Tips for dealing with seasonal allergies!

Are you suffering from watery eyes, sneezing, itchy throat and/or a runny nose?? 

If yes - you might have seasonal allergies BC spring allergy season is in full effect right now!  For more information on allergies check out my article here.

Allergies are caused when our body comes in contact with an allergen. Allergens are the specific things that you are allergic to and can include pollen, dust, grass, ragweed, certain fruits, nuts, etc. There are some people who are even allergic to water! Can you believe that and how hard life must me????? 

True story, check it out here: http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/10/what-its-like-to-be-allergic-to-water.html

Seasonal allergies are allergies that occur during a specific time of the year (due to the abundance of certain allergens during certain times of the year). For example - seasonal allergies are the worst during the Springtime due to a high level of allergens like pollen in the air (its the consequence of having so many pretty flowers in the trees, parks, etc.).

Here are some tips to help you get through the day:

-Limit your time outdoors - especially around trees, grass, flowers (that's where most allergens are located)

-If you know you have terrible allergies, you can even look at the allergy forecast (which tells you how much allergen is present on a specific day). This will help you limit your time outdoors on certain days where your exposure to certain allergans is highest (its sort of like how you check the weather & prepare for rain, snow, etc)...accuweather.com does this!

-Remove your coat and change your clothing once you enter the home. This is important to do because your clothes are covered by allergens from the outside world (that are not visible to the naked eye)

-Take a nice hot shower as soon as you go home - the steam will clear your nasal passages (if you are congested) and the shower will wash away all the allergens covering your skin and body

-Wash your face and hands through the day to clean your skin of allergens.. if the allergens are off your body, it's less likely to bother you

-If your eyes are watering or itching, wash your eyes out with clean water

-If your nasal congestion is terrible you can try saline nasal sprays from the drug store (commonly called "nasal mist" and you don't need a prescription)

-If your watery, itchy eyes are bothersome try eye drops for allergy that typically contain an antihistamine (also available without a prescription)

-I love breathing in steam from boiled water to help clear out my nasal passages, especially when I add in some eucalyptus oils or menthol! Its really soothing and makes for a great facial :) (I will blog on how to do this tomorrow)!

- Use portable air filters with HEPA (High-efficiency Particulate Air) filters in your home to help clean the air of allergens so that you breathe in the cleanest air possible

-If you really are suffering and the above does not work - you can buy decongestants like Zyrtec or Claritin at any drug store without a prescription (warning -- these can make you drowsy!)

-If you have tried all the above, have bad rashes from allergies, worsening asthma, or difficulty with breathing during the season, you should visit an allergist (a specialist in allergies) 

Do you have any tips that you use?? 

Hope this helps you through the season! Good luck!

Please feel free to ask any questions & ask/follow me @Doctor_Deena on Twitter or Instagram :)

**PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND/OR BEFORE STARTING OR STOPPING ANY TREATMENT OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER*

How to limit your exposure to chemicals, like Phthalates

Here are some tips to protect yourself from phthalates!

To learn more about phthalates & the long-term effects on your health check out my prior post here.

Phthalates are really hard to avoid because they are everywhere. Most everyday items contain plastic and thus likely contain phthalates too. Phalates are in fast foods, processed foods (like meats), scented candles, scented shampoos, etc.

The long-term effects of phthalates are still being investigated and appear to impact health when found in high levels...but the best thing you can do is LIMIT your exposure! Check out my post to learn about some of the health effects.

It's hard to not expose yourself to phthalates but be careful when you can with these tips: (the goal is to really go as NATURAL as possible)

-Choose products that are are scent-free or fragrance-free when you can

-Avoid using products that say "scented with “parfum” or “natural fragrances” Use products scented with real fruits, flowers or oils

-Skip scented candles in the home if you can (this can also be terrible for people with allergies). Use fresh flowers or oils instead to freshen up your home!

