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Dear Dr. DAME
Sharon Orrange, MD, checks in to answer your health questions
By Sharon Orrange, MD
Published: Dec 01, 2007
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NEWSVINE
DEL.ICIO.US
YAHOODear Dr. DAME:
I'm experiencing some dire seasonal allergies that just seem to get worse as summer goes on. Can you suggest any holistic alternatives or things I can do to alleve them? I've heard drinking more caffeine helps but I'm not sure if that's correct.
Mia, 44 Los Angeles, CA
Dr. DAME says: There are some complementary and alternative medicine treatments that have good evidence for use in seasonal allergies. Several studies using different herbal medicines (phytotherapy) have yielded positive results, specifically a Chinese herb formulation, biminne, and another using 100 mg of butterbur extract. Additionally, positive results have been described for seasonal allergies using nasal and oral homeopathic remedies like dilutions of grass and pollen, Luffa compositum Heel, and homeopathic grass, trees and weeds mix. Allergen avoidance is the main way you can alleviate your symptoms. For example, individuals allergic to pollen can minimize indoor pollen exposure, including keeping the windows of homes and cars closed. Though we used to suggest that individuals allergic to dust mites encase their mattresses, pillows and duvets in impermeable covers, recent studies have shown that impermeable bed covers show no benefit in seasonal allergy symptoms. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters may lead to symptom improvement in those with allergies to dust mites. Caffeine has no effect on allergy symptoms.
Dear Dr. DAME:
Do you think women should take a pill holiday? I've heard from both sides that it's okay to stay on the pill indefinitely (I'm 32 and have been taking it for 7 years) and then I had a doctor recently tell me that it might be hard to get pregnant when I go off and want to conceive. Please help!
Erica, 32, Ann Arbor, MI
Dr. DAME says: Unless you are someone who can’t take oral contraceptives for a medical reason (for example, if you're older than 35 AND smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day, have uncontrolled high blood pressure, a history of breast cancer, or history of blood clot in the leg) there is no reason to take a pill holiday. The usual advice for someone taking the pill who wishes to conceive is to stop them two to three months prior so your cycles can regulate. There is no evidence that oral contraceptives have any effect on fertility.
Dear Dr. DAME:
How many hours do I really need to sleep a night?
Charles, 37, New York City
Dr. DAME says: Defining how much sleep an individual needs is an area of some debate as there is significant variability among individuals. Sleep deprivation in an individual can be due to insufficient total hours of sleep or a fragmented sleep period…or a combination of both. Sleep deprivation can result from sleep loss for one or more nights, but more common is chronic partial sleep deprivation, which accumulates over several days. When a person’s usual sleep is eight hours and they only get seven, a one-hour “sleep deficit” is created. If this is sustained over a week, the sleep debt is equivalent to a full night of total sleep loss. Sleep quality can be just as important as the total number of hours you sleep, specifically time spent in the various sleep stages and number of awakenings or arousals. Alcohol, sleep apnea, use of stimulants, and depression are common culprits associated with deterioration of sleep with the result being similar to the chronic sleep deprivation mentioned above.
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University of Southern California physician, Dr. Sharon Orrange received her BA in Biology at the University of California, San Diego and a Masters Degree in Health Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. She received her MD from the USC/Keck School of Medicine and completed residency in Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. Currently, Dr. Orrange is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatric and General Internal Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine and has an active private practice in General Internal Medicine. She is board certified in Internal Medicine.
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