Kaiser Permanente thrive » prevention

Four common allergy questions answered

ppletcher — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:00:33 +0000

Anne M. Staveren, MD, is an allergist at our Los Angeles Medical Center. She spent some time with us this busy season to answer the four most common questions people have about allergies.

How do I know I have allergies and not a cold?

Many of the symptoms are similar, but there are important differences. Colds usually get better in three to seven days, and they rarely last longer than two weeks. But allergies may last for a month or more. Seasonal allergies occur like clockwork at certain times of year, while colds are unpredictable.

What's the best way to find out if I have allergies?

If you find your seasonal allergy symptoms are more than just a nuisance, especially if you suffer from asthma or other lung conditions, and you are not sure what is causing your allergies, talk to your primary care physician so he or she is aware of your concerns. Your doctor may refer you to a board-certified allergist who is specially trained to diagnose and treat allergic and immunologic diseases. The allergist may recommend skin or blood tests to identify your allergic triggers, like grass pollen, dust mites, animal dander, or mold.

How can I relieve my allergy symptoms?

First: Avoid the offenders. Once you know what causes your allergies, avoid those things if possible. For example, if you are allergic to dogs, you may want to make your dog an outside pet. Or if you're allergic to pine, you can avoid taking walks outside when the pines shed their spores in the fall.

Second: Start preventive medication a few weeks before your seasonal allergies are due and continue it daily during the season.

If you find that you react to an indoor allergen, such as pet hair, dust mites, or pollen that comes in through open windows, try the following:

Place HEPA filters in air purifiers and vacuum cleaners. They help reduce the number of small particles that can set off your allergies.
Use allergy bed covers, dust your window blinds, and reduce clutter to limit pollen, dust mites, and animal dander that get trapped indoors.
If these two actions don't ease your symptoms, allergy shots may help reduce your sensitivity to allergens.

Can allergies make my asthma worse?

Yes. Some allergens can trigger asthma attacks. Gaining greater control of the postnasal drip and secondary sinus infections that often accompany nasal allergies can help you stop asthma attacks. During your season of allergies, take extra care to monitor your asthma so it doesn't get out of control.

Thrive Campaign

admin10kavesian — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:50:30 +0000

Launched in 2004, the Thrive campaign embodies Kaiser Permanente's commitment to total health. Our integrated health care delivery system and commitment to preventive care empowers our members to maximize their total health - mind, body, and spirit.

Television Ads

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Radio Ads

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Print Ads

Outdoor Ads

How can you green your baby’s nursery, and why is it important?

admin11kcesarz — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:26:31 +0000

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Making your newborn’s nursery “green” isn’t just good for the environment; it’s also preventive medicine for you! Kaiser Permanente’s green guru Kathy Gerwig shares tips on creating a healthy space for the newest member of the family.

We’ve got your back: simple exercises to keep your back in shape

admin11kcesarz — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:26:15 +0000

Did you know you could be hurting your back while just sitting and reading this?

Most of us sit 8–10 hours a day, and not every chair is right for every person, putting strain on our backs. Add the everyday strains and lifting of working in the house and yard, and many of us are left with a reoccurring pain in the back.

Most low back pain can improve if you stay active. Deal with the acute pain with ice or nonprescription pain relievers, then gradually increase your activity level as the pain goes away. Too little activity can lead to loss of flexibility, strength, and endurance, and then to more pain.

Once you’re ready to get your back in action, following are a few exercises that may help reduce or prevent low back pain:

aerobic exercise, to condition your heart and other muscles, maintain health, and speed recovery
strengthening exercises, focusing on your back, stomach, and leg muscles
stretching exercises, to keep your muscles and other supporting tissues flexible and less prone to injury

Some exercises can aggravate back pain. If you have low back pain, avoid the following:

straight leg sit-ups
bent leg sit-ups or partial sit-ups (curl-ups) when you have acute back pain
lifting both legs while lying on your back (leg lifts)
lifting heavy weights above the waist (standing military press or bicep curls)
toe touches while standing

Find out how to exercise your low back pain away.

Investing in your health pays major dividends

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:51 +0000

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Regardless of your age, taking a disciplined approach to your health by investing time and effort will pay dividends to your total wellness.

At Kaiser Permanente, we encourage you to invest in wellness so you can thrive. Our new television commercial is a reminder to think about your health as your most precious asset.

