00:00:56.550 - 00:01:18.070

Sonoma County, a diverse county of over one million acres is famed for its agriculture industry and recreation boasting a booming economy and a unique lifestyle for its citizens described by the famed Luther Burbank as the chosen spot of all the earth. Sonoma County is the place

00:01:18.070 - 00:01:35.860

to live, work and play as we move into the 21st century. Led by the forward looking philosophy of its governing bodies. Sonoma County's 340,000 residents are a harmonious, successful blend of ethnic and economic backgrounds. We invite you to take a closer look at Sonoma County in

00:01:35.860 - 00:01:55.120

the nineties with your host Rich McGlinchey. Hello again, everyone welcome to this edition of Sonoma County in the 90s on this particular program. We're gonna be talking about allergies. We're talking to three people in the program. We'll be talking with Dr. Roger Baron MD who's been

00:01:55.120 - 00:02:10.580

with us before. He is an allergy and clinical immunology specialist and that is a mouthful isn't it earlier. He's also a teaching, a member of the teaching faculty at the University of California Medical Center. Roger, you've been with us before. So we'll be talking to you

00:02:10.580 - 00:02:27.200

in just a moment. Also with us today will be Loren Newman and her son Harvey. We're gonna, we'll find out more about why they are guests in just a few moments. But Rogers nice to have you here again. Yeah. People have called us after you've been

00:02:27.200 - 00:02:38.840

on the program and said, what wasn't even that fell again. So maybe we sent him and Lauren. It's a pleasure to have you here and harvey sitting over in the studio audience will have him on a little later. Um let's get on into it right now

00:02:38.840 - 00:02:57.620

though. Roger you hear the term allergy used so often by people with health problems. What does the term allergy really mean? As a general term, it means that the person is having a reaction to something in the natural environment. So it could be pollen, which is

00:02:57.620 - 00:03:15.130

the most common allergy in Sonoma County, which Lauren has exposure to, but it also could be a reaction to a drug or to a bee sting and your body builds up a a high concentration of antibodies after you're exposed and after multiple exposures when you're re

00:03:15.130 - 00:03:34.130

exposed, the allergic symptoms occur. So you're not born allergic. But after you had enough doses of a drug, enough stings or enough seasons in Sonoma County allergy symptoms may develop. Our county is a culprit in that respect. Yeah. Some people, my patients often asked me whether

00:03:34.130 - 00:03:58.450

this is the allergy capital of the world. So I don't know if it's that, but we certainly have high concentrations of pollen. Can anybody have an allergic reaction? Um, people have frequently have nasal sinus reactions and even asthmatic reactions and probably maybe about half or so

00:03:58.450 - 00:04:14.620

of those are allergic based. You have to have that genetic predisposition to make the antibody and it's in a sort of a sudden reaction with itching and sneezing in terms of hay fever. So you're really not, anybody can have allergic reactions in the sense that you

00:04:14.620 - 00:04:33.530

have to have a genetic predisposition to make this allergic antibody. But there's even a wider amount of population who have allergic like symptoms when they're bothered like smoke or irritants or smells or weather, which aren't quite allergy. But we call them adverse reactions Lauren, we're gonna

00:04:33.540 - 00:04:51.400

ask you a number of questions a little later. But one of the things you did mention before the program is your problem, the allergy problem. Your family goes back, how many generations? At least four that we can can trace. It's your grandmother. It's my son that

00:04:51.400 - 00:05:11.480

you'll meet a little later myself, my father and his mother at least. So this is what you're saying about the genetic factor Every year. It seems like people are complaining about allergies, especially in the spring. And as you said, in the allergy capital of the world,

00:05:11.480 - 00:05:30.490

Sonoma County, how common are allergies overall, it's probably the one of the most common, if not the most common respiratory illness actually besides the common cold. And it's up to as many as 20% of the population. So if What would that be in Sonoma County? If

00:05:30.490 - 00:05:48.680

we have 400,000 or maybe 80,000, it's just it's by far outnumbers any other illness that I can think, of including arthritis cardiovascular disease, hypertension And it's why when you go to the drugstore and you look at the medication shelves, one that dominates by far is the

00:05:48.680 - 00:06:06.600

one for cold. Um, and allergy medications. 20% of the people nationwide. Yeah, it's nationwide. And of course whether someone is allergic, if you're living in the South Pole, you could be the most allergic person in the world. But fortunately there's nothing to become allergic to. I

