HEALTH, WELLNESS, PREVENTION · asthma and allergies. This idea is called the “hygiene hypothesis.” In 1989, a researcher found that children from large farm families had fewer

It’s ragweed and mold season, which means allergy flare-ups. That can spell trouble for people with asthma. Tackle fall

allergies with some helpful tips from the American Lung Association on how to avoid triggers and handle attacks when they crop up.

Raking leaves can trigger an allergic reaction.

If you have to do the task your-self, cover up with long sleeves, pants, socks and gloves, and wear goggles and a mask. Remember to wash these clothes immediately, and shower and wash your hair once you’re done.

Enjoy the holidays with care. Fall hayrides can be a lot of fun

with the family, but not if you’re wheezing through the whole thing. It may be difficult to sing along with campfire songs if the wood smoke irritates your lungs.

Remember to stand as far away from the fire as possible, and always position yourself so the wind doesn’t blow smoke in your direction. And always carry a quick-relief inhaler with you if you’re participating in outdoor activities this fall.

Staying Healthy. Living Well.

OutlookH E A LT H , W E L L N E S S , P R E V E N T I O N

Fall 2014

Asthma

You’ve got watery eyes, a runny nose and persistent sneezing—but are you suffering from allergies or a cold? It’s important to know the difference so you can take the right steps to relieve your symptoms and possibly get treatment.Symptoms: Allergy symptoms typically begin right away,

while a cold’s symptoms can take a few days to appear. Plus, a cold can be accom-panied by a fever and aches and pains.Duration: Allergy symptoms will last as long as you’re exposed to the agent caus-

ing them, while a cold’s symptoms will clear up within about a week.Avoid both scenarios by getting your annual flu shot, washing your hands and

doing your best to avoid allergy triggers. If you experience severe symptoms or you don’t get better after a week with home treatment, see your health care provider.

Is It Hay Fever or a Cold?

Leave the Sneeze Behind

Check the pollen and mold forecast.

Stay indoors if levels are too high, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when pollen is at its worst. Also check the weather report. If it’s cold outside, layer clothing and wear a scarf. When the weather is too crisp or allergies hit, cover up your mouth with the scarf.

2 Asthma Outlook | Fall 2014

When you are diagnosed with asthma, one of the first things you’ll do is write an asthma action plan. Developed with the help of your health care provider, it should include the following information.

Daily asthma treatment instructions. What to do during an asthma flare-up. This includes information on

the use of your rescue inhaler, when to call the doctor and when to go to the emergency room.

A list of asthma medications and instructions for taking them. Use of a peak flow meter to regularly monitor your lungs, and what to

do depending on the readings.

At each visit with your health care provider, you should go over your asth-ma action plan and talk about how well it works and how well you’re able to follow it. Your provider will ask about how often you need to use your rescue inhaler and will make medication adjustments if necessary. These changes also will be added to your now-updated asthma action plan.

In light of rapidly rising asthma rates, some scientists have suggested that improved cleanliness and smaller family sizes have decreased our exposure to germs, and may increase our risk for developing asthma and allergies.

This idea is called the “hygiene hypothesis.” In 1989, a researcher found that children from large farm families had fewer incidences of asthma, and attributed that to their exposure to germs and infections. But the reality of what causes asthma isn’t that cut and dried. Some infections actually can increase risk for asthma rather than prevent it, like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Ultimately, more harm can be done than good by kicking clean-liness to the curb, especially for people with asthma. So keep wash-ing those hands, and take care to avoid known allergy triggers.

The information in this publication is not intended to be a substitute for medical care or advice provided by a health care provider. Always consult your provider for appropriate examinations, treatment and care recommendations. If you have any questions about this information, you should call your provider. Specific treatments and therapies may not be covered by your health plan. For questions about your benefits, please consult your health plan. Any reference in this material to other organizations or companies, including their Internet sites, is not an endorse-ment or warranty of the services, information or products provided by those organizations or companies. All models are used for illustrative purposes only. © 2014 Healthways, Inc.

The same way that a person with diabetes needs to keep track of blood sugar levels every day, someone with asthma ought to keep tabs on their peak flow rate daily. A peak flow meter tells you how open your airways are, which can tell you when you need to use your rescue medicine, helps you make sure your rescue medicine works, helps you monitor progress over time and lets you know how severe your asthma is at any given moment.