The value of prevention

admin99ntygiels — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:00:14 +0000

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A positive attitude can go a long way in helping you maintain good health. So can regularly scheduled mammograms.

By getting mammograms regularly, women can reduce their risk of breast cancer by potentially detecting it in early stages when it's more treatable.

We’ve long recognized the value of prevention, and that's why we created a television commercial to acknowledge the benefits of early detection.

Weight training for the elderly? It’s a good option in the golden years.

admin11kcesarz — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:31:05 +0000

Quick, when you hear "working out with weights," what's the first image that comes to mind? Chances are it's a sweaty, muscle-bound guy pumping iron.

But Robert Sallis, MD, says lifting weights (or resistance training) is actually a good idea for the elderly and those who suffer from common complaints like bad knees.

"As we age, we lose muscle—especially women," Dr. Sallis says. "Women over the age of 70 lose 70 to 80 percent of muscle strength."

Resistance training can help stop that loss. Dr. Sallis points out that people shouldn't think of resistance training as something just for the young. Done properly, it has many of the same cardiovascular benefits of jogging or other sports.

"Some people who've been injured or have joint pain think they have a hall pass from exercising," Dr. Sallis adds. "But the point is there's always something you can do, and weight training is a great option that most people don't think of."

Pumping iron doesn't mean having to go to a gym or buy expensive equipment. It can be as simple as investing in inexpensive dumbbells, many of which now have soft padding.

150 minutes (a week) to a healthier you

admin11kcesarz — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:13:06 +0000

We've all heard the phrase "No pain, no gain." But do we really need to push ourselves to the point of collapse as part of our exercise routine?

Robert Sallis, MD, says no. It's one of the myths about exercising that scares many people away. It all comes down to 150 minutes of exercise a week. What that is will be up to you.

"It doesn't have to be exhausting," Dr. Sallis advises. "The marathoner is no healthier than the daily walker."

Dr. Sallis says the key is to be flexible in what you do, especially something you enjoy.

"It may be a sport like tennis or walking around the neighborhood," he adds. "But it can also be getting out and working in the yard or garden.

"Even housework like vacuuming, if done right, is exercise."

A common excuse for not exercising is that people just don't have the time to fit it into their busy schedules. Dr. Sallis says that while 150 minutes may seem like a lot, you can break it up into small chunks.

"You don't have to go to the gym every day," he says. "Think about little things you can do, like parking your car ten minutes away from the office."

An energetic 15-minute walk morning and evening Monday through Friday would satisfy the 150 minutes without making you break a sweat. That said, you can also increase the intensity of your activity and get healthier in less time.

"Increase the intensity and decrease the minutes," Dr. Sallis advises. "Try jogging versus a brisk walk. Or if you're working in the yard, pump up the activity level a bit."

As long as you get your recommended amount of physical activity, your body will thank you.

Five hard hitting diseases that can be stopped with exercise

admin11kcesarz — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:09:14 +0000

As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," and Robert Sallis, MD, believes this is as true now as it was years ago.

Dr. Sallis says some of our deadliest diseases can be treated (and even prevented) with good old-fashioned exercise. He says there's a clear relationship between exercise and stopping the following diseases:

• Heart disease

• Diabetes

• High blood pressure

• Cancer

• Alzheimer's disease

Dr. Sallis advises that 30 minutes of moderate exercise is like a round of medicine in treating high blood pressure. He also highlighted the benefits for women treating breast cancer, pointing out that exercise is like a natural chemotherapy.

"Women who exercise for 30 minutes five times a week have a 50-percent less mortality rate than those who don't," he adds.

Being “mindful”: What is it and how can it help you be healthier?

admin11kcesarz — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:19:02 +0000

A commitment to living for the moment can have a big impact on your health. In meditation circles this practice is called mindfulness.

Mindfulness is an attitude toward living that involves simply keeping your attention in the present moment, without judging it as happy or sad, good or bad. It encourages living each moment—even painful ones—as fully as possible. It is a way of calmly and consciously observing and accepting whatever is happening, moment to moment.

Being more aware of your present experiences helps you remove the emotion from your thoughts and helps you slow things down and focus, which in turn is good for your health. In mind, in body, and in spirit—which is exactly what you need to truly thrive.

Learn how to be mindful.