00:06:06.600 - 00:06:21.620

don't think perhaps penguins, I don't know. But When that person and so we have people who moved to Sonoma county and they as adults and they frequently become allergic for the first time because they have the genetics, but it never was stimulated where they lived. They

00:06:21.620 - 00:06:39.650

didn't have the pollen exposure and they become allergic in Sonoma County. Yeah, potentially. Yeah. Not all of them will express that allergy right away. Some may not have a man who didn't become allergic until he lived in the county for 40 years. Okay, now this being

00:06:39.650 - 00:07:02.340

the case, there have been so many people here. When should an allergic patient? Well, many allergy symptoms are relatively short lived. For many patients in terms of april may june especially in the spring and they can deal with their symptoms with over the counter anti histamines

00:07:02.350 - 00:07:19.700

and something we like to have our patients to a little salt water washing with their nasal washing, which I know you're familiar with as well, which helps relieve the irritation inside the nose and their their family doctor may be able to prescribe some medication for them,

00:07:19.700 - 00:07:37.150

but when that type of approach really is not satisfactory either because it's not working or they find that the side effects such as sleepiness from the anti histamines are, are really not tolerable then. I think that's the appropriate time to uh to see the allergist to

00:07:37.160 - 00:08:01.480

be evaluated for more definitive and more effective care. Yes. My good friend Roger was kind enough to discover that I have asked to. And the nasal irrigation business you're talking about is a morning and night practice. Now a lot of insurance companies have gatekeepers now, you

00:08:01.480 - 00:08:23.010

know, they really really have a big gatekeepers. They control access to specialists in general like that. Now, is it possible that I or someone else may have problems seeing an allergy specialist? Well, our patients are increasingly concerned about this. There's a need to limit the cost

00:08:23.010 - 00:08:53.180

of care. And it's often being done by limiting the patient's access to care so that either the care is either deferred. So they put the patients off in terms of seeking uh specialty care or simply really essentially deny access. I think really this is variable. I

00:08:53.180 - 00:09:14.570

think most physicians who are gatekeepers which are the primary care physicians do a good job, but we're finding that they're building in increasingly strong incentives for the physician who is a gatekeeper is paid not to refer patients. And unfortunately it's not well understood in the county.

00:09:14.570 - 00:09:32.790

In fact. Uh it's been in the press democrat some, but I think it's going to be an increasing problem for patients in the future? Unfortunately, one of the things I was going to ask you earlier on up here and I forgot to skipped it. Can you

00:09:32.790 - 00:09:52.530

have an allergic reaction anywhere in the body? Well, it's interesting. There's really about four main areas that this allergic antibody. Most antibodies in the body fight infection and they circulate throughout the body part of your immune system. The allergic antibody is very unique. It actually sticks

00:09:52.530 - 00:10:13.270

to the surface of cells only in certain areas of the body. So in those areas essentially only do you find mainly the allergic reaction and the number one areas the respiratory tract and that includes the nose and and chest with allergic rhinitis and asthma. Number two

00:10:13.270 - 00:10:32.880

would be the skin, like having hives as an allergic reaction. Number three would be the gastrointestinal tract like food allergy. And number four it's on the blood vessels. And many people have heard of allergic shock or anaphylactic shock, like after penicillin or bee sting. So those

00:10:32.880 - 00:10:52.240

four areas, the respiratory track the skin, the gastrointestinal tract and the blood vessels are worthy allergic reactions occur. Okay, let's jump off to some specific problems. I'm thinking such things as hay fever for instance, this bothers so many people, especially in in the spring and especially

00:10:52.240 - 00:11:11.990

in Sonoma County. Talk a little bit about that? Well, let me two things, how can you tell if they have hay fever or allergic rhinitis and what is allergic rhinitis, we generally use the term allergic rhinitis in that allergy is what it is. And in this

00:11:11.990 - 00:11:30.060

case the main symptom is around the nasal area. So Ryan is rhinitis means nasal. Uh, it's interesting hay fever is sort of a misnomer in no way involves hey, per se, but the pollen from, hey, you know, and no way is there fever though? You may

00:11:30.060 - 00:11:48.250

feel warm. But it's so, it's an old term that we, that's a late term. But allergic rhinitis is the main symptom is caused by the release of chemicals from these antibodies is itching and that occurs in the eyes, nose and roof of the mouth and then

