Action Plan for Allergies

Relieve symptoms from allergic reactions, hay fever, and asthma!

Action Plan for Allergies was developed in conjunction with the American College of Sports Medicine, the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. This book shows you how to take control of your health, boost your energy, and reduce or eliminate the need for medication with the latest scientific research and proven exercise plans.

Because fitness level, diet, environment, and medication—such as albuterol, loratidine, diphenhydramine, and salmeterol—affect allergies, Action Plan for Allergies allows you to tailor the exercise programs to your individual needs.

Including information on creating an allergen-free environment, as well as techniques for desensitization and increasing tolerance, Action Plan for Allergies is a comprehensive resource for managing your symptoms and leading a freer, healthier life.

Dr. William Briner is the medical director for the Sports Medicine Center and director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. He was the physician for the indoor volleyball venue during the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games and has served as the team physician for the U.S. national soccer and volleyball teams as well as for local high school and college teams. Dr. Briner's research interests include preparticipation examinations for sports, ankle sprains, volleyball injuries, and allergic conditions related to exercise. Dr. Briner is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.

About the Contributors

Jeffrey M. Mjaanes, MD, is a pediatrician at Rush University Medical Center and a sports medicine specialist at Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH. He is also head team physician for Trinity International University. In June 2006 he completed a sports medicine fellowship at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. Mjaanes graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he was a Spanish and international relations major. He went on to complete medical school at the University of Wisconsin and his pediatric residency at Rush. Mjaanes and his wife, Mercedes, have two daughters, Gabriela and Lucia.

Matthew J. Brandon, MD, is currently medical director of Family Health and Fitness Specialists, Ltd., in South Elgin, Illinois. In June 2006 he completed a sports medicine fellowship through Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. Dr. Brandon completed his family medicine residency at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Illinois, and medical school at the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine. He is interested in endurance sports, exercise physiology, and injury prevention. Dr. Brandon and his wife, Charlotte, have one son, Nathan, and enjoy travel and downhill skiing.

About ACSM

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is more than the world's leader in the sports medicine and exercise science—it is an association of people and professions exploring the use of that science and physical activity to make life healthier for all people.

Since 1954, ACSM has been committed to the promotion of physical activity and the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sport-related injuries. With more than 20,000 international, national, and regional chapter members in 80 countries, ACSM is internationally known as the leading source of state-of-the-art research and information on sports medicine and exercise science. Through ACSM, health and fitness professionals representing a variety of disciplines work to improve the quality of life for people around the world through health and fitness research, education, and advocacy.

A large part of ACSM's mission is devoted to public awareness and education about the positive aspects of physical activity for people of all ages from all walks of life. ACSM's physicians, researchers, and educators have created tools for the public, ranging in scope from starting an exercise program to avoiding or treating sport injuries.

ACSM's National Center is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, widely recognized as the amateur sports capitol of the nation. To learn more about ACSM, visit www.acsm.org.

“Action Plan for Allergies is a comprehensive, easy-to-read resource for managing allergies through exercise and physical activity. Whether you have asthma, anaphylaxis, or food allergies, the safe and sound approaches in Action Plan for Allergies will improve your health and physical fitness.”

Dr. Mariana Castells, MD, PhD
Associate Director of the Allergy and Immunology Training Program
at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School

"Many of us have been told not to exercise if we have asthma or suffer from allergies. In this book, written in conjunction with the American College of Sports Medicine, Briner (medical director, Sports Medicine Ctr.; director, Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, Lutheran General Hosp., Park Ridge, IL) shows that exercise does not hurt allergy and asthma sufferers and may actually help them. Asserts Briner, “No allergic disease qualifies as an excuse to avoid exercise.” As with the other excellent titles in the “Action Plan for Health “ series, this book is logically organized, provides useful graphics, and offers a review of key concepts at the end of each chapter. Briner opens with a useful discussion of the physiological benefits of exercise and then shows how the physiological changes gained from exercise can improve the quality of life for those suffering from allergies or asthma. He then lays out guidelines for implementing and adhering to a well-designed exercise program. Briner cites scientific research when appropriate and supplies references for those wanting to access the primary literature on specific topics. An excellent resource that fits the bill; highly recommended for college, medical, school, consumer, and public libraries."

Howard Fuller, Stupski Fdn., Mill Valley, CA
Library Journal, October 15, 2006