Is There Such a Thing
​as a Weather Allergy?

DEAR DR. ROACH: Is it possible to be allergic to the cold weather and temperature changes? My son is 23 years old, and when he goes out in the cold, he breaks out in hives. What can he do? — K.R.

ANSWER: This sounds exactly like cold urticaria, which isn’t an allergy, but is similar in some ways. Doctors may test this by placing an ice cube (in a plastic bag with water) on the skin (usually the forearm) for five minutes, then watch the skin as it rewarms. If a hive develops (with raised skin and redness), that confirms the diagnosis. Cold urticaria can be associated with some infections (Lyme disease, hepatitis and HIV, among others) and with celiac disease.

​People with cold urticaria need to worry about systemic reactions. Avoiding cold (especially swimming in cold water) is critical, but even cold beverages can cause a serious systemic reaction, including swelling of the mouth and throat. Even anaphylaxis, a life-threatening collapse of the circulatory system, can develop. Many people with severe cold urticaria carry an epinephrine auto-injector in case of emergency.

Antihistamines, such as loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine (Zyrtec), are the best pharmacologic treatment. Experts in cold urticaria include allergists and dermatologists.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I saw a new physician for the first time two years ago. As he had no EKG machine, he sent me over to the local hospital for an EKG (just for his records, I wasn’t having problems). I had the EKG. The tech said that I was in atrial fib and needed to be admitted, as blood clots could form. I disagreed and went home. The doctor called me and persuaded me to go back to the hospital, which I did. I was preparing to be admitted when a cardiologist came in and said: “She doesn’t need admitting; she is not in atrial fib, it’s just PVCs.”

I found out later that the EKG machine spit out the interpretation; no cardiologist had read it. I did complain, of course, and received an apology letter from the hospital. They also stated that they would change this procedure. 

Do hospitals actually rely on machines to do cardiology interpretations? And then go along with the machine’s interpretation without a cardiologist looking at the EKG? Please tell me it isn’t so. — M.K.

ANSWER: It isn’t so, or at least it shouldn’t be. There are several errors here. The first is that the EKG machine made the wrong interpretation. The machines are pretty good most of the time, but there are times when it is very difficult to tell and the machine is wrong. The second error was that the technician told you rather than getting the results confirmed by a human being who could correctly interpret them. I give the technician credit for trying to act in the patient’s interest, but you should be sure of your facts before telling the patient.

It’s the third error — that of the doctor who called you — that upsets me the most, since the doctor was also wrong before calling you. I would be especially angry if the doctor had relied on the machine or the technician and hadn’t checked the EKG personally.

It is good you wrote to complain: Hospitals rely on feedback to change the system. 

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer
​individual letters, but will incorporate them 
in the column whenever possible. 
Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. 

© 2019 North America Synd., Inc.
All Rights Reserved

How to Celebrate Your Brain Health
​by Bridget Bartlett, LMSW

As we celebrate the New Year, many people have resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking, spend less money, drink less alcohol, etc.; however, we rarely resolve to maintain our brain health.  

The National Institute on Aging describes brain health as “the ability to remember, learn, play, concentrate and maintain a clear, active mind. It’s being able to draw on the strengths of your brain—information management, logic, judgement, perspective and wisdom. Simply, brain health is all about making the most of your brain and helping reduce some risks to it as you age.” Who wouldn’t want clearer thinking and sharper functioning?  

The brain is the most intricate and multifaceted organ in our bodies, and if we commit to making brain health a priority, it can have an amazing, lifelong impact.  

To make brain health a priority is to take actions to make it effective. Here are some suggestions or things
to consider:

•    Exercise daily. Any little amount of exercise you can do a day helps! If you have difficulty standing, then do exercises while sitting or lying down. Increase your steps every day by taking the stairs instead of the elevator and by exercising with a friend who can keep you accountable. Exercising is great for your brain health because it is scientifically proven to boost your mood, to reduce stress, increase self-confidence, and improve memory!

