ProfNet Wire: Health & Living: Treating Seasonal Allergies

LEADS

1. Film: 30th Anniversary of 'Star Wars' in May
2. Fitness: Get Your Body Beach-Ready as Summer Approaches
3. Health: Use Caution When Treating Seasonal Allergies
4. Sports: The History Behind the Stanley Cup

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LEADS

**1. FILM: 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF 'STAR WARS' IN MAY. DR. PAULA URUBURU, professor and chair of the English Department at HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY: "'Star Wars' is Shakespeare in outer space. Like Shakespeare's plays, it transcends time and its own genre because of its universality -- there are larger-than- life heroes and villains, comic relief for the underlings, characters with tragic flaws, etc. Its themes -- political power struggles, love and death, betrayal, violent battles, father issues -- are familiar even though they're set 'a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.' It is also very American. 'Star Wars' specifically (and sci-fi more generally) shares a great deal of its structure and themes with the mythology of the Wild West -- from initiation into manhood and showdowns in dangerous saloons to trying to survive in harsh frontier landscapes and encounters with strange 'alien' races. It will continue to resonate as more than just a series of exciting and technologically innovative films; as a result -- and the reason why -- we are celebrating this anniversary." News Contact: Ginny Greenberg, prpgse@hofstra.edu Phone: +1-516-463-6819 or +1-516-463-6818 (4/26/2007)

**2. FITNESS: GET YOUR BODY BEACH-READY AS SUMMER APPROACHES. MIA ST. JOHN, professional boxer and creator of the "Million Dollar Workout" DVD: "Thoughts of wearing less clothing during the summer months drives nearly 80 percent of adults nationwide to take action, according to a new survey. You can slim down by quickly losing retained water, so make sure you sweat while doing cardio exercises. Spice up your workout by adding punches to lunges and crunches, making a full-body workout in less time. And don't forget to eat high protein and low carbs, skip the salt and focus on eating perishable foods that keep water weight at a minimum." News Contact: Laurie Lindenbaum, llindenbaum@robinleedyassociates.com Phone: +1-914-241-0086, ext. 26 (4/26/2007)

**3. HEALTH: USE CAUTION WHEN TREATING SEASONAL ALLERGIES. DR. DANIEL A. HUSSAR, Remington Professor of Pharmacy at Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at UNIVERSITY OF THE SCIENCES IN PHILADELPHIA, has published extensively on issues surrounding consumer-related pharmacy practices: "Allergy season is here. But did you know that mixing certain allergy medications with other medicines can have hazardous effects on your health? Consumers should read the warnings on over-the-counter medicines and consult with their pharmacist, in order to make educated decisions about which allergy medication is right for them. Certain allergy medications (antihistamines) can cause drowsiness or sleepiness, and caution must be observed when participating in activities like driving or operating machinery." News Contact: Brian Kirschner, b.kirschner@usip.edu Phone: +1-215-895-1186 (4/26/2007)

**4. SPORTS: THE HISTORY BEHIND THE STANLEY CUP. MICHAEL MCKINLEY, author of "Hockey: A People's History," takes a look at the Stanley Cup, the oldest, grandest pro sports trophy in North America, as the toughest of all sports playoffs continue in eight cities from Ottawa to Anaheim: "Some hockey fans call the Cup the greatest champagne chalice ever, but it has also been a latrine, an incinerator, a baptismal font, and the source of many epic hockey quests. Lord Stanley, the English aristocrat and governor-general of Canada who donated this trophy in 1892, would be astonished, for he saw his 'Dominion Challenge Trophy' as a way to unite big, sparsely populated Canada through competition for his prize. Today, Stanley's gift unites hockey players from around the world who compete to see who will hoist the huge silver trophy come June." News Contact: Stephen Crane, stephen@cranecreek.com Phone: +1-610-740- 9524 (4/26/2007)