Spring is a time of renewal, fresh starts, and plants coming into bloom. Spring is a welcome sight, but considerably less welcome are the allergic reactions that arise from exposure to pollen grains. Pollen, which carries reproductive material for seed-bearing plants, contains proteins and enzymes that the human body often mistakes for pathogens. This overreaction […]
Cartoons often depict their sleeping characters as noisily and humorously snoring. When this happens to you or your bed partner in real life, however, it’s nothing to smile at. Rather, it could be indicative of serious breathing problems. What causes the sound is simple: snoring occurs when inhaled air passes relaxed muscle tissue, which vibrates […]
Picture this: you’ve concluded your Thanksgiving smorgasbord with a slice of delicious pecan pie. But as you sit down for the final leg of the day’s football tripleheader, you notice you’re nauseated, short of breath, and breaking out in hives—and it has nothing to do with your investment in the game’s outcome. Suddenly, your mood […]
Whoever said a little fresh air never hurt anyone has never tried to drain their sinuses after inhaling pollen all day. When you have bad environmental allergies, there’s nothing invigorating about working outside. Whether we’re talking about hourly work in the field or some weekend-warrior chores in the yard, you may have to get the […]
When we talk about putting away childish things, one of the things we’re most glad to put away are ear infections. As the ears’ Eustachian tubes grow and fall into place during adolescence, their improved drainage ability precludes most ear infections in adulthood. Nevertheless, even as the drainage issues of otitis media subside, adults can […]
Whether through media portrayal or from personal experience, all the hallmarks of a typical allergic reaction are eminently familiar. The sniffles, sneezes, and runny nose that attend reactions to common allergens such as dust, mold, and pet dander occur so often as to stand in for all allergic reactions. But cold-like symptoms aren’t the limit […]
Your writer, a sufferer of some light environmental allergies, will never forget sitting in history class one cold morning after weeks of dry winter weather and dust inhalation had taken their toll. All it took was one simple sneeze to send out a spray of bright red blood—not to mention a few quickly forgiven expletives—and […]
Where would we be without our immune system? A robust and responsive immune system works hard, often without us even knowing it, to keep our body safe against harmful pathogens. But the body’s immune system can overreact to a perceived threat, and such an immune response can be unpleasant—if not dangerous. This sort of internal […]
When we think of allergies, the first types that often come to mind are ones related to food, animals, or the environment. However, there’s another very serious type of allergy that can lead to many issues as well, which involves taking a drug that your body’s immune system might fight against and create histamine. Medications […]
Those who have had weakened immune systems have been harmed by COVID-19 more than others. With our personal health front and center more than ever before, you might be wondering if there are any underlying health conditions you should be aware of. Here are some signs you may have a weakened immune system that you […]