Avoid use of vinyl flooring in the house. If you have vinyl flooring, put down a mat or sheet when your child is laying/playing on the floor

-Don't buy plastic teethers & toys. That's you, rubber ducky! If you do buy these products make sure they are made from natural rubber or silicone

-Avoid using plastic food wrappings (like plastic bags or saran wrap) to store/carry food. Use paper towels, paper bags or tissue paper for food when you can

-Choose to drink beverages in glass rather than plastic 

-Don't reheat foods in plastic containers. Use glass containers to reheat food when you can

-Store food in glass containers or metal containers, avoid using plastic containers

-Don't put plastic items, especially tupperware, in the dishwasher (even if it says dishwasher safe). Plastic can melt at high temperatures and the chemicals might then leak into our food!

-Avoiding eating fast food when you can and prepare more meals at home

-Avoid eating highly processed foods (like cold cuts)

-Read the labels of your makeup, nail polish and hairspray. Make sure the term "phthalate" is not written anywhere

Hope that information helps! 

Please feel free to ask any questions & ask/follow me @Doctor_Deena on Twitter or Instagram :)

**PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND/OR BEFORE STARTING OR STOPPING ANY TREATMENT OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER*

Fast food -- new study shows that its not only full of fat but its full of chemicals (known as phthalates)!

Call me a nerd -- but I find it fascinating to learn about the effects of different chemicals on our body, especially on our hormones. Obviously!  I mean I am an Endocrinologist - would you expect any less?!? :)

We call these chemicals endocrine disruptors, and there are many of them! I will perhaps blog about them in the future if you are interested :)

A recent study published this week in Environmental Health Perspectives suggests that eating more fast foods equals eating more chemicals, specifically chemicals known as phthalates. Phthalates are a classic example of endocrine disruptors.  

What are phthalates?
Phthalates are chemicals that are commonly found in plastics and used in thousands of products -- such as toys, vinyl flooring detergents, shampoo bottles, food packaging, medications, and personal care products (like nail polish, hair sprays, aftershave lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, etc.) They are also used in artificial fragrances.

A little more about this interesting study:
This study was quite comprehensive and looked at data collected from  the 8,877 participants of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. 

Participants reported on their diet in the past 24 hours and provided urine samples, which were tested for breakdown products of two specific phthalates, DEHP and DiNP. 

They found a positive association between fast food consumption and the amount of phthalates in one's urine. Participants with high fast food intake had 20-40% higher urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites than those who did not consume fast food in 24 hours.

This study can not prove true causation (i.e. the fast foods led to increased phthalates), but its one step in the right direction to support that fast foods have many bad effects on our body!

What's so bad about phthalates?
There's so much to learn about these chemicals, but the most data we have is related to how phthalates affect our hormones. When phthalates are found in excess they have been associated with the following:
-birth defects during pregnancy 
-problems with male sexual development
-problems with puberty in men
-decrease in the male hormone known as testosterone and increase in the female hormone (estrogen) --male infertility (low sperm count, poor quality of sperm)
-feminization of men where estrogen leads to development of breasts!
-animal studies show phthalates exposure can also affect the liver, kidneys and reproductive systems of developing organisms

Given these potential bad effects on health, Europe has banned certain phthalates from cosmetics and baby toys BUT America has not!! 

Who's at risk?
One large study found that phthalates are measurable in most of the general US population. 
Not all of us will develop medical issues from phthalates; however, studies suggest that the more exposure your body has to this chemical (and other chemicals) the more likely you are to develop other health issues later on. 

How can I find out if the products I own/use/eat have phthalates?
This should be documented in the ingredients listed on the product. Check out this nailpolish bottle as an example:

Want to know how much phthalates are in your cosmetics?
Visit the FDA site:
http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductsIngredients/Ingredients/ucm128250.htm#survey

Next blog I will discuss the ways you can limit your exposure to phthalates!

Please feel free to ask any questions & ask/follow me on Twitter @Doctor_Deena or Instagram at live.laugh.love.be_healthy!


**PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND/OR BEFORE STARTING OR STOPPING ANY TREATMENT OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER*