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Wednesday, July 7, 2021 - Pike County Journal Reporter - Page 9A To Your Health Summer days may mean allergies and asthma issues PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER Summer means growth for crops like this vineyard in Means- ville but that can also mean problems with asthma for some. The arrival of summer is typically welcomed with open arms. Warm air, green grass, colorful flowers and vacations are just a few of the many reasons to celebrate. Spring and summer also marks the return of allergy season. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States. For many people, aller gies are a minor seasonal nuisance that are over come by taking over-the- counter medications or staying indoors on days when allergen levels are especially high. But the World Allergy Organiza tion notes that a history of allergies is a known risk factor for developing asthma. What is asthma? The National Heart, Lung and Blood Insti tute defines asthma as a chronic condition that affects airways in the lungs. The airways carry air in and out of the lungs, and when people have asthma, these airways can become inflamed and narrow, compromising a person’s ability to breathe. Who gets asthma? Many asthma patients are diagnosed during childhood. The ACAAI reports that most chil dren with asthma exhibit symptoms prior to their fifth birthdays. Asthma symptoms also may ap pear in adults older than 20, and such instances may be attributed to adult-onset asthma. Cer tain adults may be more likely to get adult-onset asthma than others. For example, WebMD reports that women who are experiencing hormonal changes, such as those who are pregnant or in menopause, may be more likely to get adult-onset asthma. What are the symp toms of asthma? Some symptoms of asthma could be mis takenly associated with colds or other illnesses. A nagging cough that lingers for days or weeks or sudden, scary breath ing emergencies are two symptoms of pediatric asthma. Parents also can be on the lookout for these symptoms: • Coughing, especially at night • A wheezing or whis tling sound that can be heard when breathing, especially when exhaling • Trouble breathing or fast breathing that causes the skin around the ribs or neck to pull in tightly • Frequent colds that settle in the chest Like pediatric asthma, adult-onset asthma can be easy to miss. That’s because of natural changes in muscles and a stiffening of chest walls, both of which are as sociated with aging and therefore often attributed to age. A lung function test and a methacholine challenge test are two ways doctors can detect adult-onset asthma. More information about asthma is available at www.accai.org. Essential summer skin care tips Keeping kids under 12 safe from Skin care is not seasonal, though efforts to protect the skin may need to be stepped up during the summer. According to Dr. Ron Shelton, a board-certi fied dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, the bulk of sun damage to the skin happens in the summer. LIGHTEN UP Choose lightweight products for summer usage. This includes cleansers, makeup and oil cleansers. Thicker products mixed with increased perspiration may lead to clogged pores and inflammation. LATHER ON SUNSCREEN Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more is rec ommended to protect skin from UV damage. USE VITAMIN C SERUMS Vitamin C serum can improve the appear ance of fine lines, help with collagen produc tion and also prevent hyperpigmentation. STAY IN THE SHADE Use sunscreen and try to stay out of the sun when UV rays are at their strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. By mid-spring 2021, tens of millions of people in the United States and Canada had heeded recommendations from public health officials and gotten vaccinated against the COV1D-19 virus. Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that the likelihood for severe illness from COV1D-19 was very low for fully vaccinated indi viduals, prompting many people over the age of 12 to get vaccinated and paving the way for them to return to something resembling normal life. But what about children under 12? Like their parents, children are itching to get back to normal life, but no one knows when young children will be eligible for the COV1D-19 vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that children are not little adults, so medi cal professionals cannot just assume vaccines will have the same effect on kids as they do on older people, including adoles cents. Clinical trials on thousands of children are now underway to de termine if the COV1D-19 vaccines are safe for kids, but the AAP notes that those trials will need to be completed and researchers will need to determine if the shots are safe before kids can receive the vaccinations en masse. With no vaccine avail able to young children, parents will need to tiptoe through another summer balancing act as they try to keep kids engaged and happy but also safe. • Dine outside. The CDC notes that on-site outdoor dining where tables are spaced six feet apart is significantly less risky than dining indoors. • Resist the tempta tion to throw caution to the wind. As more adults and adolescents become fully vaccinated, community transmission should go down. That should calm parents’ fears, but they must COVID-19 keep their guard up any way. Kids should keep wearing their masks when they go to stores or even outdoor areas like playgrounds or ball- games. • Travel wisely. It’s important that parents keep their guard up on summer vacations as well. Traditional tourist attractions may not be wise when traveling with children who are not yet eligible to be vac cinated. When choosing a vacation destination, choose a place you can drive to instead of flying so contact with people from other households is minimized. Consider a private vacation rental instead of a hotel. Until all children can be vaccinated against COV1D-19, parents must continue to be patient and vigilant. That means safety must once again be a big priority this summer. Ik SHEPHERDCARE H O i P I C E Contact: Meredith Smith Director of Marketing 678-603-1321 CARE" it s not just our name, it's our lifestyle! GRIFFIN OFFICE: 150IB Kalamazoo Dr., Griffin, GA 30224 THOM ASTON OFFICE: 201 N. Church St., Thomaston, GA 30286 We service all surrounding counties to each office. www.ShepherdCareGA.com SEE YOUR AD HERE: CALL 770-567-3446 City Pharmacy Of Zebulon 460 Thomaston St, Zebulon, GA 30295 m 770-567-8844 Monday - Friday 8:30am-6pm Saturday 8:30am-1 2:30pm Sunday CLOSED To Your Health! Tips to help you be the best you can be, to help you navigate health care reform, to give you everyday health information - from sunburn to symptoms of stroke. Health Care professionals - contact us today to place your ad and submit your article. Do your part to keep the communi ty healthy and safe. ~ DISCOUNTED RATES FOR MULTIPLE RUNS ~ For prices call 770-567-3446 or email jennifer@pikecountygeorgia.com Publishes once a month in the Pike County Journal Reporter and The Herald Gazette.