3 / 8
ACHOO!
It sounds like someone’s allergies are at it again.
But wait: It’s winter. Isn’t allergy season in the spring?
Sneezing and itchy, teary eyes aren’t just a problem
when spring pollen flies. If you struggle with symptoms
in the colder months too, you might be sensitive to some-
thing in your home.
WINTER ALLERG I E S
A home remedy
weekly in hot water. And vacuum often, especially in
the bedroom.
Be diligent about dampness.
A moist, humid home
spells trouble for allergies. To help control dampness:
●
●
Have a plumber fix any leaky pipes or sinks.
●
●
Keep bathrooms, kitchens and basements well-
ventilated and dry.
●
●
Consider using a dehumidifier to maintain a humidity
level below 45 percent.
●
●
Clear the air. Wood smoke can also trigger allergies. If
you have a fireplace, check the vents to make sure they’re
working properly.
Try these tips for a more allergy-friendly home:
Keep pesky mites at a minimum.
Dust mites, micro-
scopic creatures that hang out in places like bedding
and carpeting, are a common allergy trigger. Exposure
to them can be worse in the winter because you spend
more time indoors. To reduce mites, wash bedding
Bringing hope
to Armenia
COMMUNITY
T O L E A R N M O R E A B O U T G A M C , V I S I T
A D V E N T I S T H E A LT H . O R G / G L E N D A L E
3
IN MID-OCTOBER,
Glendale Adventist Medical Center
(GAMC) and the Armenia Fund collaborated for the first
time ever on a mission trip to a rural Armenian commu-
nity located in Noyemberyan. The lives of residents and
team members alike would be transformed forever dur-
ing the 10-day trip. A 31-member team, including GAMC
physicians, nurses, support personnel and hospital lead-
ers, worked to bring modern medicine to a small hospital
and a local Armenian population in great need of care.
In May of 2015, GAMC and Armenia Fund leadership
had visited Noyemberyan Hospital to assess needs as well
as to help plan for the medical mission.
“We knew we were bringing medicine…contem-
porary ideas, lots of supplies and equipment,” reflects
GAMC president and CEO, Kevin A. Roberts. “It didn’t
cross our minds that we would be bringing hope to Noy-
emberyan.” Nearly 3 tons of supplies, medication and
equipment—including two anesthesia machines and two
ambulances—were donated to the hospital thanks to the
generosity of GAMC associates, physicians, the Glendale
community and Adventist Health corporate executives
and hospital CEOs.
HELPING HANDS
Each day, anxious people, young
and old, crowded into the hospital—some even walk-
ing miles through the countryside for this rare op-
portunity for treatment. Upwards of 800 patients
underwent physical exams and screenings, and some
were given medication and/or referred as needed to
GAMC physicians in specialty areas for follow-up.
Clinical screenings detected a variety of conditions—
most notably elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol
and diabetes. Internal medicine, cardiology, pulmonary,
neurology and pediatrics were particularly welcomed
based on the medical needs of the community.
A mission of this scale had never occurred in Arme-
nia’s modern history, especially in a rural hospital near
the country’s border. During the visit, 35 surgeries with
anesthesia were performed. Cases included hernia repairs,
gallbladder surgeries, congenital
facial defects and cleft palate
repairs. Several patients were
under 5 years of age—the youngest only
10 months old.
“As physicians, we went to Armenia to help
people who are marginalized and lacking re-
sources,” says Simon Keushkerian, MD, vascular
surgery. “As an immigrant, the only way you can
show that your heritage is still maintained, alive
and thriving is by making sure that the people
who live in that country are healthy
[enough] to thrive and survive.”
SAVING LIVES
A woman in
her 40s had a heart attack and
received immediate medical at-
tention. Another patient whose
family was resigned to her
death from congestive heart
failure was treated and able to
go home the next day. At least
two of the surgeries involved
cases where patients’ condi-
tions were life-threatening.
The lives of hundreds of
people of Noyemberyan are
being improved by the medi-
cations and health care guidance received
from GAMC physicians and nurses. “We would have
loved to see more patients, do more surgeries,” Roberts
says. “We did what we could—we saved lives there. We
are planning to return. This is just the beginning of a
five-year journey for GAMC.”
At the end of the mission, the group was received by
the president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, who person-
ally thanked all professionals for volunteering their time
and efforts in helping a community very important to
Armenia.
Photos courtesy of Areg Balayan