Panorama City, Woodland Hills, West Ventura

100-year-old identical twins celebrate life

They grew up wearing matching dresses and sharing a best friend. Today, 100-year-old identical twins and Kaiser Permanente members, Venice Shaw and Inez Harries (pictured at left), still share daily phone visits, a rich family life, and a love of the outdoors.

In fact, they’re already planning their annual summer camping trip to Point Mugu State Park. “We’ve gone camping together as a family for almost 40 years,” says Shaw. “We were still swimming in the ocean until our early 80s.”

“I don’t feel any older than 80 now,” says Harries, who goes to exercise classes once a week, walks every day, lunches with friends, and tidies up around her Sylmar home.

Linda Croad, MD, has cared for Harries and Shaw at our Santa Clarita and Panorama City facilities for the past quarter century. “They lead healthy, well-rounded lives with a lot of love in their family,” she says. “Those are key ingredients for a good, long life.”

As children, the girls survived chicken pox, scarlet fever, and mumps. They vividly remember the 1918 flu epidemic, when the whole family was quarantined.

When it comes to good genes, the twins “hit the jackpot,” says Harries’ daughter. “But they’ve also been very careful with their diets,” she adds. “They’re active, social, interested in life, and very giving and helpful.”

The twins also share a great connection with their personal physician. You can choose a physician to care for you and your family.

Learn more about living well as you grow older.

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How to help your hay fever symptoms

Itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; a runny or stuffy nose; and a scratchy throat. Sound familiar?

If so, you might have “hay fever,” also called allergic rhinitis. It’s the most common form of allergies, and it occurs when your immune system overreacts to allergens such as dust or pollen particles in the air.

Some people are affected only when pollens are high. Others have year-round allergies to dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, and mold. Even cereal grain, wood dust, or chemicals in your workplace may cause allergies.

It’s best to avoid things that trigger your allergies. When that’s not possible, over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants can help reduce your symptoms.

If you have any of the following, it’s time to call your physician:

• A fever with pain in the ear or sinus area, or a persistent yellow or green discharge from the nose.
• Prescription or over-the-counter allergy medication that doesn’t help.
• Worsening symptoms and you don’t know the cause.
• Any side effects from your medication.
• A cough or cold that lasts longer than one to two weeks.

Do you want an allergy consultation? If you receive care in western Ventura County, you no longer need a referral from your personal physician to schedule an allergy consultation at our Kaiser Permanente Buenaventura Camarillo Medical Offices. Just call the Woodland Hills Allergy appointment desk at 818-719-2350 to request an appointment. Our Kaiser Permanente Buenaventura Camarillo Medical Offices are at 2620 E. Las Posas Road. Hours are Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Learn more about allergies and listen to a podcast that may ease your allergy symptoms.

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