HealthPerspectiveCopyright 2013 The Valley News & The Herald-Journal

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May 2013

Allergytreatment options Are expired

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Is it a cold, or allergies?

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By TESS GRUBER NELSONStaff Writer

With similar symptoms like a stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and scratchy throat, it’s hard to determine if what you’ve got is the common cold, or seasonal allergies.

However, there are a few ways to tell the difference.

Colds tend to hit a person a little bit stronger in the beginning with fatigue, sore

throat, and a thicker form of mucus.With allergies, it starts more with watery,

irritated eyes, nasal congestion and an itchy throat.

With colds, a person will sometimes get a fever and feel achy, but that won’t happen with allergies. And when it comes to mu-cus, with allergies it should be clear, where-as with a cold, it’s yellowish in color. But the most important difference is that a cold doesn’t last longer than a couple weeks.

And if you still have symptoms after a two weeks, it might be a good idea to get an ap-pointment with your physician because it could be allergies, or something worse.

Generally speaking, colds are caused by hundreds of different viruses. When one of these viruses enter the human body, the immune system comes to the rescue and at-tacks it. It is the effects of the immune re-sponse that cause the classic symptoms of a cold. After a couple weeks usually, the im-

mune system should conquer the virus and you should stop having symptoms.

With allergies, your body mistakes a harmless substance, such as pollen or dan-der, for germs and attacks them, causing an overactive immune system. This causes your body to release chemicals, the same ones used to fight a cold, which are why the two are so similar when it comes to symp-toms.

Cold or seasonal allergies? The symptoms are very similar

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By KENT DINNEBEIRStaff Writer

Even though spring is commonly referred to as allergy season, men and women have a host of aller-gy treatment options to try.

Although there is no cure for allergies, some sufferers may be able to treat their symptoms with popular over-the-counter medica-tions while others may re-quire prescriptions. Since each type of medication works differently, allergy sufferers may find it benefi-cial to understand the differ-ent ways some of the most effective treatments work.

The most common treat-ments of allergies involves the use of antihistamines, decongestants or steroids. Before committing to any treatment, it’s best for a per-son to examine each option to determine which is the best fit for their situation.

When an allergy suffer is exposed to an allergen, cells within the body’s immune system release a substance called histamine, which then attaches to receptors in the blood vessels as well as additional receptors. As a result, the blood vessels enlarge and histamine’s at-

tachment to other receptors cause swelling, itching, changes in secretions and redness.

However, when an al-lergy sufferer takes an an-tihistamine, the medication blocks the histamine recep-tors, preventing the symp-toms in the process. Some

of the better-known over-the-counter antihistamines include Benadryl, Claritin and Zyrtec. Prescription antihistamines include Clar-inex and Livostin.

“Antihistamines are very popular for allergies be-cause they get to the symp-toms and help dry up the drainage that is causing the patient to be uncomfort-able,” Crystal Hopf, phar-macy director at Clarinda Regional Health Center, said.

Though antihistamines are effective, they can also cause drowsiness, Hopf said allergy sufferers should look for non-sedating an-tihistamines. “They allow

you to continue your daily activities without the side effect of becoming drowsy. Most people tolerate them really well and they are available over-the-counter,” she said.

Meanwhile, other suffer-ers may find better results with a combination medi-cation that offers both an antihistamine and a decon-gestant. Claritin-D is one of these prescription decon-gestants. Some of the other more recognizable decon-gestants include Visine eye drops, Sudafed tablets or liquid, and Zyrtec-D.

“Decongestants treat dif-ferent types of symptoms than antihistamines. They address the congestion and pressure sufferers experi-ence under their eyes and in their nose,” Hopf said.

When an individual is having an allergic reaction, the tissues in the nose swell as a result of contact with the allergen. This swelling results in fluid and mucous production. Swelling in the blood vessels of the eye also occurs, which causes the redness of the eyes many allergy sufferers experience during the spring.

Decongestants work by shrinking the swollen nasal tissues and blood vessels. “Unless you have high blood

pressure, a short course of decongestants is pretty safe. However, besides increas-ing blood pressure, they can cause excitability, dizziness, insomnia and restlessness,” Hopf said.

