Neighborhood of the Week: Neighborhood cold cases in Coeur d’Alene

What about those neighborhoods that rarely seem to have homes for sale? ... We’re calling these places Neighborhood Cold Cases. Cue the theme song. Case File #1: Canfield Park and Bentwood Park in Coeur d’Alene

Hazy daze

Smoke from Washington arrives via cold front

COEUR d'ALENE - The smoky air Thursday arrived from wildland fires in Washington and Canada, said Ralph Paul, airshed coordinator for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Are you struggling to take a breath?

We all know that breathing is a vital function, however many of us take that for granted.

The Front Row with MARK NELKE Aug. 18, 2011

Athlete remembered as a fighter

Mary Fisher didn't want a little thing like an asthma attack to keep her out of a basketball game.

Allergies

Allergies affect approximately 40 percent of the population today, and are on the rise, affecting approximately 50 million Americans. There are four classifications of allergies: skin contact (which includes things such as poisonous plants, animal scratches, detergents, or latex gloves), injection type (includes bee stings and injected medications), inhalation allergies (pollen, dusts, animal dander, mold and mildew) and ingestion allergies (foods and medications).

Antibiotics: Friend or foe? Part II

Germs are becoming increasingly more resistant to our antibiotics, and as a result, stronger, more potentially dangerous antibiotics are necessitated. Keep in mind that any drug, whether by prescription or over the counter (OTC) has potentially serious side effects, and should be utilized only after researching the risks, including toxicity as a result of its consumption. Antibiotics - and OTC's, because they're given out like candy - often miss the scrutiny given to other medications by wise consumers, but pose potentially serious side effects when misused.

Movers and Shakers January 14, 2011

Frank joins Tomlinson North Idaho Sotheby's International Realty

ADVERTISING: Advertorial — Root cause solutions for seasonal allergies

Whether you have suffered from allergies your whole life, or have only recently developed symptoms, allergies can make you miserable!

The air we breathe

Region rated 11th worst in nation in air quality study

Wildfire smoke significant player in local outdoor air pollution

Inhaling helium is no joke

Teenage girl dies after breathing it in from pressurized tank

EAGLE POINT, Ore. (AP) - Last weekend, 14-year-old Ashley Long told her parents she was going to a slumber party. But instead of spending the night watching videos and eating popcorn two blocks away, she piled into a car with a bunch of her friends and rode to a condo in Medford, Ore., where police say the big sister of one of her friends was throwing a party with booze and marijuana.

Oregon Coast Range climb leads to stunning views

SEASIDE, Ore. - The sweet smell of the Oregon Coast Range is one that can't be replicated, at least not that I've found so far.

The pollen problem

COEUR d’ALENE — You just can’t miss the yellow stuff.

Air quality remains hazy

Rating hits unhealthy levels, sports events could be canceled

COEUR d'ALENE - The air quality in North Idaho reached hazardous levels Wednesday due to smoke from multiple wildfires.

Asthma and obstructive sleep apnea

The links between asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) suggest that OSA alone is a risk factor for making asthma episodes worse. And many studies also show that people with asthma are more prone to develop OSA. It seems that many of the things that happen in most asthma patients promote OSA. These are obstructions in the nose, an increase in the ability of the upper airway to collapse, and a decrease in the size of the airway.

TRADER JOE'S: Some California dreamin'

California newcomers, before you buy a new North Idaho home, give a moment to consider the hardship you may experience when there is no Trader Joe’s within 10 minutes of your house.

Dangers of overprescribing kids' antibiotics

Parents must carefully consult with their children's pediatricians before deciding to treat their kids with antibiotics. It is important for parents to understand that prescribing antibiotics to children unnecessarily raises the risk of developing antibiotic-resistant infections in both the child and society as a whole. For this reason, health experts have been warning of the dangers of antibiotic over-prescription for years. Yet, a recent study involving nearly 65,000 outpatient visits by children under the age of 18 shows that pediatricians write more than 10 million unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions annually, mostly for respiratory conditions. About one-quarter of antibiotic prescriptions are given to children with respiratory conditions that will not respond to antibiotics, such as asthma, bronchitis, influenza and allergies.

Obesity and medication use

While prescription medication use is high among all age groups in this country, especially among older adults, obese U.S. adults use more of a number of particular prescription drugs than adults of normal weight. These include medications to treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels (at the top of this most-used group), followed by drugs used to treat diabetes, asthma and thyroid problems, as well as antidepressants and painkillers. Obese patients were also as likely as adults over the age of 65 to be taking multiple medications at once. Members of both groups should understand that taking multiple prescription drugs increases the risk of "adverse events." With this in mind, a review with the pharmacist may be in order.

Asthma today

With more than 26 million Americans diagnosed with asthma, and 225,000 people worldwide dying from asthma, it’s time we take another look at it.

ADVERTISING: Advertorial — Stomach symptoms: Not just an annoyance

So often I hear people say they have heartburn, indigestion, reflux or frequent upset stomach and add “but it’s really no big deal, I just pop a Tums” (or Prilosec or other OTC or prescribed medication).

Dangers of heartburn and reflux

With more than 15 million Americans on prescriptions for heartburn and reflux, and many more on over-the-counter (OTC) medications, we can say we have a real problem here!