Poison Ivy- Austinites Beware!

It's nearly summer, and once again, POISON IVY is growing all over down at Lady Bird Lake (formerly known as our Town Lake). There are areas where this climbing plant is well over six feet high! If you are walking or jogging with only two-legged (or wheeled) companions, it's fairly easy to avoid the plant simply by staying on the trail. However, if you have your favorite four-legged partner by your side, beware that poison ivy can be spread from your dog's fur to you! 

Poison ivy (and poison oak & sumac) all have urushiol- the poison sap- in their roots, stems and leaves. This sap can be spread by direct contact with the plant, as well as via clothing and animal fur, although human to human contact does NOT pass the toxic substance. These plants are the most common cause of contact dermatitis in the United States. Not everyone is allergic to them, but an estimated 60-80% of us do react. 

What are the symptoms? First you ITCH. Then, the itchy areas turn red and typically blister, often in lines on the skin (where a plant swiped your leg or arm). 

How soon do you break out if you are exposed? It depends how many times you have previously been exposed. The first time, you may have a gap of several days before you start itching, but each successive breakout will occur more quickly and often will be more severe. Previously sensitized people may begin itching within minutes to hours of contact. 

How do you treat it? Over-the-counter topical steroid creams (hydrocortisone) will often do the trick for mild cases. The more areas affected, the stronger the steroid you will need. For more severe cases, oral steroids are necessary, which must be prescribed by a doctor. 

How can you prevent getting poison ivy? Avoidance is key, of course. If you have a pet that has romped through poison ivy, use rubber gloves to thoroughly shampoo your animal. Any soap and water will remove urushiol from non-human surfaces. There is one product, zanfel, which is marketed to specially remove urushiol from human skin. As soon as you are aware you may have touched poison ivy, immediately wash the area with soap and water. If you remove the toxin within around 15 minutes, you may not break out. Also, please beware if you are removing poison ivy from your property- NEVER burn this plant! The inhaled smoke will do the same type of damage to your lungs that it does to the skin...not good.

BOTTOM LINE: "Leaves of Three- Let It Be"! And wash QUICKLY, including your pet- to avoid getting this dermatitis. 

PS. It's May 1st- CHANGE THOSE AIR FILTERS!

April Showers Bring May...ALLERGIES!

Greetings from Austin, Texas, where-ACHOO!-those of us with allergies are collecting sneezing our heads off! In our case, the scant April showers still managed to kick up the MOLD pollens enough to wreak havoc on allergy sufferers, so I thought today I'd talk about seasonal allergies.

What are signs and symptoms of allergies?

At the risk of sounding like an antihistamine commercial, it's sneezing (often in fits of sneezes), itchy eyes, itchy throat, scratchy throat, drainage down the back of your throat (which creates early morning sore throats that often fade mid-morning), stuffy eyes, ear pressure and the lovely dark circles under your eyes.

What is recommended for treatment?

We usually start with the non-sedating antihistamines,which used to be prescription but are now available over the counter (OTC). These include Loratadine (Claritin), Fexofenadine (Allegra), and Cetirizine(Zyrtec), to name a few of the most popular. Which is BEST? In my experience, they are clinically equal. What works for you this year may not work as well next year, and there is not great science to explain why. Antihistamines will DRY you up and STOP ITCH. If you are mainly stuffy, you are better off with just a decongestant such as phenylephrine (Sudafed) or if you have both, grab a combination product.

If you are suffering regularly in a particular season, or perhaps year-round from something like molds, your doctor may recommend more preventative therapy such as nasal steroid sprays. These sprays are prescription, and they are not "addictive" like the OTC ones. The OTC sprays that give immediate relief are fine for a day or two, but beyond that, you will get rebound nasal congestion and be chasing your tail with symptoms/spray/more symptoms/more spray. Nasal steroids are minimally absorbed (so no turning into Arnold, gaining weight, or weakening your bones.) They are very safe, and decrease swelling while creating kind of protective barrier against entering irritants, so you don't turn on the histamine system that causes allergy symptoms.

What more prevention can you do?

Well, it's May 1st, so like every first of the month, I recommend changing out your home's air filters! That disgusting air filter pictured above came out of our home this morning- yuck!This "central" or "media filter" type should be changed at least three or four times per year, despite manufacturer recommendations of annual replacement. Yes, that is expensive, but cheaper than many allergy medications, and no other side effects! If you look at your filter (set your calendar to remind you) and you see it looking like this- CHANGE it! HEPA air cleans and vacuum bags are of unclear efficacy, but may help. Limit your outside exposure (get on the exercise bike or treadmill indoors.) If you really suffer, consider getting rid of carpet and drapes in your home, and restricting pets to outside the bedroom.

BOTTOM LINE: If you can't stop sneezing or are having other signs of seasonal allergies, schedule an appointment with your doctor and find out what she can do to help! There are many interventions before considering allergy shots- though for severe sufferers, those shots may be an excellent option.

Hospice at the Holidays?

Okay, I know what you're thinking...why talk about HOSPICE at the holidays? Isn't that kind of depressing? While Hospice care can be a tough subject, I actually ALWAYS think of Hospice at the holidays, for several reasons.

1. I believe everyone who works at Hospice is an ANGEL. Period.

2. Hospice provides a tremendous service that is a beautiful gift not only for the patients themselves, but for the families, too. Their job every day is to help with the physical and emotional needs of people passing from this life on to the next, and they are comfortable with this transition in a way most of us are not. Their confidence and capabilities are amazing.

3. Holidays are especially tough for families who have lost someone in the past year, so remember to reach out in a special way to your family and friends in this situation.

4. One of my favorite gifts is our local Hospice's ANGEL. Each year, a local artist designs a new angel ornament, and these can be purchased on line and sent directly to your loved ones. Hospice benefits from the profits, your recipient gets a lovely angel, and everyone benefits!

BOTTOM LINE: Thinking of Hospice at the Holidays is fully in keeping with the peace and goodwill of the season. Please reach out to anyone you know who has lost a loved one in 2010.