00:11:48.260 - 00:12:05.000

then wherever the pollen hits, there will be local symptoms like nasal nasal congestion and drainage and redness of the eyes and tearing. Uh, and then, uh, those symptoms can become more uh involved if they start draining into the chest and you can get bronchitis from it

00:12:05.000 - 00:12:24.910

as well. That's interesting when you talk to people like yourself, who, you know, you need, anyone who needs to be alert in terms of mentally alert. Uh, I think one of the worst symptoms people complain about is sort of just tiredness and sort of a feeling

00:12:24.910 - 00:12:39.810

of mentally, they're not functioning as well as they'd like to. So it's a subjective rather than a physical complaint that many people say that, you know, they could tolerate the pain and discomfort. But you know, like if I can't function mentally, that's what work doesn't work

00:12:39.820 - 00:13:02.460

for me. If I'm seeing patients in the office or for my patients, I have that same problem. Um How is allergic rhinitis and hay fever, which really isn't hay fever treated for instance. Can you avoid exposure to the allergens as they call them? Yeah, we try

00:13:02.460 - 00:13:19.050

to have that be one of the first things avoidance, especially with certain allergens, the most common indoor allergen that can be avoided or limited might, which are small parasites living in dust. So the more it studied people aren't really allergic to dust. They're allergic to the

00:13:19.090 - 00:13:36.640

proteins, animal proteins in dust, which are might and an animal dander. So one can wrap mattresses and hot wash the bedding at two week intervals and their solutions that can denature or kill the mites and limit that exposure. Keep the animals outside, keep the windows closed

00:13:36.640 - 00:13:53.050

in the morning when the palms have their highest concentration. Some people have window air conditioning and that helps. And of course, and I always like to write prescriptions. I was saying, you know, having a terrible season, I'll write them a prescription to Maui, you know, but

00:13:53.060 - 00:14:11.120

the insurance companies haven't responded to. Well always say doctor must accompany too. But if you leave the area even Tahoe for instance, above 5000 ft, the pollen count drops so low that or even going to san Francisco, it's a lot lower, then this would indicate specifically

00:14:11.120 - 00:14:27.350

we lived in the mountains, way up in the mountains would subside somewhere you didn't touch about allergens. When we mentioned that we really didn't preface that an allergen is what any of the agents that it tends to be a natural by definition of naturally occurring substance,

00:14:27.350 - 00:14:50.570

like a a pollen or bee sting. Something that the body is exposed to, that it could be as well as medication, but an allergen is definitely something that stimulates the formation of the allergic antibody in patients who form allergic antibodies and that's this 20%. Is it

00:14:50.570 - 00:15:09.660

possible to vaccinate or immunized person so that the reactions might subside over a period of time, since the symptoms are not caused by the pollen per se, the pollen simply triggers your body to react. It's possibly to suppress your body's reaction or immunize your body so

00:15:09.660 - 00:15:31.010

that this allergic reaction is, it doesn't take place. So for instance, both Lauren and her son Harvey have been receiving vaccines and in the vaccines are not medication, but actually extracts of grass trees or weeds or might and over time the person loses their sensitivity so

00:15:31.010 - 00:15:47.780

they can be out in a field full of pollen and still not experience any way the degree of symptoms because we treated the problem at its source, which was the reaction to the pollen. That is interesting, Lauren may be able to say more about that. One

00:15:47.780 - 00:16:06.340

has to go through this procedure before the break on a couple of questions of you, learn what signs and symptoms did you have that made you suspect you were allergic family history wherever I have moved in my life, I have developed the allergies of that county.

00:16:06.560 - 00:16:20.710

Um I was up in the state of Washington where molds were a big problem to me and I and I went through a course, my second course of therapy up there. I moved here and a few years later I started with the the Sonoma County pleasures

00:16:20.710 - 00:16:39.230

of the grasses and weeds and really discovered my problem with mites. Um living here and I, my symptoms were anything from just a runny nose that tired feeling to I started to develop a lot of problems with cough. I wake up in the middle and I

00:16:39.240 - 00:16:57.140

frequently and have trouble going back to sleep, wheezing and problems. I got mine a little later on, but I've got the same thing. How did the allergies impact both you and your family? Well, I was out of the bedroom a lot. I literally was sleeping on

00:16:57.140 - 00:17:12.360

the couch from about two a.m. On for several months before I went to see dr Baron. Um and I was just not being able to sleep a lot. So it was affecting my work was affecting my, my ability to be a wife and a mother and