•    Get at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Studies show that when we don’t get enough sleep, it negatively affects our brain health.  Sleep deprivation causes a host of physical complications including heart disease, diabetes, increased blood pressure, etc., but we often don’t think of the toll it takes on our brain health. Insufficient sleep causes us to be irritable, increases signs of depression including a decrease in appetite, feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, and many other serious complications. Positively, getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night increases energy, self-confidence, and ability to fight off viral infections. You can increase your sleep hygiene by sticking to a regular bedtime routine, exercising during the day, creating a peaceful resting place, and cutting down on caffeine.

•    Create healthy boundaries with others. Having and spending time with friends is essential for our brain health; however, if you surround yourself with the wrong friends it can be toxic. Instead, surround yourself with friends who are supportive, understanding, and kind to you and to others. Negative friends can zap your energy and your mood. If you have a negative friend, reduce the time you spend with them. If you are that negative friend, examine your thoughts and challenge yourself to think more positively.

•    Eat a balanced and nutritious diet. Often times, when we are not feeling well, we can trace it back to a meal we have missed or a meal that was loaded with sugar, fat, and processed foods. But because food fuels our bodies, when we eat nutritiously it has a huge impact on our physical health as well as on our brain health. Mental Health America recently discussed the importance of gut health and brain health, which you can find on its website: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/. As always, talk to your doctor when making changes to your diet.  

Resolving to care for our brain health is an ideal New Year’s resolution, but it isn’t just for January; it would also serve us well to check in on our brain health each day and anytime we notice feeling unbalanced, irritable, or unfocused. Let yourself have a “blah” day here and there, but get support if those days add up to a year or more. 

If you are in a crisis, call or text 1-855-800-1239 or visit https://iowahelpline.org/. 

​Bridget Bartlett serves as the secretary for the Dubuque chapter of Mental Health America.

What Is In Your Wallet?

“You probably wonder why you are asking about what’s in your wallet,” said Susan Taylor, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, human sciences specialist, Family Finance. Several years ago, I was traveling with my parents to visit my sister and the car failed due to encounter with a huge raccoon that took out the water pan. We were flying from Moline to O’Hare to Houston. We had a short layover in Chicago. At that time, Dad called his insurance agent and car dealership to have the vehicle worked on while we were gone. 

Here is where what is in your wallet comes in. At that time, I might be exaggerating a little – it was like 52 card pick up in my Dad’s wallet. His discharge card from service was there, any membership cards he had as well as the important stuff, - driver’s license, health and insurance card and money. 

You need only keep in your wallet what would be okay with losing. 

Do not keep items in your wallet that have sentimental value attached, or expensive if lost; then you should avoid carrying them in your wallet. My friend’s wallet was stolen from her office contained the family pictures, request flyer mile cards, staff id to just name a few were in her wallet. 

If someone steals your wallet, the thief will have access to password-protected content. As more websites and apps require passwords for security purposes, it can be hard to keep track of that information. Avoid keeping any sensitive information written down on a sheet in your wallet. (I had a grandparent who carried their grandchildren’s social security numbers for school related activities) A BIG No-No!

Your wallet contents: 

You should carry your driver’s license or state ID.

You should NOT make a habit out of carrying your social security card, passport or birth certificate with you unless you need it for traveling. 

Aside from the hassle of having to replace these items, they are a major source of identity theft.

Why? A thief could withdraw money from your account – if you use a Debit card a thief could easily take cash out and drain your account. Many times the thief will use like a credit card. As a consumer, you have more recourse with a credit card to stop charges. 

During the holidays, we were carrying a large number of receipts - but we can remove the receipts from your wallet. The receipts paints a picture of your spending habits.

Gift Cards You may have received a few gift cards over the holidays. It feels natural for most of us to keep the gift cards in our wallet. If your wallet is stolen with your gift cards-, you have lost using the gift card. 

​Do a wallet inventory and lighten your wallet. Don’t be like my dad with his 52 card pickup.

• Studies show that people who eat more fiber take in fewer calories, and if you’re on a healthy mission, take heed: Keep your focus on whole food sources of fiber, like veggies, fresh fruits and nutritious whole grains.

