Health
- Last Updated on Monday, 01 July 2013 01:19
Healthy Directions in Finleyville is a "Sight for Sore Eyes"
It is that time a year again, when the smallest things become your biggest worries. Healthy Directions in the Finleyville Giant Eagle can help you cope with some of the irritating signs of summer such as allergies and insects, so that you can focus on the fun in the sun.
Healthy Directions medical staff has been seeing a steady flow of allergy patients. Since the weather has been on rollercoaster this season, pollen count is at an all-time high.
“This allergy season has been tough on patients,” said Michelle Antanovich, CRNP, clinical lead at Healthy Directions. “Patients are scared. Some have lost their voices due to a sore throat and some are coming in thinking they contracted strep throat. It is simply allergies due to postnasal drip, which is a common symptom for allergies.”
Healthy Directions offers ways to help with allergies such as taking medicines, using nasal sprays and rinsing out your nose. Allergy shots can also help prevent sensitivity and offers long time relief from allergy symptoms.
Another worry during the sunny season is not “the bug but the bite.” Spiders, ticks, bees and other insects are a problem during this time of year. Other cases involve bee stings and insect bites that lead to allergic reactions also known as anaphylactic shock. Most patients receive treatment for anaphylaxis with the use of an auto-injector that contains epinephrine. The patients are also issued EpiPens for future risks of a severe allergic reaction.
Another summer bummer and one of the scariest insects are ticks. Ticks are insects that feed off of hosts such as human and animals. They carry life threatening diseases such as Lyme’s disease. A tick bite can cause rashes and swelling in the affected area. The bite could look like a bulls-eye or bruising around the area, depending on skin pigment. Some of the symptoms of a bite are fever, headaches, and flu like symptoms.
Ticks are the trickiest insect to remove because there is a specific technique that avoids diseases and other dangerous infections. If a person encounters a tick on their body, they should do the following:
• Wear disposable gloved and grasp the tick with tweezers, applying steady pressure, do not twist and be sure to pull slowly.
• If you are unsuccessful in removing the tick or the head of the tick, receive medical attention immediately.
• Do not try to burn the tick off
• Do not apply nail polish or petroleum jelly on the tick
• Place tick in a sealable container for analysis
• Wash bite mark with soap and water and apply antibiotic ointment.
• Monitor site often for at least two weeks
Insects and allergies can put a damper on your summer fun. The annoying itchy bites and the risks of allergic reactions can stop you from enjoying the nice weather. Luckily, there are places such as Healthy Directions to help treat you and have you going in the right direction to a fun filled season. You can also prevent some of these occurrences by making sure to wear protective repellent against insects and bugs and try to keep sweet foods inside. Be sure to carry an epinephrine kit in case of an emergency. To protect against allergies, take prescribed medication or get allergy shots as often as needed. Most importantly, try to wear proper and protective clothing while being outdoors. These simple preventions will help keep you and your family on track
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