Newspapers / St. Andrews University Student … / Sept. 1, 2007, edition 1 / Page 4
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4 HEALTH AND WELLNESS ATTENTION: CALUN6 ALL ALLER6EV SUFFERS BV: MELODV KIRKPATRICK Another way to get help with allergic reactions would be to receive allergy shots. Al lergy shots are given on a schedule in order to have a long term effect. It may take three years before you see your best results, if you don’t see improvement within the first year, then your doctor may have to make some changes. You might need a bigger dosage or more treatments in a fewer amount of time. There are medications that help treat allergies and give you temjxirary relief. Antihis tamines are found in medications like Benadryl and Claritin. Histamines are released by your white blood cells when they are attacking germs in your body. That is what causes the itchy red eyes and the other symptoms because the hista mine binds to your blood vessels. The antihis tamines are taking to stop anymore histamines from being released. I am sick and tired of popping pills every day. 1 was thinking that stem cell research would open up the doors for a lot of medical underground secrets. Maybe stem cell research would began with allergies. Tune in next month for my next article. facultV and staff at THE HEALTH AND WELL NESS CENTER: WlNl QAY: EXT 5040 SUE QROOMS:EXT 6365 Allergies are a pain to deal with on a regular basis. The sneezing, the itchy eyes, the scratchy throat, and you wonder why is this happening. Our immune system is designed to protect us from illnesses such as colds, the flu, and other types of infections. The immune system consists of white blood cells that attack bacteria or other harmful substances. Its job is to rid your body of germs and keep you healthy. When you suflFer from allergies your white blood cells over reacts to substances that are not harmful. The over reactions is what causes the allergy symptoms. Milk, eggs and other dairy products can cause a majority of allergic reactions. Children that obtain allergies from dairy products can and usually outgrow their condition by the time they reach adult years. Most adults are aller gic to peanuts and tree nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and cashews. Allergies fh)m milk and other dairy products are more common in children than in adults. An animal’s hair can cause allergies no matter how long or short it may be because most mammalian pets produce skin flakes (dan der), saliva, urine and skin oils. The best thing to do is to identify THe sources of your allergy. A good way to figure out the causes would be to have an allergy skin test. This test would expose you to allergens and then your skin is checked for allei^ic reactions. The skin test will deter mine what is causing your symptoms. Some prescription medicines like Clari tin -D, Allegra - D and Zrytec - D are made up of decongestants. Decongestants work during an allergic reaction because it shrinks swollen nasal tissues and blood vessels to relieve the watery eyes, congestion and swelling. The best approach is to find a method that works best for you. My sinus starts whenever it wants. 1 know my best medication is Benadryl that re ally clears my sinus trouble but it makes me extremely tired. 1 wish they could come up with a cure to keep allergies away for good. CARMEN LENTZ:EXT 5036 Homesick - Who Me? So you’ve gotten unpacked and unloaded, and all those boxes of stuff that you accumulated during the months before coming to school now have a new home in your dorm room. But, perhaps you ask yourself, where is my sense of belonging, my connectedness to things safe and familiar? I think I left that at home! If you feel “homesick”, you are not alone. Many incoming students at campuses every where share similar feelings: missing family, friends, and the familiarity of your hometown; feeling overwhelmed, maybe having difficulty eating and sleeping. Upperclassmen remember when they were newcomers and experienced the discomfort of the unfamiliar themselves. The good news is that there are a number of things you can do to help yourself adjust and feel better. Here are the top ten most recom mended tips; 1) Learn your way around - everyone who finds himself or herself in a new environment feels lost and disoriented at first. Since all your fellow fi^shmen are new too, find someone and go exploring. Walk around campus, learn where things are, acquaint yourself with the names of buildings and where academic departments. FROM THE Well of a Wise Womaw HOMES SICK - Who me? CARMEN LENTZ. LPC, NCC. DCC The more you know about your surroundings, the sooner your feelings of being more at ease, and eventually at home, will begin. Soon, you’ll be directing folks to Ferrago and explaining what “The Wall” is to others! 2) Accept that things will be different, but different isn’t bad! No, this isn’t your old school, or hometown, or whatever, that’s true. Part of maturing is learning to be at ease in strange, unfamiliar circumstances, until they have a chance to become more comfortable and familiar. Frequently, that “differentness” be comes something to be celebrated if you hang in there! 3) Give yourself time - homesickness usu ally does tend to get better over time, but you have to be willing to give yourself that time and learn to tolerate some discomfort while you ad just to your new environment. Remind yourself that things will get better! A month or two is not an unusual amount of time to need to get used to a new place and to begin to settle in and feel a connection. 4) Get involved - one of the best antidotes to homesickness is to be involved with other people. Join a club, check out what’s happen ing on campus, pursue extracurricular activities, take part in dorm activities, connect with others! 5) Focus on what you are gaining - when you decided to come to St... Andrews, there was a reason. What did you hope to gain from the experience? Instead of thinking about the things you miss, remind yourself of what you will achieve by being here and all the new experi ences you will have to share with family and friends when you do return home. 6) Talk about your feelings - Homesick ness is natural and just about everyone feels it at least a little bit! If you are having trouble cop ing, talk to a fiiend, your RA, your roommate, or come over to the Counseling Center. Once you have a place to vent, chances are you’ll feel better. 7) Bring a piece of home with you - keep mementos of home close by and share them with your new acquaintances - pictures of home, friends and family, posters, music, what ever will help you transition and will help give the new people you’ll meet a sense of who you are and where you come from. 8) Plan a visit - if it is feasible, plan to invite your family and friends to visit you on campus. You can act as their tour guide, and help them to get to know your new world and the people in it. If it helps to go home for a
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