Saturday, March 22, 2008

Spring Fever

Persistent sneezing, runny noses, itchy eyes, skin rashes—these symptoms signify the coming of the spring season, and along with it, allergies. What are allergies exactly? Where do they come from? To find health-related information on this recurrent and seasonal affliction, check out the Health and Wellness Resource Center:

1. Go to the SFPL Home Page and select “Articles & Databases.” You will need a San Francisco Public Library card to access the databases from outside the Library.

2. Under the Categories side bar on the left, select “Health” and then “Health & Wellness Resource Center | (Gale).”

3. In the search box, enter “spring allergies.”

Notice that the articles appear under assorted topical categories including books and fact sheets, magazines and journals, drugs, pamphlets, video, and news. Select any of these tabs to view articles in that particular category. Below is a citation and excerpt from one of the many links under the "Magazines & Journals" category:

Beat spring allergies. (Buyers guide). Sara Altshul. Prevention. April 2007, v59 i4, p38.

“Do relentless sneezing fits leave you desperate to alleviate the misery? First go-to: Your doctor will likely suggest an antihistamine, nasal spray, or decongestant. If you're concerned about drowsiness or nasal irritation, or if typical remedies don't put a dent in your suffering, these expert-approved alternatives are worth trying.”

The Health and Wellness Resource Center contains authoritative articles on a variety of health-related topics from journals, magazines, and newspapers. Additional content include chapters from books, pamphlets, videos, selected Web sites, and online directories.

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