38 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • JUNE 4, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Understanding seasonal allergies in children
BY QNS STAFF
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
With so much on parents’ minds these
days like washing everyone’s hands a
zillion times and, oh, living through a
pandemic, it isn’t surprising that you
just realized your child’s itchy eyes and
runny nose mean that we are in the
throes of allergy season. Oof.
Since we are all venturing outdoors
more cautiously and are also inside for
the better part of the day, understanding
The Well Elderly and Aging
Th e emergence of a population group
identifi ed as the well elderly is the result
of social and demographic progress in
the industrial world. More elderly people
are living longer and poverty, frailty and
dependence are not necessarily the common
characteristics attributed to most
old people.
Th e future portends a healthier well
elderly population who are better educated
and physically as well as emotionally
prepared. Society has, at present, begun
utilizing their capabilities for the foreseeable
future, thus guaranteeing a potentially
rich human resource.
In fact, the well elderly oft en are known
to provide fi nancial support and other
modes of assistance to their younger
family members, to the many charitable
organizations that seek funding for needy
purposes, and participation in complex
fi nancial investments and saving opportunities.
Th is rejects the false notion and
stereotyping that the older population is
a fi nancial and emotional drain on family
and society. Th ey are decidedly not!
Th e aged off er numerous and expanding
opportunities for living a comfortable
quality of life. Th e following statements
are examples that amplify what the term
“expanding opportunities” means:
1) the availability of numerous social
networking organizations that are easily
accessible, that deal with loneliness and
ways of combating its fallout;
2) the increased time spent with loved
ones due to enhanced quality of life practices
and that are infl uenced by a lengthening
pattern on longevity;
3) with an increase in longevity comes
an incentive to seek and accumulate valued
life experiences;
4) a chance to change or at best, modify
their assigned roles.
As the well elderly leave certain roles
behind, they are energized by what they
hear and see that encourages them to
select new roles. Th ese roles could be as
a grandparent, a second career, an activist
in the political, social or community
arenas, a decision maker, an advocate
for ethical and social programs, a participant
in policy making, or a creative pursuit
in the arts.
Th e outlook for the future then is what?
Th e answer can be found in our current
older generation and surprisingly, where
all of us will be one day if not already.
Th erefore, planning for the aged is really
planning for all of society.
Areas such as health care delivery, the
acquisition of a secure income, greater
social involvement and the use of quality
leisure time, can lead to enjoyable possibilities.
For the less active old individual,
the researcher, Burnside suggests that,
“Intervening with the problem of unrelieved
loneliness can be dealt with by fi rst
listening to the elderly and then exploring
what may be the signifi cant issue
that is causing their pain. Helping them
to express that pain may, in eff ect, help
them to compensate in ways that focus
on their personal loss.”
According to a recent AARP article,
“Loneliness carries a stigma that hampers
eff orts to help those who may be lonely.
It can convey to that individual a sense of
social failure.”
It is important to know that social scientists
are not studying loneliness merely
for gathering statistical information.
Rather, their interest is to identify the
main issue such as unrelieved feelings
and the intensely personal experience of
rejection, disconnection and a longing
that Burnside and her colleagues believe
can produce pain as real as any caused by
a physical injury.
Th e goal then is to:
harness the negative physical as well
as emotional consequences plaguing the
elderly individual;
continue surviving the years ahead
with health intact, but as important, with
lasting and satisfying memories;
and leave something of their philosophy
on growing old for posterity whether
for family or society.
I recently reviewed an article entitled,
“Leave Your Job, Not Your Life.” Th e writer
emphasizes, “Retirement is a fi rst step
toward understanding loneliness and the
pain that it can cause is real.” He suggests
several ways of how to tackle it.
Dr. Sheldon Ornstein is a
registered professional nurse
with a doctoral degree in
nursing organization. He
has specialized in the care
of older adults and has
published many articles on
the subject. He has done
post-graduate work in gerontology
and has taught
at several universities. In
2013, he was inducted into
the Nursing Hall of Fame at
Teachers College, Columbia
University.
