Medication Used for Perimenstrual Asthma Poses Health Risk
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 55-year-old perimenopausal woman who developed asthma a few years ago. My symptoms always start right before my menstrual cycle. My doctor ruled out allergies as the cause. I used to get colds and sinus infections premenstrually in my younger years. Most medical practitioners don’t see the correlation between hormones and respiratory symptoms.
I sometimes take 10 mg of prednisone when I’m wheezing more than usual, and it seems to help. Is this dose putting me at risk for diabetes if taken regularly? — B.S. ANSWER: Perimenstrual asthma is a well-recognized condition that is nevertheless not well-known by most nonexperts. It is less likely to be caused by allergies and more likely to be aspirin-sensitive — meaning that aspirin, or other anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen) commonly taken by women during menstruation, can trigger an asthma attack. Maybe a quarter of women with asthma have perimenstrual asthma. As you say, it is thought to be the hormone changes around menstruation that trigger the asthma. Oral contraceptives used continuously prevent large changes in progesterone and estradiol, and may be helpful in managing perimenstrual asthma. Although I didn’t find a lot about it in literature, I suspect that when your periods stop, your asthma symptoms will get better. Increased medication at the time of menses is frequently needed. However, because prednisone, even at the fairly small dose of 10 mg, does increase risk of diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, glaucoma, cataracts and many other conditions, oral prednisone is not my first choice for medication in this situation. Inhaled steroids would be one choice, but they take a while to begin working. One recommended treatment is the oral medicine montelukast (Singulair), which has been proven effective in a small study and starts working right away. • • • DR. ROACH WRITES: A recent column regarding a “tip jar” in a living situation for a reader’s brother who had suffered a stroke generated very powerful responses. (Respondents included nurses and administrators who worked in care facilities.) Many readers noted that they thought this was illegal in the states they lived in. While many readers responded that they were happy to give gifts to the caregivers, nearly every person wrote that the public nature of the “tip jar” was inappropriate. The institutions I have been affiliated with have very careful rules about accepting any kind of gift. In my opinion, the “tip jar” grossly violated ethical standards, and nearly all readers agreed with me. Several readers wished me to mention the state ombudsman program for long-term care. Every state is required to have such a program to address complaints and advocate for improvements. Residents in the U.S. can learn more about the long-term care ombudsman program at ltcombudsman.org/about/about-ombudsman. Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer
individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. © 2023 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved 
Eat Fruits and Vegetables for Good Health
Research shows that eating fruits and vegetables every day helps support good health. They are high in nutrients and low in fat, sugar, and sodium. Eating them may reduce the risk of chronic disease. Use the following guide to select and prepare a variety of fruits and vegetables from your local farmers’ market or grocery store.
Cruciferous Vegetables include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. These vegetables are good fiber and Vitamin C sources. Substitute shredded cabbage for iceberg lettuce on tacos. Citrus Fruits are good sources of dietary fiber and are high in Vitamin C. Oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and tangerines are included in this group. Infuse fresh fruit slices in water to create a refreshing drink. Green, Leafy Vegetables are packed with fiber and supply a good source of Vitamins A and C and calcium. This category includes spinach, kale, collard greens, and dark green lettuce. Sauté these greens with olive oil to make a healthy dish. Berries add pizzazz to cereal or oatmeal. They are good sources of fiber, Vitamin C, and antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect brain cells from damage and improve brain function. This category includes strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Beans are fat-free, high in dietary fiber, and a good source of folate and potassium. Varieties include garbanzo beans (chickpeas), black beans, lentils, lima beans, and pinto beans. Enjoy the plant-based alternative in burritos or soups. For tips on buying, preparing, and storing fruits and vegetables, visit Spend Smart. Eat Smart. https://spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/ Source: Adapted from “Words on Wellness Newsletter (WOW),” September 2015, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. 
According to NoHeatStroke.org, in 2022, 33 children died of heatstroke in vehicles. In 2018 and 2019, a record number of child deaths occurred with 53 children’s deaths each of those years from hot car deaths. Children being left unattended in a car or children getting into an unlocked car is a very preventable act. Here are some tips to prevent this tragedy from happening.