To use the peak flow meter, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends these steps: Stand up, make sure the device reads zero, breathe in deeply and blow out as hard and as fast as possible for one to two seconds. Don’t cough, spit or let your tongue block the mouthpiece. Blow hard to get the best reading you can and repeat twice. While all three readings should be close in range, choose the highest and write it down in a daily chart. Always clean the meter when you’re finished.

How to use a peak flow meter

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What is the hygiene hypothesis?

Good Health GUIDELINES

A CLOSER LOOK

Good Question( )

Fall 2014 | Asthma Outlook 3

The sun will be setting earlier as fall marches on, especially after the time change. And on Halloween, the streets will crawl with costumed kids and lots of cars, so it’s important to know how to stay safe after dark.

First, always make sure you have your parents’ permission to be outside after dark. Never walk alone—always have a parent or buddy with you—and never, ever talk to or accept rides from strangers. It’s important that your parents know when you’re going to be outside and when to expect you to arrive at your destination, too.

Wear reflective and light-colored clothing, tie those shoelaces, carry a flashlight, avoid uneven pavement, choose a well-lit path and stick to sidewalks. It’s harder to see hazards after dark, which means it’s easier to fall and get hurt, so keep your eyes peeled.

Also, don’t get distracted by a cellphone or walk with headphones on. Stay aware of your surroundings, especially cars. It’s harder for drivers to see pedestrians at night. Make sure you can see and that you can be seen!

If you’re trick-or-treating this Hal-loween, don’t wear a mask that covers your eyes or makes it hard to see. Getting ghoulish with makeup instead of a mask may be a good idea. And think about wearing something that glows in the dark. You’ll be scary AND visible, so it’s the best of both worlds.

Kids’ Corner

Excess weight can worsen asthma symptoms, and it turns out that what you eat may impact breathing, too.

The American College of Chest Physicians examined the dietary habits and lung function of more than 2,100 teenagers and found that those with low amounts of dietary antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients (especially smokers) had worse lung function and more respi-ratory problems.

Eat healthier and breathe easier by enjoying colorful fall produce. •Hitthefarmers’marketand

discover what’s in season. You can get most fruits and vegetables year-round, but you’ll get the most nutrients and flavor by getting your produce at its peak.

•SignupforaCommunitySupportedAgriculture (CSA) share.

•Makeuseofyourfreezerandpan-try. It’s true that fresh produce can spoil quickly, but most fruits and vegetables are freezer-friendly and can be canned.

•Trygoingmeatlessonedayaweek and enjoy healthy vegetar-ian dishes instead. You’ll decrease your intake of unhealthy saturated fat and gain benefits from more nutrient-rich plant foods such as fruits and vegetables.Not sure where to start? Try some

of these delicious fall options: arti-chokes, chard, cranberries, edamame, kale, leeks, pears and sweet potatoes.

Stay Safe After Dark

Flu vaccine: Different viruses cause the flu each year, so a different vaccine is made every year for that season’s flu. Most everyone 6 months of age and older should get the current flu vaccine every year as soon as it becomes available, espe-cially if you have a chronic illness. Talk to your health care provider about vaccina-tion if you have: a severe allergy to chicken eggs; a history of severe reaction to a flu vaccination; a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (you should wait until you are better to get the vaccine); or a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS). Healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49 who aren’t pregnant may choose to get the nasal-spray flu vaccine instead. Check with your health care provider to find out if the nasal-spray flu vaccine is a safe option for you.

Pneumonia vaccine: Adults age 65 and older, and anyone age 2 and older with a chronic illness that increases the risk for pneumonia, should get a pneumonia vaccine. Adults who smoke or have a diagnosis of asthma should also get the vac-cine. A second dose is recommended for people 65 years and older who got their first dose when they were younger than 65 and five or more years have passed since the first dose. Check with your health care provider to find out if you should have a pneumonia vaccine.

Flu Vaccine Reminders

Not sure what vaccines you need? Contact your health care provider.

Enjoy Fall Foods and Breathe Better

Health or wellness or prevention information HW

Fall 2014Staying Healthy. Living Well.

Whether you’re looking for a new hobby, want to make new friends, or need to reboot your cardio routine, dancing may be the answer. Not only is it a fun way to get fit, but you’ll reap many different health benefits from those dance moves. For example, dancing can ward off dementia by keeping your brain sharp, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Getting a little light on your feet also may help prevent falls by improving your balance. Plus dancing is great exercise. By keeping your weight in check, dancing can keep certain health problems like diabetes and heart disease at bay. So slip those twinkle toes into your dancing shoes and enjoy the benefits!

Dance It Out