Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 11-11-16 Online Edition

Health
Which One Is It?
How many of you have gone to Walgreens or CVS and bought the wrong medicine because you thought it was your allergies acting up, but in reality it was your sinuses that were responsi- ble for your incessant sneezing?
The question is, “what is the difference between allergies and sinuses?”
Allergies
Allergies, or allergic rhinitis, are often seasonal.
They are caused by the release of histamine in response to an allergen. Histamine produces common allergy symptoms such as itchy, watery eyes, nasal and sinus congestion, headaches, sneezing, scratchy throat, hives, and shortness of breath.
Other less common symptoms are balance disturbances, skin irritations such as eczema, and even respiratory problems like asthma. For some allergy sufferers symptoms may be seasonal, but for others it is a year-round discomfort. In the late summer and early fall ragweed is the culprit for many fall allergy suffer- ers.
Allergy symptom control is most successful when multiple management approaches are used simultaneously. They may in- clude minimizing exposure to allergens, desensitization with al- lergy shots, and medications.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis, on the other hand, is often preceded by a cold, al- lergy attack, upper respiratory infection or irritation by envi- ronmental pollutants. Symptoms can include facial pressure and pain. The pain is often in the eyes, nose, cheek, forehead, and upper teeth. There can be fever, body aches, and fatigue. All symptoms that would be more unusual in allergies.
Play it smart if you notice anything that could be a symptom of cancer. Talk to your doctor and get it checked out. In general, the disease is easier to treat when you spot it early.
How can you know something's not quite right? Watch for these warning signs.
Cancer Signals in Both Men and Women
Appetite loss.
Many conditions, from depression to the flu, can make you feel less hungry. Cancer can have this effect by changing your metabolism, the process your body uses to turn food into en- ergy.
Stomach, pancreatic, colon, and ovarian cancers also can put pressure on your stomach and make you feel too
full to eat.
Blood in the stool.
Cancers can bleed, but so can a bunch of other things, like ul- cers, hemorrhoids, infections, or a sore. When you see red in your poop, the blood is often from some- where in your "GI tract," meaning your esophagus, stomach, or intestines.
One way to tell where the blood is coming from is by how light or dark it looks. Bright red could mean the bleeding is in your rectum or the end of your intestines. A darker color means it may be from higher up, like a stomach ulcer.
No matter what the
cause, blood in your stool needs to be checked out. You may need a colonoscopy or other tests to find the problem.
Blood in the urine.
When it shows up in your pee, it could be a warning sign of a problem in your urinary tract. Kidney or bladder cancer can cause this symptom, but it could also be due to an infec- tion, kidney stones, or kidney disease.
Cough that doesn't go away.
A cold or the flu can make you hack away, but it's also a potential symptom of lung can- cer, along with red flags like chest pain, weight loss, hoarseness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. See your doctor if you can't seem to shake it, especially if you're a smoker.
Part 1
PAGE 8-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016