6B 6A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN NEWS FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2005 Chic out yester HEALTH Spring brings pollen, sniffles and sneezes Less outdoor activity best for fewer reactions BY TY BEAVER tbeaver@kansan.com KANSAN STAFF WRITER Spring is here. Everything is green and growing, and the weather is starting to warm up. But for those with seasonal allergies, enjoyning spring is hard when living in a haze of sneezing, coughing and congestion. For one student, allergy symptoms haven't been too bad. Kyle Hlavacek, Overland Park senior, said his allergies were less intense this year. But for Shannon Stewart, Lee's Summit, Mo., junior, this year topped all the rest. Her allergies gave her bronchitis and two eve infections, all within a week. Seasonal allergies are the result of the immune system reacting to pollen, Patricia Denning, Watkins Memorial Health Center chief of staff, said. When the body encounters pollen, it produces an antibody and histamine. These cause side effects such as swelling, sinus congestion and red and itchy eyes, she said. "They just seem to get worse every year," she said. While most people have mild seasonal allergies, they can lead to more serious problems, such as eye and sinus infections. People with asthma are also at risk because allergies can trigger breathing problems or an asthma attack. Denning said. How to relieve allergies is a question people ask every year as they break out the tissues. A reduction in outdoor activity is the best preventive measure any student could take, especially on windy days, Denning said. Those with eye problems can wear sunglasses to keep pollen out of their eyes. An air conditioner can help filter the air, even if only the fan is on. Students should check the filter regularly to ensure the best results, she said. Students should also keep doors and windows shut. "I know it feels good to feel the breeze, but you're just letting pollen in," Denning said. Beyond prevention, there are prescription and over-the-counter drugs available to provide relief to students. Prescription drugs can be most effective, but can cost between $1 to $1.50 per day per服. Only students with the most severe problems should receive allergy shots. These are available by prescription from an allergen+. Hlavacek said he was lucky this year. His allergies have been less intense this year for some reason but he didn't know why. Because his allergies aren't bothering him, Havacek said he wouldn't stop going outside and would just rely on his medication. But at Stewart's apartment the air conditioner is running. OVER THE COUNTER OPTIONS — Edited by Lisa Coble-Krings Below is a list antihistamines, or over-the-counter drugs students can pick up at any pharmacy. They can also cause drowsiness, so know that they may affect studying or work. Conventional medicine not only option for allergy sufferers Dimetapp BY TY BEAVER tbeaver@kansan.com KANSAN STAFF WRITER Source: National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine ♦ Tavist ♦ Benadryl Claritin In the fight against seasonal allergies, students may be opposed to using conventional medications to relieve their allergies. For those students, there might be an alternative they can use to stifle their sniffles. Honey has been used as a remedy for various problems for centuries, John Brown, professor of molecular biosciences, said. In recent years, studies have shown that consuming locally produced honey may help reduce seasonal allergies because honey contains local pollen, which people have the most exposure to. "It's not just an old wives' tale." he said. The body doesn't usually develop an immune response to things ingested, which is called an oral tolerance, Brown said. The theory is that if one consumes locally made honey, the body will adjust to the pollen it was made from and lessen the chance of allergic reaction. Unfortunately, the studies aren't definitive, and there may be other factors that make honey an inappropriate remedy. Students may have a food allergy and be unable to consume honey. Honey contains the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which can poison children one year old and younger because their intestines allow the bacteria to thrive. Brown also warned that students with children should not give honey to them. These are exceptions, however. Brown said students should still investigate the possibility by talking to an allergist. Besides honey, there are other natural alternatives students can use to relieve their allergies. Tyra Kalman, Community Mercantile wellness manager, said. middleman and ingest straight pollen. Since allergy season began, sales of bee pollen have gone up, she said. Other natural alternatives include elderberry juice, pleurisy root and nettle, Kalman said. Students can skip the bee While Kalman sad her allergies were too severe to be treated just with natural remedies, she said they are healthier. "Anything we can do to get off the pharmaceuticals is good." Kalman said. Conventional medicine does have its place, but she said that if people were able to use an alternative, they should do so. — Edited by Lisa Coble-Krings 10-year-old charged in father's murder HUMBOLDT — When Carolyn Moore answered the light knock on her front door Sunday night, she was greeted by a boy wearing only burgundy underwear and holding a shotgun. "There stood this poor, "The child said, 'I done something really bad,'" Carolyn Moore said. scared half-naked little boy saying 'Help me, help me, Hide me. They're after me,'" Moore, the wife of former Allen County Sheriff Ron Moore, said. "I could see the fear in his eye. He said, 'They're going to get me and spank me hard.'" "And I said, 'What did you do?' "He said, 'I shot my dad.'" On Wednesday, Allen County Attorney Jerry B. Hathaway told reporters that the 10-year-old boy, whose name hasn't been released, was charged with first-degree murder in the shotgun slaying of his father, Robert D. Hamlin, 43. A closed juvenile court hearing was conducted in the county seat of lola, eight miles north of Humboldt. Hathaway couldn't say if additional charges were filed, if prosecutors would try to move the case or if the child still was in custody. State law allows juvenile offenders to be held until age 23. The Associated Press Kansas town will bottle well water LONGFORD — For years people have talked about the quality water from this small town in central Kansas, calling it good enough to bottle. Now they're getting ready to share the wealth The two wells three-quarters of a mile west of this Clay county community were drilled into the Kiowa aquifer in the 1930s. Residents have bragged about their water as being the best in the state, often with suggestions to bottle and sell it The Longford Water Co. is about to start selling the local water as "Kiowata" in stores within a 50 mile radius. The Associated Press Same As It Never Was... 846-F Illinois 749-5067 BEDS • DESKS CHEST OF DRAWERS BOOK CASES unclaimed freight & damaged merchandise * 936 Mass ew. Leaner steak prices and $5.00 Lunch 11-2 Mon-Fri 2176 East 23rd Street (east of 23rd & Haskell) Reservations: 843-1110 PAGE tear sear