Fitness in a Time of Mold and Pollen

Some asthmatics react to swimming, for instance: Mold or water-borne pollen brushes the nose, which is being cooled by the water, and boom.

When the person is allergic to pollen, we call that seasonal allergic rhinitis, otherwise known as hay fever. When the allergen is dust, mold.

Okay, so you're buying tissues in bulk these days. You're coughing and sneezing, cursing the pollen count and -- maybe worst of all, if you're a committed jogger -- having your usual hour's run come to a wheezing halt after 20 minutes.

Ah, spring in Washington. (Our motto: "Even if you never had allergies before, you'll have 'em here." Comes in a close second to "it's the humidity" in local folklore.)

Many adults grew up when only those really dire cases of choking were recognized as asthma, and our symptoms were brushed off as "sensitivities" or "sinus problems." But asthma is the most commonly undiagnosed condition in the country, according to Washington immunologist Henry Fishman, and it kills 3,500 to 5,000 Americans every year. In fact, you may have both allergies and asthma: Fishman says that 80 percent of asthmatics have allergies, and 20 percent of those diagnosed with allergies have asthma as well. And since asthma can be progressive, the season of the AQI (air quality index, for the uninitiated) should signal that it's time to consult an expert.

But we should encourage asthmatics and allergy sufferers to exercise, once the doctor gives the okay. "It's good for the brain, good for the heart, it's good for the bones and good for the soul."

For springtime exercisers, it's particularly important to know your enemy. Fishman, who has consulted on numerous radio, TV and Web site programs, says an asthma attack begins when the trigger allergen is breathed in or when the nasal passages are cooled or dried out. So while it seems a no-brainer to shift to indoor exercise during allergy season, it's not that simple. Some asthmatics react to swimming, for instance: Mold or water-borne pollen brushes the nose, which is being cooled by the water, and boom, asthma has you spluttering.(Parents, you'll want to pay double attention: Asthma is the most common chronic illness in children, but many teens become asymptomatic. Their asthma has not disappeared; it has just gone underground and may reappear later. So talk to your child's coach about any coughing or sluggishness; better yet, take the kids to a doctor before signing them up.)

Regardless, listen to your body when you exercise. If the pollen is only an annoyance, that's one thing. If you feel faint or have trouble working out, cease and desist. "It is possible to run through an asthma episode," Fishman says, "but it's a terrible idea. Macho and asthma don't mix." Six-time Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee would agree; she ignored her diagnosis for 10 years until a near-fatal attack in 1993.

Take medication 30 minutes before a workout, to give it time to get into your system. Wear a mask or bandanna. Head out early -- around 5 or 6 a.m. (before sunlight activates tree and flower pollen) -- or late (after it has closed down). Run after rain, which washes pollen out of the air, or even through it.

Sourece: Medical Health Care Information

Heart disease: It's not just for men

Heart disease may kill more women than cancer.Women may experience shortness of breath, exhaustion, or nausea of a heart attack.A healthy diet and lifestyle has proved effective to prevent heart diseas.

For years, doctors have been fighting the perception that heart disease is a mainly male affliction, but in fact more than three-quarters of American women will get heart disease in their lifetime. Heart disease may kill more women than cancer.

Most women aren't aware of the risk they face and even their doctors are only just beginning to realize there are critical differences between men's and women's heart health.

According to an American Heart Association study, initially done in 1997, that found tnly 30 percent of women were aware that heart disease and stroke were their greatest health threats.

Part of the reason heart disease is so widespread among women is a notable lack of research and understanding among doctors of how the disease shows up in women, and how it should be treated.

The most common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. But warning signs also include pain or discomfort elsewhere in the upper body, including the arms, back, neck or stomach. Women in particular may experience shortness of breath, exhaustion, nausea or vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

In February, the American Heart Association released updated guidelines for preventing and treating cardiovascular disease in women. In the guidelines, women are encouraged to ask their doctors about daily aspirin use and aggressively make lifestyle changes that could ease the long-term risk for heart disease and stroke, such as losing weight, exercising regularly and quitting smoking.

Some people are smart enough to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle to prevent heart disease and such an approach has proved effective. For instance, a restrictive diet such as Ornish diet can help stop or even reverse progression of heart disease in 99 percent of men and women.

Whether you choose drugs or a healthy lifestyle to prevent heart disease, you need to know that you should not wait for heart disease to develop and then deal with it.

Article Source: Medical Health Care Information