Help yourself by helping others! i.e.
A sense of purpose can moderate loneliness.
Be click-smart! i.e. Contact friends that
are on-line but don’t linger forever. Th e
web is not a substitute for a healthy face
to face connection.
Befriend yourself! i.e. A sense of isolation
can be soft ened by focusing on
yourself. It is suggested that you begin an
autobiographical journal that can lessen
the loneliness.
To the reader: Th e last three points
listed have their ups and downs. I don’t
expect, nor am I encouraging you to
abide by them. Th ey are merely suggestions
that when faced with the discomfort
of loneliness you may want to
consider these ideas. In addition to the
above, the social constraints imposed by
the Coronavirus have precluded some of
these suggestions for social interactions.
Stay safe, stay healthy.
Sheldon Ornstein Ed.D, RN, LNHA
kids’ seasonal allergies is essential.
We spoke with Dr. Natasha Burgert,
a board-certifi ed pediatrician and a
child health advocate, who shared on
her expertise on how seasonal allergies
aff ect children.
Understanding seasonal allergies in
children
How do seasonal allergies occur?
Th e symptoms of seasonal allergies
occur when our healthy immune systems
start to identify relatively harmless
environmental triggers (like mold, pollen
and dog dander) as harmful invaders.
Developing this allergy reaction
depends on individualized risk factors,
such as family history, early exposure
to allergen triggers, being born during
allergy season and early use of antibiotics.
Interestingly, developing seasonal
allergies requires multiple seasons of
exposure. Th at is why infants are not
susceptible to seasonal allergies but may
develop symptoms as they age.
What are the tops signs you should
look for?
Obvious signs of seasonal allergies
include runny and congested nose, itching
and watering eyes, sneezing and
cough. More subtle signs include dark
circles under the eyes, increased fatigue,
inattention and sleeping problems.
Is there a specifi c age when they start
and or could end?
Th e distinct pattern of seasonal symptoms
can be seen as early as the age of
2 years. Seasonal allergies end when
exposure is decreased, or proper therapy
is initiated. For most, seasonal allergies
are a lifelong problem that are easily
managed with over-the-counter products.
How should you deal with them?
If you suspect that your child is suffering
from seasonal allergy symptoms,
there are safe and eff ective over-thecounter
products that you can try. Talk
to your child’s pediatrician about their
preferred products. If over-the-counter
products are not helpful, your child’s
pediatrician may consider a referral to
an allergist.
What if they go untreated?
Uncontrolled allergies in children
have been shown to lead to poor academic
performance, worsened athletic
performance, low self-esteem and
less quality sleep. During peak season,
you may also notice increased inattention
when doing schoolwork at home,
or your child may seem more fatigued
aft er outside play. If you are seeing any
of these symptoms, consider seasonal
allergies as a possible cause.
Are all children allergy relief over
the counter medicines the same? How
can you be sure you choose the right
one for your child?
What age can you give them medicine?
Nasal steroid sprays help congestion
and watery eyes but can take up to
a week to work. Some oral allergy treatments
can result in undesired drowsiness
or “zombie”-like behavior during
the waking hours. For fast and eff ective
control of intermittent seasonal allergy
symptoms, I recommend long-acting,
non-drowsy antihistamines like
Children’s Allegra. Th ese medications
are recommended for children over the
age of 2 years. Available at Target.
Dr. Natasha Burgert is a board-certifi
ed pediatrician at Pediatric Associates
in Overland Park, KS. Th e doctor is a
nationally recognized child health expert,
writer, and mom of two. Her ability
to blend parenting experience with evidence
based child health information has
also made her a sought-aft er speaker,
spokesperson, and infl uencer.
In addition to her clinical work, she
serves as a National Spokesperson for the
American Academy of Pediatrics and is
a regular contributor to NBC Learn, US
News and World Report, and her local
NPR affi liate.
Follow @kckidsdoc on Instagram and
Facebook and @DoctorNatasha on Twitter.
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