Each Monday I answer a question posed by one of our readers. If you have an interesting question which you think will have broad appeal please send it to dailydose@righthealth.com. This week’s question comes from Monica M:
Q: Does eating honey help keep allergy symptoms at bay?
A: I picked this question because it’s allergy season again and people are always looking for that wonder cure for their symptoms. Unfortunately, new treatments for allergic rhinitis (aka seasonal allergies, hay fever) have been few and far between. The most common therapies include avoidance of the allergen, antihistamines, nasal decongestants, and nasal steroids. If your symptoms are severe enough, an allergist may try immunotherapy. A couple of things that have been popular in the US in recent years is the neti pot and local honey. A neti pot is a container designed to irrigate your nasal cavity. Some people who use it regularly say it works better than medications. Local honey treatment refers to the idea of consuming raw, unpasturized honey that is produced by bees which live in the immediate region you live. The idea is that you are consuming honey with small amounts of intact pollens and allergens from the plants which you are likely allergic to. In this way, by exposing yourself to small amounts of allergens your body will be less likely to mount a severe immune response over time. This works, in theory. But, studies are still lacking to say that it is a definite cure. As well, keep in mind that this may work for allergies to plants, but not to molds or animals for obvious reasons. If this is something you’d like to try, there are a few cautions which you should heed. Unpasturized honey can cause allergic reactions – especially because there can be a lot of potential allergens in it. Also, honey can contain bacteria which causes botulism, especially in children. Therefore, unpasturized and/or improperly prepared and stored honey should never be given to young children. And as always, it’s a good idea to first speak with your doctor before starting any new drugs or therapies.
We are excited to let you know about a new feature of RightHealth’s DailyDose blog. Starting today, every Monday will be “Ask the Doctor” day. In every Monday’s DailyDose post, I will respond to one of the questions posed by our readers. If you have a question about a personal health issue or want to learn more about health topic that you find interesting, please email it to dailydose@righthealth.com. Don’t worry, your identity will be kept confidential.
Please understand that we can’t answer all of your questions each week! But we’ll do our best to select the questions which have the broadest interest among you.
So let’s get started! This week’s question is from Mark V…
The cardiologist who recently examined President Obama, an admitted occasional smoker, told the Commander in Chief that although he received a clean bill of health, he’s still at risk for heart disease because he is a smoker in a high-stress job. Does smoking less frequently or just occasionally reduce the health risks for smokers?
Smoking accounts for over 400 thousand deaths annually in the United States, mostly in the form of lung cancer, stroke, and coronary heart disease. In fact, smoking increases every kind of cancer risk with 80% of lung cancers linked to smoking. It doesn’t matter if you smoke only one cigarette a day or one pack a day. The act of smoking will increase your risk of these diseases. We also know there is a clear link between second hand smoke and cardiovascular disease. Approximately 23 to 70 thousand premature deaths occur each year in the U.S. because of second hand smoke.
Does smoking less reduce health risks? The answer is yes. If you smoke three packs a day as opposed to one pack a day, you do have more of a risk for heart disease. But it’s not until you quit smoking do you see some amazing results. Here’s what we know:
At 20 minutes after quitting your blood pressure decreases and the body temperature of your hands and feet increase, due to improved circulation.
At 24 hours you begin to see a decrease in heart attack risk.
At 48 hours your senses of smell and taste improve and nerve endings actually begin to regrow!
After 1 year your risk of coronary heart disease drops by 50%.
After 5-15 years your stroke risk drops by 50%.
After 10 years your risk of lung cancer drops by 50%.
After 15 years your risk of coronary heart disease and death rate returns to the same level as those who never smoked.
Here’s some good news for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other conditions with chronic mucus production. A new device called the Lung Flute, which has just been approved by the FDA, can vibrate away mucus by simply blowing into it. Blowing into the instrument sends a steady 16-hertz vibration into the user’s chest which breaks up mucus and allows the body to better expel the sticky substance. Although there are other devices that also use vibration to loosen mucus, the Lung Flute costs a great deal less at $40 a piece, making it much more accessible. See a video of the device in action here. [via PopSci.com]
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
Smoking accounts for over 400 thousand deaths annually in the United States, mostly in the form of 
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.