BETTER HEALTH
BY MARESSA BROWN
p e r c e n t a g e
o f a l l l u n g
c a n c e r d e a t h s
c a u s e d b y
r a d o n
L o n g t i m e
n o
s e e
Y o u
c a n
read
a p h o n e b o o k fro m
a cro ss
th e
ro o m ,
so y o u r v isio n
is
fin e .
..rig h t?
T o u g h to
say. A n a tio n w id e
s u rv e y c o n d u c te d b y th e
N a tio n a l
E ye
In stitu te
(N E I)
fo u n d
th a t
m o r e t h a n
1
o u t
o f
4
a d u l t s
h a v e
n o t h a d
t h e i r e y e s
c h e c k e d w i t h i n t h e
p a s t
t w o y e a r s .
S k ip p in g e y e
e x a m s
in cre a se s
th e
lik e lih o o d
th a t
su b tle
ea rly c h a n g e s
c a u se d b y g la u co m a ,
m a c u la r d e g e n era tio n ,
a n d
o th e r
v is io n d iso rd e rs w ill g o
u n d e te c te d ,
says
N E I
s p o k e s p e rso n
R ach el
B ish o p ,
M .D .
H er ad vice:
E v en
if y o u
d o n ’t w e a r g la sses,
g et
a
co m p re h e n siv e
e x a m
(one
th a t
in clu d e s
p u p il
d ila tio n )
a n d
re tu rn
fo r fo llo w -u p s
as y o u r ey e
d o c to r se e s fit.
C l e a r
t h e
a i r
Pop quiz: What causes an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year in the United
States? Hint: It isn’t cigarette smoke. The correct answer is radon, an odorless radioactive
gas that seeps into homes from the earth. Now the Environmental Protection Agency
is reporting that 1 out of 15 homes across the nation has indoor radon levels that
warrant action, defined as 4 or more picocuries per liter of air. Even if you had your
home tested when you moved in, radon levels can fluctuate over time. So consider
retesting now and again every few years— test kits cost about $30 at home improvement
stores. If your home’s level is high, a radon service contractor can pinpoint the source and
install a mitigation system. Granted, this service doesn't come cheap (about $600 and
up), but the investment will pay off— for your health
a n d
your home's resale value.
Lynn Shuster, M.D.
As director of the Office of Women’s
Health at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,
Minnesota, Dr. Shuster is at the leading
edge of women-specific medicine.
S n i f f l e
s t o p p e r s
Q : It seem s th a t e v e ry y e a r a n ew a lle rg y m ed icin e h its d ru g sto re
shelves. H o w can I tell w h ich is b e st fo r m y season al sym ptom s?
A : It’s true— drugstores are filled with products that temporarily relieve allergy
symptoms. You can pick from pills, nasal sprays, topical skin creams, and eyedrops.
Most work by blocking the action of histamine, the immune chemical at the root of
allergic reactions. Some are effective for just a few hours, while others last up to 24.
So how to choose? I advise looking for a medication that targets your symptoms
as directly as possible, which helps ensure you take only the amount and type of
medication you need. For example, if itchy eyes are your only complaint, consider
antihistamine drops—you might not require a head-to-toe pill that eases the full
spectrum of symptoms. On the other hand, if multiple allergy symptoms are keeping
you awake at night, a short-acting, sedating antihistamine pill might be a smart idea.
One other tip: Talk to your doctor about ways to minimize your exposure to allergens.
For example, if you’re sensitive to pollen, it might help to wash your hands after petting
the family dog— animals easily pick up spores when romping outdoors.
H a v e a q u e s t io n a b o u t h o w to im p r o v e y o u r h e a lt h ? E -m ail u s a t
BHGfeciturestcdmeredith.com.
W e’ll s e le c t on e q u estio n ev ery issu e and ask o u r h e a lth ad v iso ry p an el to a n sw e r it.
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B E T T E R H O M E S A N D G A R D E N S |
M A Y
2011
|
B H G . C O M
PHOTO (EYE CHART): iSTOCK
