Health Tips: Avoiding Allergies’ Sting

By LIDIA WASOWICZ

Out with the ouch It’s nearly summertime, and living with insect-bite allergies is anything but easy. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology cautions that as the warmer weather brings out the bugs, people with an allergy to biting insects should take extra care to avoid getting stung. An estimated 5 percent of U.S. residents are so sensitive, they could suffer a potentially life-threatening reaction to a bug bite, the experts said. Academy member Dr. Clifford Tepper listed symptoms of anaphylaxis, as this severe reaction is termed in scientific parlance, as:

— Itching;

— Hives on parts of the body away from the site of the sting;

— Swelling of the throat and/or tongue;

— Breathing difficulty;

— Dizziness;

— Stomach cramps;

— Nausea; and

— Diarrhea.

Because most insect allergy sufferers are not aware of their predisposition until after it is too late, it is important to know the potential enemy, Tepper advised. The most common stinging insects in the United States include:

— Yellow jackets (black with yellow markings, found in various climates);

— Honeybees (round, fuzzy body with dark brown and yellow markings);

— Paper wasps (long, slender, black, brown or red bodies with yellow markings);

— Hornets (black or brown with white, orange or yellow markings; larger than yellow jackets); and

— Fire ants (reddish-brown, residing in large mounds in mostly warmer climates).

Avoiding the sting Allergists recommend a number of steps for avoiding the potentially deadly sting of an insect. The list, compiled by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, includes:

— Avoid areas where stinging insects congregate because you’re likely to get stung if you encroach on their territory;

— Stay calm, quiet and slow as you back away from an insect;

— Do not swat at insects;

— Leave brightly colored attire and perfume at home to minimize attracting flying pests;

— When picnicking or barbecuing, cover all food and beverages until ready for consumption;

— Take extra care when cooking, eating or drinking sweet libations outdoors; and

— Avoid loosely fitting garments that could trap a flying insect.

If you think you’re allergic to insect bites, get a diagnosis from an allergist/immunologist who might recommend allergy shots, which take effect within a few months.

The academy advises patients to see an allergy specialist when they:

— Suffer reactions after being stung so the specific allergen can be identified and immunotherapy considered and, perhaps, prescribed;

— Have systemic reactions, possibly due to insect bites, for an accurate diagnosis;

— Experience anaphylaxis, or an allergic reaction, from an unknown cause; and

— Suffer allergic reactions to food, drugs or insect stings.

Marriage as mood lifter Research suggests marriage can offer particular benefits to the depressed. Sociologists Adrienne Frech and Kristi Williams from Ohio State University in Columbus report in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior that even though the quality of their marriage may be lower than that of psychologically healthy spouses, depressed husbands and wives stand to gain greater mental-health benefits from their marital union. Not surprisingly, the researchers conjectured, marriage provides the type of companionship usually lacking in the lives of singles suffering from depression. The five-year survey of 3,066 never-married, divorced or widowed men and women under age 55 showed all participants who wed within the study period scored lower on depression tests than those who did not take the trip down the aisle. In contrast, men and women who were not depressed experienced lesser changes in their psychological well-being after tying the knot, the researchers said. While the depressed spouses reported less marital bliss and more conflict than those who did not suffer severe sadness, they nevertheless said marriage lifted their sagging spirits. The findings are in keeping with previous study results that suggest depressed people gain more benefits from stable social support than do their non-depressed counterparts, Frech said.

Hearing health maintenance Nearly 70 percent of older Americans express concern about losing their hearing, yet only 30 percent view hearing tests as important, a survey shows. The study of 500 men and women, ages 50 to 70, points to the need for an education campaign to help people manage their hearing health, said Dr. Mike Valente, chief audiologist at Washington University in St. Louis. Some 28 million Americans are hearing-impaired, and that number is steadily rising with the aging of the baby boomers, yet only 11.5 percent of those surveyed had a hearing test in the previous year, noted the authors of the Healthy Hearing study conducted for Energizer, which markets hearing-aid batteries. The survey also found 36.8 percent view hearing aids as uncomfortable and nearly 40 percent think wearing a hearing aid would make them feel old.

The results show that these common myths continue to play a large role in hindering the quality of life that people with hearing loss experience on a daily basis, Valente said in a statement. It’s critical for people to not only receive the proper information, but to learn about the new hearing technology available.

— (e-mail: lwasowicz@upi.com)