Breathe Easier: NIHD Healthy Lifestyle Talk explores Allergic Rhinitis

Northern Inyo Healthcare District invites the community to its next Healthy Lifestyle Talk on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 6 p.m., at the NIHD Birch Street Annex, 2957 Birch Street in Bishop. Family physician Dr. Anne Gasiorwill present “Breathe Easier: Diagnosing and Treating Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever).” The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments, prepared by NIHD’s Dietary Team, will be served.

Allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever, affects millions nationwide, but in the Eastern Sierra it carries a unique challenge. Local winds, sagebrush, rabbit brush, juniper, and other native plants produce heavy seasonal pollen that can trigger sneezing, congestion, and itchy eyes. For many in our region, symptoms intensify in the fall when grasses and weeds peak. Left untreated, allergic rhinitis can interfere with sleep, school, and work, and may worsen asthma or sinus conditions.

Dr. Gasior is uniquely prepared to help local patients navigate these challenges. She trained with the late Dr. William Beck, a respected Bishop allergist, to continue providing allergy testing and treatment tailored specifically to the region’s environment. “Eastern Sierra residents face allergens that differ from those in coastal or urban areas,” Dr. Gasior notes. “Understanding and targeting those specific triggers can make a life-changing difference.”

A longtime member of the Bishop community, Dr. Gasior arrived in 1999 after completing her Family Practice training at Ventura County Medical Center. She first cared for patients of all ages at the Toiyabe Indian Health Project, and spent a year in Kenya before joining NIHD in 2013. Today she practices at NIHD’s Rural Health Clinic, with a special focus on pediatric care alongside the district’s local pediatricians. She and her husband make their home in Bishop with their dogs, and she enjoys gardening and time outdoors.

NIHD’s Healthy Lifestyle Talks aim to connect residents with trusted healthcare providers and practical, evidence-based health information.

For more information about the talk, please call (760) 873-5811 ext. 3415.