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Season of spring allergies just days away from midstate sufferers
By GLENN HUDSON
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AUGUSTA
For allergy sufferers, spring can he
an unpleasant time of year The
sneezing, coughing, stuffy nose and
itchy, watery eyes that result from massive
amounts of airborne tree and grass pollen
can dampen outdoor activities
The warmth and sunshine of spring is a
signal to the onset of the allergy season,
said Dr Ned Rupp, allergy and asthma spe
cialist at the Medical College of Georgia
“As a warming trend begins, we see a sig
nificant increase in symptoms due to the
spring allergy season," Rupp said
“In Georgia, as well as most of the lower
Southeast, February and March usually see
the earliest tree pollen appear These
include birch, cedar, elm and alder Oak and
pine usually greet us with the very obvious
massive pollination during this time," he
explained
“Pecan and other nut-bearing trees are
the last of the trees to pollinate and usually
are responsible for symptoms in May,"
Rupp said
“Grasses follow the trees in the seasonal
pollination pattern and are usually a major
source of spring allergens in May, June and
July Of course, the seasonal weather varia
tions control these patterns and changes in
Physical therapist Feeney opens Perry office
By EMILY JOHNSTONE
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Physical Therapist Debbie Feeney, of
Southern Therapy Services, Inc., is
excited about the new Perry office
After working from, an office in Warner
Robins for several years, she sees this expan
sion as a way to better serve the people of the
Perry area
The Perry office, opened about one month
ago, provides services such as physical and
occupational, said Feeney.
Feeney’s patients are physician-referred
Children who need such services will also be
able to benefit from the new location, she said
"I also work with pediatrics ” she said
Sometimes a child may have a develop
mental delay problem, she added
This can include an infant who does not
begin to crawl or walk by a specified age or a
child suffering from medical disorders such
as Down’s Syndrome
“Others need the one-on-one therapy to
help enhance their skills," she said
Feeney also works with geriatric patients
who have suffered problems such as strokes,
back and neck pain and fractures.
The Warner Robins resident said she
Health and Wellness
at the C rossroads of Georgia
Published bv the Houston Times-Journal Wed . Feb 25. 1998 • Perry. Ga 31069 • Page 1B
the length of pollination do occur based
upon temperature and rainfall patterns,”
Rupp said
When pollen contacts the lining of the
nose, it sets off an immune response in the
body in the form of sneezing, runny nose
and watery eyes. This is the body’s natural
way of expelling foreign particles It is a
normal function of the body’s immune sys
tem. Rupp said
"Some people’s immune systems work
harder than others." he said
“Approximately 30 percent of Americans
have an inherited tendency toward respond
ing more aggressively to allergens These
people suffer much greater symptoms in
the spring allergy season "
Avoiding the uncomfortable symptoms
associated with allergies involves two basic
steps First of all, try to control your envi
ronment to avoid allergens as much as pos
sible, said Rupp
"This is difficult since it is impossible to
stay indoors throughout spring But, you can
keep doors and windows closed to help keep
pollen out of the house Carpets and furniture
can get loaded with pollen when the windows
are open Also, people track a lot of pollen in
the house on their shoes," Rupp said
When mowing the grass, you are not only
exposed to airborne pollen, but pollen which
has settled in the yard is forced into the air
decided to begin working in the field of phys
ical therapy as a result of volunteer work she
did at a local hospital in her teen years
“I loved the field of medicine but did not
know what I wanted to pursue,” said Feeney
Feeney said she began to see the field of
physical therapy as one that was more
focused than some and also saw a great need
for qualified people in that field
After graduating from Macon College and
then Georgia College, Feeney worked in
Carrollton for a couple of years, then decided
to move back to Warner Robins
After five years of working with out
patient clinics, she found a niche at Southern
Therapy.
Feeney said she is happy to be able to help
people.
“The reason you get into this field is to
help people It’s nice to be able to do that,"
she said.
The Southern Therapy Perry office is
located at 1211 Macon Road and is open on
TUesday and Thursday.
However, Feeney said someone can be at
the office whenever they are needed.
For more information about Southern
Therapy Services, call 988-9071.
as well A dust mask can help keep these
allergens out of your nose, said Rupp
A big part of environmental control
involves keeping your house clean Vacuum
your carpet regularly Install a special air fil
ter in your home designed to trap pollen
Keep your furniture and dra|>enes free of
dust and pollen with regular cleaning, he said
The second aspect of keeping allergy
symptoms to a minimum is proper medica
tion “If you know what you are allergic to
and generally what times of year you suffer
the worst symptoms, you can pre-treat with
medications to avoid allergy symptoms."
Rupp said
“Pre-medication for allergy symptoms
can help prevent further sinus infections,
headaches and pressure that often accompa
ny severe allergic reactions," he said "It
can also decrease symptoms for those who
suffer from asthma by limiting respiratory
distress ’’
The most important aspect of choosing
the right medication involves knowing
which symptoms are responsive to a partic
ular medicine, Rupp said
“Antihistamines are for runny noses,
sneezing and itching symptoms, but they do
nothing for congestion," he said “The anti
histamines that make you tired are the ones
(See ALLERGY, Page S)
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DEBBIE FEENEY WITH EQUIPMENT
She Has Opened Office In Perry