00:17:12.360 - 00:17:27.960

uh therapist as I am a lot of discomfort and it made it very difficult to, to do the things you have to do visited that, that drug counter frequently and I tried a little bit of this, a little bit of that. My general medicine physician was,

00:17:27.970 - 00:17:43.490

was helpful and uh giving me prescriptions um as I could manage the symptoms and then I finally said, let me let me go and let me get the kind of help that I need. How long have we got? About a moment before we break here. How

00:17:43.490 - 00:18:01.560

long have you been a patient of dr just about a year. I've been there. He found me when I, when he visited with us a couple of years ago and I had just gotten through with few programs out of the fairgrounds and had managed to come

00:18:01.560 - 00:18:15.330

out with laryngitis and everything else. But after that, I also found out that I have this tremendous draining I guess it is and it's caused the hoarseness in the voice. We're going to pause right here station to bring the audience of public service announcement, but we'll

00:18:15.330 - 00:18:33.570

come back in a minute, we'll talk a little more to dr roger Baron to learn Newman and to harvey who is over here in the wings waiting to come aboard be back in just a moment. Children are the largest group of americans living below the poverty

00:18:33.570 - 00:18:48.610

line. They have to reach higher for what others take for granted healthcare and balanced meals, encouragement to learn. But with help early on, Children in your community can gain the skills to get out from below the poverty line. It takes programs like success by six and

00:18:48.620 - 00:19:12.690

people like you to help them take the first step call to learn more change the world of a child and you change the world okay. For the last time this is your head, this is your head when you don't wear a safety belt. Any questions, you

00:19:12.690 - 00:19:37.490

could learn a lot from a dummy buckle your safety belt. Welcome back to this edition of Sonoma County in the 90s. An important edition of this program because we're talking about a problem that effects we understand approximately 80,000 Sonoma county and and the problem is or

00:19:37.500 - 00:19:55.440

are allergies. We've been talking with Dr. Roger Baron who is a allergy and clinical immunology specialist. I can hardly get that out. He's also on the teaching faculty at the University of California Medical Center. We're talking with Loren Newman who is a patient and we're also

00:19:55.440 - 00:20:10.660

going to be talking to Harvey Newman, who was all of six years old and making his first appearance on television. We have you know, what do you call that very first time? Yeah. David, that's it. Thank you. One of the things I wanted to ask you

00:20:10.660 - 00:20:36.150

Roger before I went back to Lauren was we talked about allergic rhinitis. We did not talk about the medications you might use to treat that there rather plentiful. As we mentioned, the diplomacy has loads and loads. If you actually read the labels, Most of them are

00:20:36.150 - 00:20:55.490

quite similar basically. It's a combination of an anti histamine and a decongestant. Most people or many people take them for symptoms. The most effective way to use them is in the evening or in the morning prior to exposure because an anti histamine blocks the allergy, it

00:20:55.490 - 00:21:10.080

doesn't reverse it. So that one little thing would help a lot of people out there. They'll take their anti histamines in the night or in the morning. Also, it's often helpful to get a capsule And that's 12 hours with a 12 hour capsule. You can often

00:21:10.080 - 00:21:24.530

take the dose or pull the capsule apart and take part of the dose and it'll last the 12 hours or 24 and by able to pull the capsule apart and just swallow part of the beads. You can adjust the dose to eliminate the major side effect,

00:21:24.540 - 00:21:42.560

which is sleepiness and lethargy that comes with the anti histamine. So that goes a long ways. It's not a medication. We talked about saltwater washes formula for people they care to know as 1/4 of a teaspoon for six ounces of water and a squeeze bottle with

00:21:42.570 - 00:22:03.230

water washes through the nose provides almost more relief than anything. And then there are some forms of nasal spray, Not the Afrin over the counter, but ones that are prescription called anti inflammatories like methadone is the main medication beckon eases a common brand name nasal courts

00:22:03.230 - 00:22:20.300

another nasal lies another, but they will actually stabilize the nose if used regularly before again the pollen exposure. So those are, I think some of the major medications that help, well that kind of leads us into one. I wanted to ask you learn you're receiving allergy

00:22:20.300 - 00:22:39.420

immunizations. Now two or three things have just been helpful and have there been any significant problems or discomfort with the approach? I think I must have been one of the first people to say, okay shot number one and it's already working. Um It immediately started to

00:22:39.420 - 00:22:57.460

help me um just a shot or two into it and immediately helped the symptoms that were affecting my chest. Um and it has been helping so far into this allergy season for the seasonal ones. But I believe the ones for the might, I did some modifications

00:22:57.460 - 00:23:15.140

within the house. Um as DR Baron talked about before, that helped. But I'm sure that the shots have been the best help for me for us here. Why don't you evaluate your overall response to allergy therapy? This would be two or three questions maybe in one.