• “Make life easier on yourself. Set a timer on your phone when you put a load of laundry in the wash. That way, you can pop it in the dryer right when it’s done. The less time your clothes sit, the better. You’ll be done with your laundry sooner, too.” — R.R. in Arizona

• Cinnamon in the garden? Yep, cinnamon is a natural fungicide, and you can use it on cuts on flowers to help the plant root. Simply dip the cut end in cinnamon powder before rooting.

• Use clingwrap over the top of a coffee mug or tumbler in order to take your drink “to go.” Just create a small hole at the edge of the cup for sipping, or poke a straw through the center for easy access.

• “I purchased a nice lotion in a very pretty pump bottle. After the lotion was all used up, I repurposed the bottle as a soap dispenser at my kitchen sink. It matches better, and I like having a pump bottle, because it’s easy to get a little bit of soap on your sponge.” — E.S. in Alabama

• “Add a solar-powered, motion-activated light to your patio, porch, garden, front door, etc., or anywhere you do not want animals to hang out at night. This has kept neighborhood cats from messing around in my garden during the summer, and because it’s solar powered, I moved it to near my back door for the winter months.” — I.C in Nebraska

• “To ensure your dishwasher or clothes washer is doing the best possible job of cleaning, turn on a nearby hot water faucet. Run the water until it turns warm, then start the washer. It will start with hot water and do a better job of cleaning.” — D.C. in Minnesota

• How to hang a gallery wall: Arrange your frames on the ground on top of a large piece of gift wrap (the back, blank side) or other blank paper. When you get the arrangement you want, outline each frame on the paper with a thick marker. Also note where the nail must go in order to hang each frame. Then simply tape the paper to the wall and drive in the nails at the noted spots. Rip the paper off the wall (gift wrap tears easily) and hang the frames on the nails left behind.

Send your tips to 
Now Here’s a Tip,
628 Virginia Drive,
Orlando, FL 32803.

​© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

Chicken and Mushrooms
​with Brown Rice

Earthy mushrooms and satisfying whole grains make this chicken-and-rice dish an ideal dinner option for losing weight in the new year.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1 package (10-ounce) sliced cremini mushrooms
2 medium stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 can (14- to 14-1/2-ounce) chicken broth
1 cup instant brown rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
8 baby summer squash, halved and steamed

1. In 12-inch skillet, heat oil on medium-high until hot. Add chicken and cook, covered, 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; turn chicken and cook, covered, 5 more minutes. Transfer to plate.

2. To same skillet, add mushrooms, celery and thyme; cook 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened, stirring occasionally. Add broth, rice, wine, salt and black pepper; heat to boiling.

3. Return chicken to skillet. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer about 12 minutes or until juices run clear when thickest part of chicken is pierced with knife, and rice is cooked. Serve with squash. Serves 4.

• Each serving (without squash): 340 calories, 13g total fat (2g saturated), 118g cholesterol, 595mg sodium, 21g total carbohydrate, 3g dietary fiber, 35g protein.

​For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our Web site at www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipes/.

© 2019 Hearst Communications, Inc.
All rights reserved

Soothing Chicken Soup

There is nothing better than a great bowl of soup. It’s comforting and warming on a cold winter’s night. If you are feeling a little under the weather, chicken noodle is just what the doctor ordered.

2 (16-ounce) cans fat-free chicken broth
1/4 cup water
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 scant cup uncooked noodles
1 1/2 cups (8 ounces) diced cooked chicken breast
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1. In a large saucepan, combine chicken broth, carrots and celery. Bring mixture to a boil. Stir in uncooked noodles, chicken, parsley flakes and black pepper.

2. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes or until vegetables and noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. Serves 4.

HINT: If you don’t have leftovers, purchase a chunk of cooked chicken breast from your local deli.

• Each serving equals: 179 calories, 3g fat, 23g protein, 15g carbs, 498mg sodium, 34mg calcium, 2g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1 Starch; Carb Choices: 1.

​© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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