HEALTH
good for you/bad for you // RUBBING sometimes it's hard to tell. ALLERGIC EYES
Photo illustration bv Amv Johnson
Ragweed, pollen, mold — the list goes on and on. Allergy season in Kansas is a hellish time for some. But one of your most natural reactions to itchy eyes — rubbing them — will only make things worse.
Itchy, itchy eyes: It may be tempting to your rub eyes when stricken with seasonal allergies but the immediate relief could lead to permanent damage.
Rubbing your itchy eyes causes a far greater allergic reaction, says Lawrence optometrist Aaron Schwindt. Rubbing eyes causes a rupturing of mast cells in the eye, which creates more inflammation and more irritation.
In addition to causing more irritation, eve rubbing may cause
serious damage. Studies have indicated that continual eye rubbing may cause thinning of the cornea, which can lead to keratoconus. This disease produces a cone-shaped bulge in the middle of the eye after the cornea has thinned.
Schwindt says rubbing your eyes gently to remoisturize them isn't bad, it's just aggressively rubbing them that's bad for you. He also says to keep in mind that anything you might
pick up on your hands can get into your system. If you don't have any eye drops around to ease the itching, Swindt says to try putting a cool compress over your eyes to soothe them.
VERDICT: BAD FOR YOU
// AMY JOHNSON
Lemons can pick up germs from workers' unwashed, grimy hands or from unclean cutting boards. "They could have cut up some raw chicken then used the same board to slice the lemons," says Anne LaGrange Loving, professor of microbiology at Passaic County Community College in New Jersey and one of the scientists who conducted the study.
that's disgusting // RESTAURANT LEMONS
A 2007 study published in the Journal of Environmental Health found that 70 percent of lemons tested at 21 different restaurants in the New York City area contained microbial growth. Yikes!
When the waitress at your local restaurant serves you a refreshing iced tea or water, you may be tempted to give that lemon wedge garnishing your drink a squeeze. But it may actually be better to toss it in the trash.
Lemons can also pick up bacteria if they are left sitting for long periods of time. "Sometimes they slice the lemons at three in the afternoon to prepare for the dinner rush," Loving says. But that means hours of people walking by them, breathing on them and spilling things on them.
dude: gross.
That bright lemon slice on the rim of your glass may look innocent, but it could make you sick, loving says. A bacteria-ridden lemon
Photo illustration by Kirsten Hudson Scary stuff on your citrus: A recent study found microbial growth on 70 percent of lemons served with beverages.
wedge could cause an infection, especially if you have an open sore on your lips or gums.
You might want to reconsider what's lurking on the lemon before taking a sip.
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// KIRSTEN HUDSON