Active Living

Sneezin' And Wheezin'

With the pollens a flyin, many in Michigan suffer
during the allergy and hay-fever season.

RUTHAN BRODSKY

Special to the Jewish News

F

difficulties, allergies can be mild or can
make someone feel miserable.
Sometimes they are life-threatening.
Benadryl, an asthma inhaler, a kit
which contains an anecdote for a bee
sting, adrenaline, and an antihistamine
are always with Allen Glasser in a small
leather bag.
"I had asthma and hay fever, which
severely restricted my activities as a
youngster," says Glasser of Farmington
Hills. "I don't, have hay fever, but I have
food allergies, and I do break out in
cases of severe hives and rashes.
"The problem is no one really knows
what it is that I'm allergic to — some-
thing in the environment. What's really
scary is how severe the attacks can be
and how quickly they can happen.
"The last one took place while I was
on a two-mile run and I wasn't carrying
my bag with me. That was frightening,"
he says. "We're building a new home,
and you can bet I'm putting in the best
air filter there is on the market." Allergy

ran Wigod thought she had
out-grown the sneezing,
wheezing and dripping nose
. that engulfs her when trees
and grasses are in full bloom and weed
pollens are ubiquitous.
As a child, she was given two shots a
week for eight years to build up immu-
nities to all that grows in Michigan.
"The shots worked," said Wigod of
West Bloomfield. "I had 25 years with-
out any allergenic symptoms."
Several years ago, Wigod had several
serious sinus infections. Within a short
period, they became more frequent.
"I was back to an allergist," says
Wigod. "The sinus infections were trig-
gered by allergies, only this time it was
a mold allergy. For the past two years, I
see my allergist and get a shot every two
weeks. I also use a prescription nasal
spray when I'm congested. Often the
sinus infection
becomes more pene-
trating and I'm on
antibiotics.
"I'm learning to live
• Keep windows
with my allergies, and
closed at home and in
I'm getting better at
your CA r
avoiding the situations
• Use air conditioning
which expose me to
and a dehumidifier
the allergies," she says,
"but it's impossible to
• Shower or
eliminate them com-
bathe and
pletely. My goal,
change
eventually, is to
clothes
figure out
after out-
how to live
door
without all
activities
these medica-
tions."
• Minimize
An estimated
activities when
40 million
pollen counts are
Americans suffer from
high. Peak pollen
allergies. Whether it's a
times are usually
runny nose, watery
between 2 - 4 p.m.
eyes, sneezing, skin
rashes or breathing

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Barbara Katz has
learned to live
with her allergies.

shots were also a part of Allen Menuck's
childhood. "I took them for eight years
and then for the next 40 years nothing
bothered me.
"About the time I turned 60, I devel-
oped serious sinus problems," he says.
"I was frequently sick, on and off
antibiotics and diagnosed with blocked
sinuses and severe sinus infections
which were precipitated by allergies. I
had surgery on my sinuses and, as a
result, my allergic reactions and sinus
infections are very mild in comparison."
Barbara Katz of West Bloomfield is
more fortunate. "I have mild allergies
and an occasional sinus infection but
seldom something that over-the-
counter medications can't relieve. I just
learn to live with them.
"My husband, Phil, on the other
hand, never did grow out of his aller-
gies," she says. "This spring, the pollens
have been tough for him. Phil has a
very low voice, but we all know he's suf-
fering from allergies when his voice gets
even lower and very
Spy"
Allergic reactions
result when, for rea-
sons not altogether
understood, the
immune system rec-
ognizes and reacts to
otherwise harmless
substances ca lled
allergens.
Judy Tarnow of
West Bloomfield
doesn't like to take
medications because
of the side effects. "I
took allergy shots for
eight years and
stopped, Now I'm
allergic to molds.
When they really
bother me," she says,
"I take an ibuprofen
and a nasal spray that
says it's safe for preg-
SNEEZINe on page A18

