Early allergy season has officially arrived in the Las Vegas valley. Las Vegas local Jose Montalto tells Channel 13 that he recently started taking his allergy medicine. "[I noticed] an itch in the back of the throat, sneezing, a little more than usual," he said. "[I] thought is this a cold or is that an allergy? And then, you realize a couple days later oh. Not a cold. It's allergies."

As wind roars and trees bloom, officials say pollen levels in the Las Vegas Valley are the highest they’ve been in years. UNLV Pollen Monitoring Program Lab Supervisor Asma Tahir says mulberry pollen levels are “extremely high,” with pine and grass pollen levels following closely behind. Tahir says last year’s colder and longer winter delayed the spring season, which could be partially to blame for the high pollen count.

From watery eyes to runny nose, spring is peak allergy season and Asma Tahir knows exactly what’s making you sneeze. Tahir is the Lab Supervisor for UNLV’s pollen program. UNLV is the only certified National Allergy Bureau pollen and mold station, with four other pollen sites at CCSD schools. They include Jerome Mack Middle School, Palo Verde High School, Sunrise Acres and Joseph Neal Elementary Schools.

Last year a study done by a major insurance company in India, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, reported that 77% of Indians are experiencing at least one symptom of stress regularly. World Health Organization defines stress as, “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.” In simpler terms, stress is how our body, mind, and behaviors respond to outside events by interpreting them, and making judgments about controlling or influencing them.

Years ago, you’d hear “public health,” and more than likely, you’d shrug. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. No one ignores it now. And the virus remains, people are still getting sick from it and experiencing long-term effects. But what’s its lethality today, has it weakened? Should we keep getting vaccinations?

Selfishness (matsara or swartha) is an action in which one is concerned exclusively or overly with one’s profit, pleasure, or gain without regard for the welfare of others and often at the expense of others. Selflessness, on the other hand, is placing the welfare of others before one’s own. One cannot be completely selfless to the extent of neglecting one’s priorities or purpose in life. At the same time, one should not be completely selfish, so much so that one completely neglects the needs and wants of others in fulfilling one’s objectives. What is needed is a happy balance between selfishness and selflessness.

Understanding long Covid remains tricky for doctors. There’s no standard clinical definition for the condition or test to diagnose it. It can even go by different names, like post-Covid conditions, long-haul Covid, post-acute sequelae of SARS CoV-2 infection (PASC), or chronic Covid.

Fear (Bhaya) is an emotion that results from the belief that something or someone is hazardous and is likely to induce pain or discomfort. The operative word in this conceptualization is that it is a belief or a perception that may not be factual. It is a hindrance on the spiritual path as well as everyday life. For some of us, it has become a habit to over-assess the negative outcomes and thus we develop fears. Such a disposition is often associated with pessimism.

Aahana (name changed on request), 16 years old, is a high-school student in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-Wisconsin) who came to the United States as a child. She has an older sibling who has been a straight A student and is now in medical school. However, Aahana has always struggled with her performance in school. She has been shamed by her family and Indian-origin peers who have excelled in school. Her poor performance was always attributed to her laziness and a lack of applying herself.

How do we go about surrendering our ego to achieve a greater purpose in life?

"Las Vegas Morning Blend" hosts Elliott Bambrough and Jessica Rosado join UNLV's EARN-FS team as they discuss free workshops and breastfeeding support in collaboration with the Southern Nevada Breastfeeding Coalition.

There is a new groundbreaking survey for older LGBTQ+ Americans that is looking for participants over 50 years old.