Season change

After such harsh winter, hopefully coming to a close, everyone is longing for the arrival of spring.
But spring might also be the season for allergies and feelings of tiredness. Vitamins and minerals, easily found in fresh fruit and vegetables, can offer a great deal of help.
In addition to that, herbal remedies such as ginko biloba and ginseng improve our attention and specific drugs reduce the symptoms of allergies.
The best advice is: spend as much time possible outside, take long walks and enjoy the highly beneficial effects of the sun on your bones after the long dark winter.

We have recently given ISS, Territorial Health, another 5 pulse-oximeters.
Just placing it on a finger tip, this portable equipment can measure, in real time, the state of peripheral blood oxygenation and, at the same time, to calculate the heart rhythm.

The week starting 21st March 2011 was World Salt Awareness Week. Our organisation and the Sammarinese Pharmacist Association promoted this through press, TV and posters placed in pharmacies, the Hospital, clinics and Health Centres. “When buying food, pay attention to the label – it will help you choose with care. Less salt, better health!”

Here is some useful advice written up for us by Dr Sanzio Castelli, Allergologist:

FIRST SNEEZES AT THE TURN OF SPRING: JUST A COLD?
As winter fades out and after getting over the unavoidable coughs and flus, more and more often we notice atypical cold symptoms, with a thin, runny nose rather than thick congestion, bouts of sneezing alternating with periods without any symptoms, and sometimes red and itchy eyes.
These are typical symptoms of respiratory allergies. People already diagnosed and familiar with their sensitivity should advise the less informed to avoid some conterproductive remedies, such as anti-inflammatories and vasoconstrictor sprays. If the cause is an allergy, the former are simply ineffective, while the latter may even cause dangerous side effects.
Starting as early as February, many common trees (such as Cypress, Birch, Hornbeam) start releasing clouds of potentially allergy-causing pollen into the wind. As the weather gets warmer in April, Parietaria follows suit, closely followed by various grasses, penetrating homes through the windows that people will start to leave open.
If an adult develops symptoms, they may be inclined to dismiss them if they had never had such an allergy in the past. But it is possible to develop an allergy at any stage of life, and the latest data show a definite increase in this.
As the possibility of having a new allergy becomes likely, it may be tempting to jump straight into taking allergy tablets to get rid of all annoying symptoms. However, it’s advisable to try gentler remedies first, such as homeopathy or antihistamine sprays. On their own, they are often enough to calm down the first symptoms. If antihistamines are advised, these will be prescribed by your General Practitioner (drops for children, tablets for adults) and should be taken in the evening to avoid becoming drowsy during the day.
When symptoms will have passed, an allergological visit will diagnose you properly and you will be able to be better prepared next year.

Since the 1st of January, with the help of our doctors we have published the following health education articles:
-Over-the-counter drugs, by Dr Mauro Chiaruzzi
-Laxatives, by Dr Norma Renzi
-Exercise for the heart, by Dr Luigi Prioli
-“ANZIANI E SANITA” -Dottor Pietro Berti
-“La Rabbia” – Dott. Maurizio Battistini