Living with Asthma/AllergiesWritten by Deborah Mumm
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Go to any grade school or high school sporting event! Take a peek at sideline bench and note how many inhalers you see. Did you know that number one reason children miss school is asthma? Why explosion of asthma and respiratory problems in children? 4 Reasons Respiratory Problems are on Rise! 1) ‘Couch Potato Generation’ – kids weigh more, exercise less and spend more time indoors. 2) Too much antibiotic use - Immune systems never get much opportunity to fight infections, and then react abnormally to airborne contaminants. 3) Air Pollution – Pollution does not cause asthma but can be a trigger for an attack. Cars and factories now have stricter controls on emissions but problem is still there. 4) Indoor Air Pollution – 20 years ago no one ever heard of Indoor Pollution! Since Energy Crisis in 70’s, buildings became more energy efficient. This meant all pollutants became trapped inside. Many of items we furnish our home and school with are outgassing contaminants continually. Carpeting, curtains, cleaning products, particle board furniture and more! With people spending 90-% of their days indoors, this becomes a problem! 4 Things You Can Do To Protect Your Kids from Allergy & Asthma Reactions! 1) Watch for days when pollen counts are high and restrict vigorous exercise on hot days. 2) Avoid Wood Stoves and fireplaces in home and NEVER allow smoking in home of an asthmatic. 3) Keep pets out of bedrooms. 4) Make sure kitchen, bathrooms, and basement are well ventilated to cut down on mold in humidity. 5) Put pillows and mattresses in allergen-impermeable covers to cut down exposure to dust mites. 6) Use non-toxic cleaning products and avoid perfumes and scented products. 7) A filter-less air purifier is highly recommended since a filter can only capture a small portion of allergens. To learn more about products for a healthier indoor environment, please visit my website at www.myhealthysolutions.com or register here for my bi-weekly issue of The Achoo Review…an online newsletter to help you and your family with allergies and asthma.
Deborah Mumm has been an Indoor Environmental Consultant for 7 years. She has helped hundreds of people with her tips and healthy products. http://www.myhealthysolutions.com
| | My Teenaged ParentsWritten by Phyllis Staff
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Could I get help? You can guess answer! Something about hell freezing over. I'm not about to win this battle, but I could use a friend during some of more serious skirmishes. Here are a few things that could really lift my spirits: ·Come over. Don't send flowers. They're just something else to take care of. But a home-cooked meal would be great. ·Even better -- stay and serve it. ·Call often. Not me, my parents. Give them someone else to vent to. ·Be a chauffer. Take them to doctor, to shop, whatever. Just take them off my hands for a little while. ·Start a "Caregiver's Day Out" at your church, synagogue or temple. Give me a break - just a few hours would be wonderful. ·Suggest a companion from Senior Corps. These retired adults spend 10-20 hours each week being a companion to shut-ins. If you're retired, consider becoming one yourself. ·Lobby your Senators and Representatives for more funding for Adult Day Care Centers. The nearest one to me is 45 miles away and does not provide transportation. Some people believe that life is a school with lessons for each of us. If so, my lesson is patience. I know I have to grow it for myself. . .but, please, rally round in meanwhile. My patience cells are still infants!
Phyllis Staff, Ph.D. - Phyllis Staff is an experimental psychologist and the CEO of The Best Is Yet.Net, an internet company that helps seniors and caregivers find trustworthy residential care. She is the author of How to Find Great Senior Housing: A Roadmap for Elders and Those Who Love Them. She is also the daughter of a victim of Alzheimer's disease. Visit the author's web site at http://www.thebestisyet.net.
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