Finally, corticosteroids work by reducing inflam-mation and swelling. They can be highly effective in treating allergies, and work for seasonal and year-around allergies as well as skin allergies.

“Steroids are a first line treatment for allergies and have very few side effects if taken at the recommended dosage. They are also very effective for maintenance therapy,” Hopf said.

Steroids used to treat al-lergies are available in a variety of forms including nasal, inhaled, eye drops and oral. When prescribed a steroid to treat an allergy, it is important for men and women to continue to take the medication daily as di-rected, even if symptoms of the allergy have disap-peared. This can be as long as two weeks.

“Regardless of which treatment method you use, it is important to start taking the appropriate medication at the first signs of allergy symptoms,” Hopf said.

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Allergy sufferers find treatment options nothing to sneeze at

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Work Health Solutions

By CINDY EIVINS, MS, RD, LDClarinda Regional Health Center Dietitian

Dietary fiber is probably best known for its ability to prevent or relieve constipation. But foods containing fiber can provide oth-er health benefits as well, such as helping to maintain a healthy weight and lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Fi-

ber is mainly found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dried beans.

Some of the benefits of fi-ber include:

•Normalization of bowel movements and helps main-tain bowel health.

•Lowers cholesterol lev-els. Soluble fiber found in beans, oats, flax-seed and oat bran may help lower total blood cholesterol levels by LD cholesterol levels. Studies also have shown that fiber may have other heart-health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure and inflammation.

•Helps control blood sugar levels. In peo-ple with diabetes, fiber can slow the absorp-tion of sugar and help improve blood sugar

levels. •Aids in achieving healthy weight. High-

fiber foods generally require more chewing time, which gives your body time to regis-ter when you’re no longer hungry, so you’re less likely to overeat.

How much fiber do we need?According to the Institute of Medicine,

for adults 50 and younger, fiber should be 25-38gms per day. Slowly increase the amount of fiber you eat per day and drink plenty of fluids. A good goal would be at least 8 cups per day. Fluid helps your body process fiber without discomfort. Check the nutrition facts panel and try to choose prod-ucts with at least 4gm of dietary fiber per serving. Choose fruits and vegetables with peels or skins on, try whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, and bake with whole wheat flour as ways to increase fiber in your diet.

To learn more about proper nutrition and diet, contact Cindy Eivins at (712) 542-8323.

(Source material from: http://www.mayoclinic.com)

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16th Annual Golf Benefit

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Help Us Celebrate Our Sweet 16!

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The American Legion Country Club in Shenandoah is your place for spectacular golf! The immaculately manicured eighteen hole golf course continues to be a superb host for our four person mixed team scramble. Call a friend and join us on June 6th for the 16th Annual Shenandoah Healthcare Foundation Golf Benefit!

Registration will begin at 11:00 am with lunch and cold beverages following at 11:30 am. Golfers need to be in their carts and ready to play at 12:30 pm for the shot gun start. Fees include lunch, green fees, beverages and dinner. Individuals may golf for $100 and teams play for $400. A $1200 sponsorship (a $1440 value) includes lunch, dinner, bever-ages, golf carts, a foursome, green fees and your company banner prominently displayed throughout the day.

Proceeds from the benefit will go towards funding telemetry moni-tors for the hospital or to the 6th Annual Children’s Health Fair for the Shenandoah Medical Center. Your support of past benefits has allowed us to purchase life saving equipment and make many beneficial improve-ments in the SMC facilities. Golfers will have the opportunity to win a new car and three additional hole-in-one prizes! End your day with dinner and a live auction. Guests are welcome to join the fun!

We look forward to a fantastic day, complete with great golf, gourmet food catered by SMC Dietary Staff, and good fellowship.

This year marks the 16th year of Shenandoah Healthcare Foundation Golf Benefits. Over that time you have supported us and our many fundraising projects. Thanks to your generosity this benefit has been a huge success!

