T.J. Samson | Destination Health | June 2019

You’re sneezing and coughing. And your eyes are watery, red and itchy. Then there’s that runny, stuffy nose. Maybe you remember having the same miserable symptoms last year when the seasons changed. What gives? You may have seasonal allergies—or what’s com- monly called hay fever. POLLEN COULD BE YOUR PROBLEM If you do have hay fever, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re allergic to hay.The culprit could just as easily be a tree.That’s because a variety of airborne pollens can set off allergy symptoms, depending on your location and the time of year. And one thing you’ll notice is that those symptoms arrive with the seasons. According to the Ameri- can Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, hay fever is often triggered by: ●  ● Tree pollen in early spring. ●  ● Grasses during late spring and early summer. ●  ● Weeds in late summer and fall. Pollen is usually harmless. But if you have hay fever, your immune system mis- takes pollen for an invader, triggering the release of chemicals (such as histamine) that lead to those uncomfort- able symptoms. FINDING RELIEF If you think you might have allergies, tell your doctor. You may need a skin test or blood test to learn what you’re al- lergic to.Then your doctor can recommend a treatment plan, which may include: Avoiding your allergy triggers. Try to spend less time outdoors when pollen counts are high. You can find pollen counts online or get them through apps on your smartphone. Taking over-the- counter or prescription medicines. Options in- clude nasal steroid sprays and antihistamine pills.These medications generally work best when you start them just before allergy season begins. What about allergy shots? Allergy shots (immu- notherapy) might be another option. It takes time, but the shots can build up your body’s resistance to specific hay fever triggers. Many people who get allergy shots see their symptoms improve or even disappear. Reaching for those tissues again? I t cou l d be hay fever 4 DESTINATION HEALTH Men: Let’s do this! I t ’s t ime to take cont ro l of your hea l th If you’re like a lot of men, you may pay less attention to your own health than to other important matters, like your job, home and family. But you deserve good health—and a good, long life. And isn’t it time you did something about that? To start to prioritize your health, you need a primary care provider (PCP), such as a family physician or an internist, that you trust. You might ask your friends for recommendations. Whether you feel more comfortable with a male or a female provider is totally up to you. Your PCP can give you regular checkups and help make sure you get the care you need, which may include: Health screenings. You may feel fine, and you may be healthy. Or you could have a silent health problem, like high blood pressure, and not even know it. Your PCP can use screening tests to detect some dis- eases before they cause symptoms, when they’re often easier to control or treat. For example, you may need to be screened for high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes or colon cancer. Vaccines. Are you due for a tetanus booster? A shin- gles shot? Do you get a flu vaccine every year? Getting recommended vaccinations can help you avoid painful and serious diseases. Advice for a healthy life. Your PCP can help with goals like eating right, exercising regularly, losing weight and quitting tobacco. OPEN UP Your provider is there to help—not judge. But he or she can’t do that unless you talk about sensitive topics that may be keeping you from a healthier life, such as: Your mental health. Do you feel sad, hopeless or disinterested in activities you once enjoyed? These can be signs of depression, which is a serious illness. Treatment helps most people with depression enjoy life again. Your drinking or smoking habits. You need to come clean if you drink alcohol or smoke tobacco or other sub- stances. Your PCP can discuss the risks with you. Your energy level or sex drive. If you’re tired a lot or your desire for sex has plummeted, there may be a rea- son, such as a low testosterone level, that can be treated. Sources: American Heart Association; Hormone Health Network; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Wellness Men are more likely than women to get skin cancer—including melanoma, the most dangerous kind. They are also more likely to die of melanoma than women are. Here’s why skin cancer strikes men harder. MEN’S SKIN REACTS DIFFER- ENTLY TO SUN THAN WOMEN’S. It’s more likely to be damaged by cancer-causing UV rays. MEN GET MORE SUN. They spend more time outside over their life- times than women. Plus, they’re more likely to work outdoors. MEN OFTEN SKIP SUNSCREEN. Only about 14 percent use it on their face and other exposed skin. Sources: American Academy of Dermatology; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention SLATHER ON SUNSCREEN. Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 on any exposed skin. Wear sunscreen even on cloudy days. REPEAT. Reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or sweating. COVER UP. For the best protection outside, wear long- sleeved shirts, pants and a wide-brimmed hat. If you wear baseball caps, don’t forget sunscreen on your ears and neck. SEEK SHADE. Head for it as much as possible in peak sun times— between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. SPEAK UP. If you work outdoors, ask about on-the-job sun protection. Skin cancer I t ’s a man th i ng How men can protect their skin