Lake Regional Health System | Thrive | Fall 2018

lakeregional.com 11 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Annual Ball The Lodge of Four Seasons 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 Join the Hospital Auxiliary for dinner and dancing. Auxiliary Garage Sale Lake Regional Hospital 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, and 8 a.m. – noon Wednesday, Oct. 17 Shop for books, jewelry, scarves, crafts and more. Lake Regional Cares for Kids Festival Lake Regional Hospital 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 Bring the kids for games, crafts, free food and more fall fun. Osage Beach Health Fair Elk’s Lodge 7:30 – 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 25 Receive free and low-cost screenings. Coping with Grief During the Holidays Lake Regional Hospital 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 Remember loved ones and draw support from others facing grief. Auxiliary Thanksgiving Bake Sale Lake Regional Hospital 8 a.m. until all goods sold Tuesday, Nov. 20 Purchase pies, cakes, candies and more. Arrive early! Shoo the ‘Achoo!’ 3 myths about fall allergies C an you separate fact from fiction when it comes to fall allergies? Get some help from Lake Regional Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist Edward Barns, M.D., FACS. Myth 1: Pollen is not much of a problem during the fall. Ragweed — a main culprit for allergies — begins pollinating in August and lingers in the air for months. “Someone who is fine in the spring, when tree and grass pollens are high, might really suffer in the fall,” Dr. Barns says. Myth 2: I’ll be fine if I don’t stay outside too long. Allergic reactions begin immediately, so even a short time outdoors could trigger symptoms. Plus, many allergens cling to hair and clothes. Besides, not all allergens lurk outdoors. Take dust mites, for example. These allergens get stirred up in- doors when furnaces get turned on. Myth 3: It’s just allergies — I don’t need to tell my doctor. Your doctor can recommend over-the-counter and prescription medications to help you feel better. You also might benefit from allergy testing, which will reveal which allergens are problems for you. “Knowing your triggers can help you avoid them,” Dr. Barns says. “And it’s the first step for immunotherapy, a treatment that gradually desensitizes you to allergens, either using drops under the tongue or shots.” DON’T MISS OUT! Keep up with Lake Regional events and explore our many support groups at lakeregional.com/ events . GET RELIEF Both allergy testing and immunotherapy are available at Lake Regional ENT and Audiology. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Barns, call 573-302-2864 .