Why we need to eat more fiber

Eivins

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&Services & Helpful Information

To Place an AdvertisementCall 712-246-3097 or stop by the office at 617 W. Sheridan Avenue inShenandoah, Iowa. Hours are Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm. You can also email ads@valleynewstoday.com.Display Ads: We offer a full line of newspaper services including co-op advertising assistance, advertising programs, layout, copy and artservices. An Advertising Representative will assist you.Classified Ads: Sell products, offer services or place an announcement inthe classified section. Flyers & Inserts: Distribute your advertising flyer or insert.

Subscriptions & Customer ServiceCall 712-246-3097 or stop by the office at 617 W. Sheridan Avenue inShenandoah, Iowa. Hours are Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm.We are committed to quality service and we are ready to help you start con-venient home delivery, schedule vacation starts and stops or resolve billingor delivery concerns. THE VALLEY NEWS is published twice weekly onWednesdays and Saturdays, 104 times a year. Annual subscriptions are$52.50 per year for carrier-delivered home delivery where available; $57.75per year for motor delivery where available; and $63 per year for mail delivery anywhere in the continental United States. College students: $31.50 per year anywhere in the continental United States. Watch for frequent sales flyers to save money on your new subscription or renewal!

Buying a Back Issue or Photo ReprintCall 712-246-3097 or stop by the office at 617 W. Sheridan Avenue inShenandoah, Iowa. Hours are Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm. The current issues of The Valley News, The Essex Independent and TheWeekly Times are available in our lobby. Back issues can be purchased for the same price as the current issues. $1.00 for The Valley News, 50¢ for The Essex Independent and no charge for The Weekly Times shopper. Photo reprints may be purchased online at www.valleynewstoday.com.

CorrectionsCall 712-246-3097 or stop by the office at 617 W. Sheridan Avenue inShenandoah, Iowa. Hours are Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm.You can also email editorial@valleynewstoday.com.Please contact us immediately if you see an error in a news story.

ObituariesCall 712-246-3097 or stop by the office at 617 W. Sheridan Avenue inShenandoah, Iowa. Hours are Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm.You can also email obits@valleynewstoday.com. Submit an obituary. Include a favorite photo if you wish. There is no chargefor death notices and a $50 charge for obituaries.

Engagement, Wedding & Birthday AnnouncementsCall 712-246-3097 or stop by the office at 617 W. Sheridan Avenue inShenandoah, Iowa. Hours are Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm. You can also email ads@valleynewstoday.com.Photographs submitted should be clear, sharp prints that will scan well forquality results and can be returned if requested. Photos can also be emailed. There is no charge in the Valley News and a $35 charge for a 2x5 display adin the Weekly Times.

Newspaper in Education (NIE)Call 712-246-3097 or stop by the office at 617 W. Sheridan Avenue inShenandoah, Iowa. Hours are Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm. NIE provides teachers and classrooms with newspapers as a timely textbook,as well as workshops, classroom presentations and printed material to usewith the newspaper.

Opinions & ViewpointsCall 712-246-3097 or stop by the office at 617 W. Sheridan Avenue inShenandoah, Iowa. Hours are Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm. You can also email editorial@valleynewstoday.com.1. All Letters to the Editor must have a name, address and telephonenumber to be used as verification purposes only. No anonymous letters will be printed. The submitter’s name and the town will beused in print. 2. There is a 300-word limit for all Letters to the Editor. Exceptionsmay be made, however. 3. The Valley News reserves the right to edit all letters and to rejectany and all letters and advertisements.

Submitting Legal NoticesCall 712-246-3097 or stop by the office at 617 W. Sheridan Avenue inShenandoah, Iowa. Hours are Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm. You can also email legals@valleynewstoday.com.Legal notices submitted will be published in the classified section. They maybe emailed, mailed in or brought to the office.

Submitting Comments or Story IdeasCall 712-246-3097 or stop by the office at 617 W. Sheridan Avenue inShenandoah, Iowa. Hours are Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm. The Valley News welcomes information about news events or personsinvolved in newsworthy activities. Share the news of your community,neighborhood, school or church. Tell us about the people who make theseplaces special. Please call the number above or email the department relatedto your story. Photos welcome.

