Page 50 - Real Rochdale Issue 17 Spring 2023
P. 50

WHY SPRING CAN STILL GET UP YOUR NOSE




             You would think that brighter, warmer               made themselves manifest. That way, you
             weather would herald the close of the               can be prepared with medication such as
             sickest period for patients and the busiest         antihistamines, and even ready to alter
             time for health carers.                             your routine accordingly.


             Certainly, the surgeries and wards should           Pollen is at its worst during the morning,
             be less frantic, but it is not a time for           and a check of the weather forecast may
             doctors to rest easy or indeed for you to be        predict if levels are going to be high. Limit
             sedentary!                                          doing any gardening near rural areas and
                                                                 take a shower after being outside as pollen
             Spring, as its apt name suggests, should be         can adhere to your clothes. Those with
             the time to rise-up, get motivated and be           chronic hay fever may also want to keep
             more active.                                        windows and doors shut when the count is
                                                                 high.
             However, for one in four of us, venturing
             out instead of loitering inside, brings with it     I mentioned the common cold. What spring
             a new problem – seasonal allergies.                 brings us is a natural shield against this,
                                                                 through seasonal fruit and vegetables.
             The most familiar of these is hay fever             Make the most of these and keep your
             provoked by pollen, a light powdery                 vitamin C levels boosted.
             substance found in foliage. When plants
             and trees are in full bloom, hay fever is at        Exercise is the other best friend of good
             its zenith too, making the eyes itch and            physical and mental health. It has been such
             stream, and the nose run, with endless              a difficult winter period for so many of us,
             sneezes and fatigue affecting the sufferer.         but spring is nature’s way of lifting us back
                                                                 into the light.
             Most springtime allergies are cause by
             the rhinovirus infection. This is another           One of the chief causes of gloom has
             suitable name, because like the rhinoceros          been the cost-of-living crisis and so you
             it is enormous and is actually responsible          may feel that joining a gym or taking part
             for around half of all common colds.                in organised team sports is pricy. But all
                                                                 you really need is a pair of decent fitting
             Assuaging allergies can be achieved by a            trainers or even shoes to walk in, to do your
             visit to the GP or pharmacist, or by taking         health good.
             some responsibility yourself.
                                                                 So, there is the challenge. Now, put that
             Allergies follow a pattern, so diarise them         spring in your step!
             to see when they started and how they





                                        ABOUT THE WRITER

                                        Dr Chauhan OBE is a respected GP, health and social care
                                        campaigner, and champion of social justice and charity.
                                        As a local GP, he has become a powerful advocate for his patients
                                        and introduced innovative methods to improve their care.
                                        His work mentoring and employing young people has won
                                        national recognition and he was awarded an OBE in 2020 for his
                                        creation of the Homeless-Friendly charity.


          REAL ROCHDALE - SPRING 2023                       50                                                                                                                    51                     REAL ROCHDALE - SPRING 2023
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