HEALTHY
PERSPECTIVE
Coughing, shortness of breath,
pungent air, nausea, and more
are all part of a Floridian’s
summertime sadness. Nevertheless,
one expert on the Island knows
exactly what you have to do to scratch
that itch.
Boca Grande fi refi ghter and paramedic
Jeff Knowles has been helping people
before he set foot on the island in 2003.
Since 1994 Knowles has been a registered
Respiratory Therapist, with dedicated
work in Advanced Cardiac Life Support
education. Knowles has a variety of
patient treatment under his belt, from his
medical work in Gainesville to his work on
Gasparilla Island. As a Southwest Florida
resident, you could say he knows a thing
or two about local respiratory irritants.
From pollen to red tide, there are many
functions of Mother Nature that will make
By Olivia Cameron
you want to stay home. Most of us are
familiar with the potent air and coughing
fi ts that are to be seasonally in Florida, but
these side effects are irritants, rather than
dangers, to your system.
“All allergies, like pollens, are just things
that trigger your body to overreact,” said
Knowles. “All allergic reactions are different.
Unless you’re compromised already
by a respiratory issue, it is just really annoying.”
Allergies to pollen can affect respiratory
systems in different ways. However, these
symptoms can easily come and go.
“You can develop any allergic reaction
at any time and one can go away at any
time," Jeff said. "All allergies are upper
respiratory; it has nothing to do with your
lungs.”
Asthma is a common underlying
condition that can cause concern.