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In Home CareWe conduct a full assessment of your needs. We offer:

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A CRHC Staff Report

Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) is a powerful drug that can save your life. These drugs prevent blood clots by thinning your blood. Coumadin/warfarin patients of Clarinda Regional Health Center (CRHC) now have the benefit of a new “Coumadin Clinic” intended to regularly monitor, manage, and if needed, adjust your Coumadin dosage should their international normalized ratio (INR) results fall out of the normal range.

An INR test is used to determine how quickly your blood forms a clot, compared with normal clot-ting time. CRHC’s walk-in nurse and in-house pharmacist oversee this clinic and CRHC’s pharma-cist will adjust your dosage should results fall out of an acceptable range.

This level of care is intended to standardize care for Coumadin/warfarin patients and provide im-mediate results upon taking an INR test.

If you take anti-coagulant medication, it is recommended you have your blood monitored via an INR test at least monthly, or as directed by your healthcare provider. Monitoring is neces-sary because like all drugs, anti-coagulation medications can have side effects. Not monitoring your blood levels can put you at risk.

According to the Mayo Clinic, here are some things to know about Coumadin/warfarin? Side effects needing immediate medi-cal attention include: severe bleeding, black stool or bleed-ing from the rectum, skin condi-tions such as hives, a rash or itch-ing, swelling of the face, throat, mouth, legs, feet or hands, bruis-ing that comes about without an

injury you remember, chest pain or pressure, fever or flu-like symp-toms, joint or muscle aches, diar-rhea, or numbness or tingling in any part of your body. Less seri-ous side effects to tell your doctor about include: gas, feeling cold, fatigue, pale skin, changes in the way foods taste, and hair loss.

To reduce your risk of side ef-fects you should always notify your doctor of other medications or supplements you are taking. Some medications and supple-ments have dangerous interac-tions. If having a medical or den-tal procedure, make sure to tell your provider or dentist you take Coumadin/warfarin. Even in the case of minor procedures or dental cleanings.

You should avoid situations that could lead to possible injury such as contact sports or activities that could result in a head injury. If receiving a prescription from someone other than your primary provider, please let them know you are taking warfarin. In addi-

tion, ask your regular provider if you need additional INR testing to make sure your blood clotting hasn’t been affected by the new medication(s).

The Mayo Clinic also states some foods and drinks can interact with warfarin. Eating foods high in vitamin K, like soybean and canola oils, spinach, or broccoli can affect how your blood clots.

Garlic and black licorice too. Regularly eating cranberries or drinking cranberry juice can in-crease your risk of bleeding. And as is the case with most medica-tions, the consumption of alcohol can greatly affect the way warfa-rin works, increasing your risk of bleeding when more than the oc-casional drink is consumed.

Clarinda Regional Health Cen-ter’s Coumadin Clinic sees pa-tients for INR testing Monday’s and Wednesday’s.

To learn more you can contact CRHC’s pharmacist Crystal Hopf at (712) 542-2176 or go online at www.clarindahealth.com.

It’s important to monitor your coumadin/Warfarin

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A Step in the Right Direction

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By TOM SCHMADEKE, P.A.Physician Assistant

Family PracticeClarinda Regional

Health CenterVillisca Family Health Center

My background prior to becoming a PA was that of a teacher, athletic trainer, and a stint as a personal trainer. In addressing wellness and exercise, I would like to ad-

dress our general approach. Far too often, we ap-

proach exercise and well-ness with an ‘All or noth-ing’ mentality. This may be human nature in many in-stances, but it does not lead itself inherently to success when starting an exercise or general wellness program. The classic example of the ‘All or Nothing’ approach is

the New Year’s Resolution. As most of you are likely a w a r e , this is w h e r e individu-als will d e d i c a t e

themselves to a new and improved lifestyle, encom-

passing a utopia of daily exercise and healthy dietary intake. These individuals are some of the most moti-vated exercise enthusiast I have ever come in contact with, and I have spent sev-eral years working with pro-fessional athletes from most sports in my past mind you.