00:23:15.150 - 00:23:30.870

Are you glad you had the treatment? What you just said? I think that answers that, but do you wish you had well didn't wish you initiated the treatment sooner a little bit. I think everybody has to make their own judgments for themselves. I think you have

00:23:30.870 - 00:23:47.650

to be a little miserable before you start this. Um, you, you have to really want to and know that you've got significant problems before um, before you enter in into this. However, without a doubt, I'm glad I started it and I'm glad we're well into it

00:23:47.650 - 00:24:10.040

and it's working harvey it's time for your debut here. Uh What bothered you most about your allergies before you started seeing dr baron? My nose is hoarding in there real wet underneath and there's black circles around my eyes. Boy that bothered you. Huh? That wouldn't be,

00:24:10.190 - 00:24:31.280

that wouldn't be fun for any young guy. No. Um, I understand that you get allergy shots now. Are these like other shots do they hurt? They don't hurt. That's wonderful. How often you get them? Um, once a month, once a month, once a month and do

00:24:31.280 - 00:24:59.950

they do the job? You can coach America. Speed is very fast. Really one of the noise is what do you like to do there? There's a whole kids room that is set up for Children receiving therapy. Your Children who come in um, with their parents who

00:24:59.950 - 00:25:17.320

are having the therapy and I think that's really helped a lot. There are toys and, and places, places for the kids to play. Um, and what's one of your very favorite things when you go to leave the office every time. And speedy is one of the

00:25:17.330 - 00:25:33.210

nurses that harvey's nickname Leanne and he calls her speedy because she just gives him the shot in no time flat. And he only wants to know why he can't have to like his mom. He wants his other shot. We're gonna give the old doctor uh, plug

00:25:33.210 - 00:25:50.370

over here. Are you glad your mother brought you to see Dr Baron? Uh, you think you're actually feeling better than you were before? You look at you look great. He used to wake up in the morning and fill two or 3 Kleenexes every morning and was,

00:25:50.380 - 00:26:15.860

was really uncomfortable and sounded um, really poorly. So he really is is a different child. six gi was six once. It was in the last century. You're a very handsome six and I'm glad to know that you're seeing dr Baron. I'm glad that you got your

00:26:15.860 - 00:26:35.200

allergies kind of under control. Roger. We've got about a moment. What else would you like to add to the public in general about these allergies? We'll just, if they're not aware of course that the season is about to start and that some of the preventative measures

00:26:35.200 - 00:26:52.730

like nasal Washington histamines before exposure would help them a great deal to do. And uh, and also, if you know, if they're not doing well. I really think that as both Lauren and harvey I think are an example of that in this day and age. Given

00:26:52.730 - 00:27:09.520

the advancement of where science is that we we literally can control allergies even in quote the allergy capital of the world and that you don't have to quote suffer with your allergies and necessarily just take drugs and medications all the time. It is possible to stabilize

00:27:09.560 - 00:27:27.660

the allergies and get to the point where you actually stop the allergic reaction and not require the kind of medication that requiring. Now my dearly beloved wife has had hay fever which isn't really hate talking about that and it's evolved into asthma I guess, which is

00:27:27.660 - 00:27:44.790

kind of a normal practice as we get older. And I know that has been a real, real problem with her. And so I'm sure she'll be viewing our efforts here today and listening very carefully. Maybe 11 benefit about 25% of people with this type of hay

00:27:44.790 - 00:28:02.180

fever. Lawrence one go on and develop asthma. And there's some data that shows that treated early enough you reduce the chance of going on developing asthma. If you get the hay fever are treated. We're out of time. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you. Roger, thank you Lauren,

00:28:02.180 - 00:28:16.830

thank you. Harvey, nice to have you here. Ladies and gentlemen, we've been talking about allergy. We're talking to Dr Roger Baron Loren Newman and her son. Harvey Newman. And we hope that you've enjoyed the information. They've imparted to you about allergies, watching to do about him.

00:28:16.840 - 00:28:27.010

My name is written in the program Sonoma County in the nineties, be back with you next week with another interesting group from the county of Sonoma until then tonight. Good luck and good help to each and every one of you.