Avoid distractions when driving such as cell phone use. Being in a conversation when you get to your destination could distract you long enough to forget about who could be in the backseat. Place an item such as a purse, briefcase or other item that you will need to take with you in the backseat. This will force you to look in the back before exiting the car to retrieve the item. Write yourself a note to remind you to check the backseat before getting out of the car. Don’t be afraid to do a safety check each time you get out of your car that includes checking the front seats, back seats, trunk or truck bed to make sure no one is left behind. If your routine changes and someone else must take your child to daycare or school, have that person call you once they arrive to verify that they dropped them off or call them to make sure the child got to where they were supposed to be. Have a plan set up with your daycare provider to call you if the child is more than 10 minutes late. Keep your vehicle locked when it is parked. Kids can be curious and may try and enter an unlocked car to play in. This could lead to them accidentally locking themselves inside and not being able to get out. Teach kids that playing inside cars is not safe. Also, keep rear-folding seats in the closed position as this will help keep kids from crawling into the back or trunk area. If you have any questions or concerns, I can be reached at 563-589-4195 or at Dpaulson@cityofdubuque.org. |
• My mom was dealing with a rough health patch recently, and my dad was in charge of all her doctor visits. There was a lot of follow-up to keep track of, and many different doctors. He used a wallet-size photo holder to corral all the different appointment cards to put them in order of appointment. He really did a great job, and Mom’s all better now. — Y.R. in Ohio
• A fast, cheap and effective treatment for leg cramps is drinking a little bit of pickle juice. I’m not sure if it’s the vinegar or the combination of vinegar and salt, but it works -- and fast! My grandpa told me about this, and recently I have seen it in magazine articles and on television shows. Nothing fancy, just take a big slug of the juice at the very first sign of a cramp. — E.E. in Maine • I think cleaning wipes are so very handy, but they can be quite expensive. To make my own, I add cleaner to baby wipes, right in the container. I don’t have babies in the house, but I do mark the container well so that nobody would use it for his or her skin. They work well for me. — via email • To thread a needle, run the tip of your finger and thumb over a stick of lip balm, then roll the end of the thread between your fingers. It keeps the threads together and goes through the eye of the needle much easier. • “Baby food jars make wonderful organizer containers; most people know that. But you can make a great first cup from a baby food jar. Screw on the lid tightly and poke holes along one side. Baby can tip and sip, but not much will come out. They are just the right size for small hands.” — M.W. in Alabama • Baby oil can loosen soap scum from shower doors. Apply and buff lightly with a soft washcloth. Follow with a shampoo cleaning or just leave as is. It will repel water and smells nice, too. • To get scorched pan bottoms clean, scrub with sudsy ammonia and rinse well. • To keep shirt collars from absorbing oil and grime, sprinkle with talcum powder while ironing. Send your tips to
Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc. 
Campsite Breakfasts: French-Toast Roll-Ups and Stuffed Bagels
PHOTO CREDIT: Donna Erickson
Whenever we head into the woods for a weekend getaway, roughing it or not, we always love a campfire and cooking on a grill. The outdoor meal we look forward to the most is breakfast. The sun rises early, and the family is raring to go. Here are two quick and very easy, yummy recipes that will start any camper off on an exciting and active day connecting with the great outdoors.
FRENCH-TOAST ROLL-UPS Makes 2 servings (6 roll-ups) 1 egg 2 tablespoons milk Pinch of salt 6 slices soft bread, crusts removed Butter Cinnamon Sugar Your favorite syrup Whisk together egg and milk in a shallow bowl. Add salt. Spread a slice of bread with butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, then roll up and seal the ends by pinching the bread slightly. Roll it in egg batter. Carefully poke a roasting stick through the roll-up at its midsection. Hold the stick over coals until all sides are lightly browned, about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Remove from the stick, set on a plate, sprinkle with more cinnamon and sugar if you wish, and serve with syrup. Or, let it cool a bit on the stick, remove with your fingers and dip in the syrup. STUFFED BAGELS Makes 4 servings 4 bagels, tops sliced off and insides scooped out to form a narrow trough 3 scrambled eggs 1 cup shredded cheese, such as cheddar or Monterey Jack 2 scallions, chopped 3 slices Canadian bacon, chopped Layer scrambled eggs, scallions, Canadian bacon and cheese into scooped-out bagels. Replace tops. Wrap the bagels upside down in aluminum foil and place on a grill. Heat about 3 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Unwrap and serve for breakfast, or leave wrapped and serve as a midday snack. (Keep chilled until serving.) Roasting tip for young campers: Make a hand protector to use when roasting. Poke a hole in the middle of a disposable foil pie plate and insert it onto the middle of a toasting stick. To identify one another’s sticks, children can decorate their pie plate with designs and add their name with a nontoxic permanent paint pen. Or, simply poke holes into the design to create the alphabet letter starting their name. • • •
Donna Erickson creates relationships and community through food and fun. Find more to nourish and delight you at www.donnaerickson.com. © 2023 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd. |
