Panel Of Experts
Sidna Tulledge-Scheitel, md
Medical Director
Mayo Clinic Global Products and Services
The dynamics of the healthcare system are changing as patients are faced with a growing number of decisions tied to their healthcare. That’s why it is so important that patients be involved in their own health and wellness. They deserve full access to their medical records and medical information. They also need access to quality information about their health so when they see their healthcare provider they can come to the office and be fully engaged in the conversation
rather than just being presented with information. But without the right support available to them, the information
becomes overwhelming.
Mayo Clinic Health Manager gives patients the tools they need to become more informed consumers of health care and to take action that improves their health and wellness. It even helps them manage the health of their entire family. For instance, consider the teenager with asthma who is going off to college. I hear from parents all the time about how worried they are that their son or daughter won’t use their peak flow meter, won’t take their preventive medication. But with Mayo Clinic Health Manager, the child can upload health information online, including their peak-flow readings and mom and dad can access the information from home. So they can rest assured that their child is controlling their asthma well.
Jonathan Bernstein, md
Professor of Medicine
University of Cincinnati, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Immunology/Allergy Section.
Sinusitis is the general term that lay people use to refer to the sinus pressure they feel over their forehead and behind their eyes. They may also have increased postnasal drainage and congestion. In most cases, these symptoms are a complication of underlying chronic rhinitis, sometimes related to allergies, sometimes not. Unfortunately, there are limited treatment options for rhinitis and sinusitis. Antihistamines are relatively useless in non-allergic rhinitis, while decongestants don’t work as well after several days of use and can lead to rebound congestion.
We conducted a study using a nasal spray containing capsaicin, the compound derived from hot peppers. Capsaicin works by desensitizing neurons in the nasal passageways, preventing them from releasing chemicals that contribute to the symptoms of rhinitis. We randomly assigned 42 people with mixed rhinitis (allergic and non-allergic) to either the capsaicin spray or a placebo spray twice a day for two weeks. At the end of the study, those using the capsaicin spray had much less congestion, sinus pain and headache than those who received the placebo, with no rebound congestion, changes in smell or other negative effects.
Elizabeth Irvine, rn
Author of “Healthy Mother, Healthy Child:
Creating Whole Families From the Inside Out”
I don’t think people really understand how the air that surrounds them can affect their health. Indoor air “pollution”, is actually worse than outdoor air pollution, as indoor air still contains the same microscopic particulates from pollutants,
allergy triggers, etc. that get sucked deep into your lungs.
In my book, Healthy Mother, Healthy Child, one of my recommendations in allergy-proofing your home is a whole-house air filtration system. If choosing one room to focus your efforts on, chose the bedroom as we spend almost one-third of our life in. Create what I call an “allergy-free” bedroom. That means replacing carpets with wood floors, curtains and shades with blinds, and minimizing other fabrics such as dust ruffles and stuffed animals. Also, damp dust with a wet microfiber cloth, not a feather or even a microfiber duster. And use a protective allergy cover on mattress, wash bedclothes and linens in hot water—at least 160 degrees—to kill dust mites.
Finally, and this is a big one, keep pets out of your bedroom. In my research I discovered that 36 percent of Americans have dogs and 31 percent have cats. Their dander is a major allergy and asthma trigger, particularly cat dander because it’s so sticky.
For more information on healthy living elizabethirvine.com
