Tips for Managing Your Asthma in the Spring
As a chronic lung disease, asthma affects those who have it year-round, though symptoms may be worse in the spring. The condition causes airways in the lungs to become inflamed and swollen, making them particularly sensitive to springtime triggers like pollen. Symptoms of Asthma If you have asthma, you may experience: If your symptoms suddenly…
About the Grass Seed Capital of the World and How it Impacts Allergies
Nestled between the Coast Range and the Cascade Mountains in Oregon, the Willamette Valley is a productive agricultural region. As the largest producer of cool-season grass seed in the world, it has earned the title as the Grass Seed Capital of the World. The area produces almost two-thirds of the total production of cool-season grasses…
What to Do Following an Allergic Reaction
Experiencing an allergic reaction can be alarming, regardless of whether it’s mild or severe, and nearly 100 million people in the U.S. experience allergies each year. It’s important to know what to do after you experience an allergic reaction to maintain well-being. Taking the right steps can prevent future reactions and promote long-term health. Following…
What To Know About the Degrees of Hearing Loss
When you take a hearing test, your provider will read your results in terms of degrees. Degrees categorize the severity of your hearing loss based on how loud sound needs to be for you to hear it. Common categories include: Let’s take a closer look at each category to help you understand your hearing loss….
The Impact of Shingles on Your Hearing: What You Need To Know
Shingles and hearing loss aren’t generally something people group together. One pops up as a red rash, and the other isn’t visible at all. While the two conditions may not seem like an obvious pairing, some researchers have found that shingles can damage the hearing structures of the inner ear. Let’s take a closer look…
Spring Allergy Season Is Coming: Should You Start Immunotherapy Now?
Spring is finally here! Along with all the benefits of spring, like the warmer weather, flowers and Salem Saturday Market, spring also brings one downside—allergies. Spring allergies, or hay fever, affect between 40 and 60 million Americans. For some, hay fever may only cause the occasional sneeze. However, for others, it can lead to severe…
Ways to Manage Pet Allergies at Home
If you’re dealing with a pet allergy, you are not alone. Up to 30% of people in the U.S. are allergic to cats or dogs. Symptoms of pet allergies include a runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, sneezing, shortness of breath, itchy skin, coughing and hives. Fortunately, there are several steps you can…
Study Shows Light Pollution Can Extend Allergy Season
Researchers are no longer in the dark about the effects of artificial light sources on trees and woody plants. Evidence shows that the bright lights of big cities are altering urban plants’ normal seasonal rhythms, leading to earlier and longer allergy seasons and exacerbating everything from allergies to asthma to other breathing issues. Details of…
Cancer Patients Need a Hearing Test Before and After Treatment
April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month. While head and neck cancer is somewhat rare, making up just 4% of all cancers diagnosed in the U.S., one of the treatments for it (chemotherapy) isn’t. But like all treatments, chemotherapy comes with side effects—and hearing loss is one of them. Experiencing hearing loss due to…
How to Combat Dry Eyes From Allergies
Dry, itchy eyes are an unfortunate side effect of allergy season. When you encounter irritants like pollen, dust mites, pet dander or other substances you’re sensitive to, your immune system overreacts and releases histamine. Histamine is a chemical in your body that triggers the allergy inflammation responsible for dry, red or itchy eyes. Let’s take…
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