seasonal allergies can start when you are a child or as an adult. And today it seems that the pollution in the world is causing more people to develop these allergies.

According to the American College of Allergies, Asthma, and Immunology, “Seasonal allergies, like other types of allergies, develop when the body’s immune system overreacts to something in the environment…”. Mold and pollen from trees, ragweed, grass, and other plants are triggers of seasonal allergies. During the spring, the main allergens are tree pollen and mold. It often rains in the spring, which can lead to mold growth if the moisture does not dry up after showers and storms. Then the rain helps plants grow, which explains the pollen. And pollen is all over, whether on the ground, or in the air when the wind blows.

For most of the U.S., spring allergy symptoms begin around late February and last until early summer. Symptoms include stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, coughing, and even itchy skin. Some people have extreme symptoms such as trouble breathing, swallowing, and a tight chest. In this situation, it is best to go to the E.R. for immediate care and monitoring, especially when children show these symptoms. It is also important to realize that seasonal allergies can be confused with the common cold, as they share symptoms such as runny nose and sneezing. Colds, however, are contagious, and can have other symptoms like body aches and fever. To be safe, it is best to see a doctor for proper evaluation and treatment.

Now seasonal allergies are easily treatable and there are several ways to do so, whether on your own or with the help of a doctor. At home, ways to ease your allergies include closing windows and staying indoors on windy days with high pollen and mold count, and washing your hands, body, and clothes to rinse off any pollen or other allergens. Saline rinses can also be done to clear out the nasal passage and improve breathing. When outdoors, doing yard work for instance, wear sunglasses or a mask to keep pollen out of the eyes and mouth. Doctors can prescribe medications, such as Claritin and Zyrtec, or nasal sprays and decongestants to help alleviate symptoms. Also, very efficient is Immunotherapy (allergy shots), which enables your body to handle the allergens better by inserting small amounts of them into your system over periods of time. If, however, none of these treatments seem to work, you may need to see an allergist, who will do testing and recommend a more specific treatment. And again, if you suffer from the more severe allergy symptoms, the E.R. is the safest option.

Although “April showers bring May flowers,” they also bring bothersome allergies with them. But don’t let allergies ruin this beautiful time of the year. By following the proper allergy treatment, you can have a sense of relief and be free to enjoy the spring season and all it has to offer!

Every day, regardless of what you are doing, you need energy. Where does that energy come from? Food! That is why eating breakfast in the morning is so crucial. Breakfast provides the energy that is needed to get you through the day. It also gets your metabolism going and helps burn calories. Many people do eat breakfast, whether it is a full meal or something light. Yet plenty of people skip breakfast too, either because they are running late, they don’t feel like cooking or preparing food, or they are simply not hungry that early in the day. Missing out on breakfast is never a good idea, because not only does it mean having less energy, but it can cause fatigue, poor concentration, and can possibly lead to snacking on junk food throughout the day and even becoming overweight. That’s why eating breakfast is the best choice, but you must be sure that what you eat is, of course tasty, but good for your body as well.

There are endless breakfast foods to choose from, but be sure to include things like proteins, complex carbohydrates, whole grains, fiber, and fruits and vegetables. Eggs, for instance, are a common breakfast food, and a great source of protein. For additional protein, sprinkle on some cheese or mix in some vegetables . Fresh fruit, such as bananas, apples, and oranges, is another simple and nutritious option. You can also have a slice of high fiber toast or a bagel with just a little bit of peanut butter. Although it is best to eat healthy foods for breakfast, once in a while you can indulge and have that bowl of sugary cereal or that double stuffed French toast.

Now with the new school year arriving in a few weeks, you should definitely make sure that your children eat breakfast before class. After all, the bodies and brains of children and teenagers are constantly growing and breakfast aids in that growth and development. Here are some tips for getting your children and teens to eat breakfast before school. For younger children, especially those who may be picky eaters, find fun ways to eat healthy foods. For example, mix fruits into yogurt or oatmeal to make them less noticeable when being eaten. Have finger foods, such as fruit or veggie kabobs. Or make fruit smoothies and throw in some vegetables. Using a lot of fruit should overpower the taste of the veggies. For college students, protein bars are a great choice, especially when heading to class or work. Just watch out for the sugar, protein, and fiber contents. Sugars should be below 20 grams, proteins should be between six and ten grams, and there should be at least three grams of fiber. Smoothies are also a tasty and healthy option for college students. And you can bet there a plenty of places to find them on campus!

Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it’s truly in your best interest to eat it.

Self-Image is defined as “the idea one has of one’s abilities, appearance, and personality.” Body Image, which is a part of Self-Image, is “the subjective picture or mental image of one’s own body.” Both of these can have positive and negative sides. For example, positive self-image is a student telling themselves that they are smart enough to ace the SATs and get into Harvard if they want to! Negative self-image is a student telling themselves that they are not smart enough to pass the SAT and will never be able to attend college. Positive body image is a child being content with having braces because they know that they will have a beautiful smile in the end! Negative body image is a child telling themselves that braces make them feel ugly. Children and teens typically become more aware of their self and body image when entering middle school and even more so in the teen years, especially during puberty.

It is not uncommon for children and teens to have negative self and body images. This is a result of several things, including how they personally feel about themselves, the opinions of family and friends, and the influence of and comparing of oneself to celebrities in the media, whether that is movies and television or social media. Peer pressure can also have an effect on creating negative self and body images. For instance, if a teen is pressured into drinking at a party and chooses not to, the group that is doing the pressuring may tease them, causing the teen to feel left out and “not cool.” Or, even if the teen does engage in drinking, he or she may feel guilty and ashamed afterwards, lowering how they feel about their self-image. A negative self and body image is dangerous and can have serious health consequences.

Mentally, children and teens may feel lonely, unloved, and even develop disorders like Anxiety and Depression. Physically, they may develop eating disorders like Anorexia, body image disorders like Body Dysmorphia, or they may engage in drinking and drug use. Luckily there are plenty of ways to bring about positive changes to their self and body image.

One of the most important things they should do is talk to someone about their issues, whether it is their parents or other family members, a teacher, a counselor, or a doctor. They can think about what they do and don’t like about themselves, and despite how they feel, try to accept themselves for who they are and how they look. They can also try to compliment themselves each day and push the negative thoughts aside. And of course, they can literally change some of the things they are not pleased with. If they don’t like their hair, they can get a new hairstyle, or if they want to break out of their shell and be more outgoing, they can audition for the school play. Who knows, maybe he or she will be the star of the show!

Children and teenagers are not going to like everything about themselves, especially since they are growing and changing every day. If they are not happy with their self or body image, they can certainly change things! But overall, while it may be hard and take some time, it is best for them to accept and be happy with who they are on the inside and outside. It will make them feel better, mentally and physically, and should make them proud knowing that, out of the seven plus billion people on this planet, that there is only one of them in this world and that they are a unique, one of a kind person!