Unfortunately, and invari-ably, these super motivated high energy folks start to lose their enthusiasm after 3-5 days. Then, they alto-gether drop out from their resolutions when they find that exercise can be really hard, restrictive diets are torture, and they have not lost thirty pounds during the 2-4 weeks they feel like they have killed themselves

for. Exercise and wellness are

not “All or nothing” con-cepts. I have all too often fell prey to this mentality as well. I love salt and would rather watch a good movie or read a good book than pound out a few miles on the treadmill. I have found that if I have not exercised for one week, that it is much easier to not exercise at all the next. We need to learn that any and all exercise we can get in counts and in fact helps. Whether it is park-ing the car farther out in the parking lot or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, it all adds up.

With our dietary intake, it may mean grabbing an

occasional apple instead of a candy bar, and not doing this everyday mind you. If you try to completely elimi-nate a food from your diet that you truly enjoy, you will find that your diet is anything but a joy. “It all adds up” should be our new motto. Remember, the in-dividual taking baby steps will get much further down the road than the sprinter at the end of the day.

Tom Schmadeke sees pa-tients at Clarinda Regional Health Center’s medical clinic and the Villisca Fam-ily Health Center. To make an appointment with Tom, call (712) 542-8330 or go online at www.clarinda-health.com.

“It All Adds Up…” Practical Advice for Taking Care of Yourself

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By JOHN VAN NOSTRANDExecutive Editor

It is 2 a.m. and that cough and stuffy nose you have been battling is still keeping you up. You reach for the nighttime cold re-lief medicine only to find it expired a few months ago. If you take a dose to ease your symptoms, will you be putting yourself at risk?

This situation is a relatively common occurrence. Many medicine cabinets are stocked with over-the-counter drugs as well as prescription medications that may be past their expiration dates. It is a good idea to routinely discard expired medicines, but if you happen to take a drug that has passed its expiration date, you will most likely suffer no ill effects.

According to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, the expiration date on a medicine is not the dates when a drug becomes hazardous. Rather, it marks the period of time after which a drug company can no longer guarantee the efficacy of the medication. Since 1979, drug manufactur-ers selling medications in the United States have been required by the Food and Drug Administration to stamp an expiration date on their products. This is the date until which the manufacturer can still guarantee full potency of the drug.

Expiration dates also may be a market-ing ploy. Francis Flaherty, a retired FDA pharmacist, has said drug manufacturers put expiration dates on products for marketing purposes rather than scientific reasons. It doesn’t make financial sense to a company to have products on the shelves for years. Therefore, most drug manufacturers will not do long-term testing on products to confirm if they will be effective 10 to 15 years after

manufacture.The U.S. military has conducted their

own studies with the help of the FDA. FDA researchers tested more than 100 over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Around 90 percent were proven to still be effective long past the expiration date -- some for more than 10 years. Drugs that are stored in cool, dark places have a better chance of lasting because the fillers used in the product will not separate or start to break down as they might in a warm, humid environment. Stor-ing medicines in the refrigerator can pro-long their shelf life.

Although a pharmacist cannot legally ad-vise consumers to use medication past an expiration date, most over-the-counter pain relievers and drugs in pill form should still be fine. Certain liquid antibiotics and drugs made up of organic materials can expire faster than others. For those who still want to err on the safe side, routinely clean out medications from cabinets once they expire. However, if an expired medication is taken by mistake, there’s little need to worry about potentially adverse effects.

Hy-Vee stores in Clarinda and Shenan-doah accept expired medications.

According to company policy, the stores must follow certain guidelines.

1. We can accept any over-the-counter or non-controlled/narcotic prescriptions in their original packagings.

2. Liquid medications (4 ounces or less) should be wrapped in a paper towel and be placed in a leak-proof bag.

3. Patient’s privacy will be protected and the medications properly destroyed.

4. Controlled medications need to be brought to a DEA-sanctioned drop-off where law enforcement is present.

Are expiredmedications still safe?

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