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(ARA) - What does a cartoon nose with red sneakers and year-round sniffles have to do with learning about nasal allergies? Well this nose, Ronnie Nose, is the star of "Don't Blow It," a new online health game that uses humor and animation to help teach people about nasal allergies.
The objective of "Don't Blow It" is to help Ronnie Nose stack various objects while avoiding allergy triggers and seeking treatment. Encounter one too many allergens and Ronnie Nose will sneeze, blowing away the items and points the player has earned.
"The 'Don't Blow It' game is fun, but it also provides useful health information, like the importance of visiting a doctor for diagnosis and treatment," says Eric Schenkel, MD, director of the Valley Allergy & Asthma Treatment Center in Bethlehem Township, Pa. "Health games are being used more and more to help motivate healthy behavior."
Don't Sneeze, Plant Trees
Just by playing "Don't Blow It," users will also help do something good for the environment. For every new player, a low-allergenic tree will be planted through American Forests, a national tree planting organization. Why? Because studies suggest that higher levels of carbon dioxide and a warmer atmosphere may increase pollen production, in turn triggering nasal allergy symptoms. And tree planting is one of the most effective means of drawing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In fact, one mature tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year, according to the Human Environmental Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois.
"The 'Don't Blow It' game reinforces American Forests' commitment to a healthier world through tree planting," says Deborah Gangloff, executive director for American Forests. "Our goal is to plant 20,000 low-allergenic trees through this campaign, which, once those trees mature, would absorb nearly 1 million pounds of carbon dioxide every year."
Low-allergenic trees rank five or below on the Ogren Plant-Allergy Scale (OPALS). This scale evaluates a number of factors, including how much pollen a tree produces and the potency of that pollen, to determine how likely it is for that tree to cause allergy symptoms.
Good Stuff for the Stuffy
Nasal allergy symptoms, including sneezing, itchy nose, runny nose and nasal congestion, can occur all year, and they are triggered by both indoor and outdoor allergens, like pollen, dust mites, pet dander and mold. Because you can't completely avoid nasal allergy triggers, it's important to visit a doctor to discuss treatment options.
"For patients suffering from nasal allergy symptoms, a prescription nasal allergy spray is a recommended first-line treatment when congestion is present," says Schenkel. "And remember to take your prescribed medicine as directed by your doctor, even when you're not experiencing symptoms, to keep them under control."
Prescription nasal allergy sprays, which are available for adults and children, include NASONEX (mometasone furoate monohydrate) Nasal Spray, 50 mcg (calculated on the anhydrous basis).
Visit
[ DontBlowIt.com ]
to play this entertaining and educational game, and to help reach the goal of planting 20,000 low-allergenic trees. You also can download the awe-inspiring "Don't Blow It" Badge for your Facebook page. Show your friends you've done good stuff for yourself -- learning about nasal allergies -- and good stuff for the environment -- helping plant a tree. For more information about treating nasal allergy symptoms, visit
.
Courtesy of ARAcontent