achoo! The Blog focuses on allergy relief, asthma management, and creating a healthy home environment.
CNN Highlights Bedbugs, Dust Mites in Mattresses
by theblog@achooallergy.com30 Jul 2010 at 8:46 am
Today in Meet the Critters Inside Your Mattress, CNN Health highlights the allergens that lurk in mattresses: "The mattress can be a jungle of dust mites and bedbugs, milling around among dried remnants of blood, saliva, sweat and basically all the other bodily fluids you can think of."Amidst a recent report from the National Pest Management Association that bedbug infestations are still on the ri ... read more
Introducing the Ebac Desiccant Dehumidifier
by theblog@achooallergy.com28 Jul 2010 at 6:46 am
Ebac desiccant dehumidifiers are the perfect solution for low temperature environments where excess humidity is a concern. Each unit comes with features like an hours run meter and all steel construction. They can be easily ducted for installation in your basement, crawlspace, or any area where excess humidity is a problem during low and even freezing temperatures.Ebac desiccant dehumidifiers do ... read more
Zinc Nasal Sprays Damage Smell
by theblog@achooallergy.com26 Jul 2010 at 9:50 am
In a recent Sunday Housecall called Growing Evidence that Zinc Nasal Spray Can Damage Smell on FoxNews, Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld says, "Zinc nasal spray is ineffective ... In addition, if you use it frequently, it can interfere, sometimes permanently, with your sense of smell."
A common over-the-counter homeopathic cold remedy, zinc nasal spray is often reached for to "cure" colds. Instead of risking ... read more
Free 2nd Day Shipping on IQAir
by theblog@achooallergy.com21 Jul 2010 at 6:54 am
AchooAllergy.com is excited to announce Free 2nd Day Shipping on IQAir HealthPro models!
As part of a continuing effort to make our customers happy and to provide an elite level of service, AchooAllergy.com will provide faster shipping on these selected IQAir air purifiers. The shipping upgrade is available immediately and it applies to the IQAir HealthPro, the IQAir HealthPro Plus, and the IQAir ... read more
Hidden Allergens: Car Air Conditioning Filters
by theblog@achooallergy.com19 Jul 2010 at 6:52 pm
Recently, my husband did some maintenance work on our car before a family road trip. One of the things on his list was changing the air conditioning filter in our van. After he removed the filter, he showed it to me. It was an absolute nightmare - black with several years' accumulation of dust and pollution. It could not possibly have been effective in purifying our car's air. Furthermore ... read more
Hidden Allergens: Books
by theblog@achooallergy.com16 Jul 2010 at 8:48 am
When thinking about allergens in our homes, we may think to dust our bookshelves including the tops of our books. But, did you know that potent allergens can actually lurk in and even be fed by books?Cockroach allergy affects up to 60 percent of urban residents who suffer from asthma, according to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America. But what do cockroaches have to do with books? As many ... read more
Introducing the Miele Capri
by theblog@achooallergy.com14 Jul 2010 at 7:42 am
The most recent addition to the line of Miele S2 canister vacuum cleaners is the Miele Capri. The Miele Capri is the perfect vacuum for anyone looking for the quality of a Miele canister vacuum in an inexpensive package.Featuring a sealed Clean Air system and a 1200 Watt motor, the Miele Capri is a compact, lightweight vacuum well-suited to clean smooth floors and low pile carpeting.
What's i ... read more
Forest Bathing Boosts Immunity, Lowers Stress
by theblog@achooallergy.com12 Jul 2010 at 7:50 am
In a time of year when many are used to sun bathing, another kind of bathing proves not only safe, but beneficial. A recent New York Times Health featurette explores the claim that exposure to plants and parks can boost immunity."Forest bathing," a term adopted from the Japanese practice of visiting nature parks for therapeutic effect, does in fact appear to have health benefits, according to a se ... read more
Don't Ignore These Symptoms if You Have Allergies
by theblog@achooallergy.com9 Jul 2010 at 11:04 am
In light of our recently launched Allergy Consumer Report series on allergist interviews, we thought it would be a good time to point out 8 Allergy Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore. As Health.com reports, if you've been diagnosed with allergies and you experience any of the following, you should contact your doctor:Pain in the sinus area and other symptoms of sinus infection (fever, or a crea ... read more
Social Media for Allergy Sufferers
by theblog@achooallergy.com7 Jul 2010 at 5:52 am
The new trend of interactive web communities and social media brings some wonderful opportunities for community as well as some areas to be cautious of. People suffering from a medical condition or an allergy can now communicate with others. There is a great opportunity for brainstorming and information sharing. People can find out what treatments have been effective for others. Methods such as e ... read more
Food Allergy Safety During Summer Picnics
by theblog@achooallergy.com2 Jul 2010 at 8:27 am
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In Summer Means Barbecues, Picnics and Food Allergies, Medical News Today highlights ways to protect against food allergies while enjoying summer get-togethers. More than 12 million americans suffer from food allergies, the severity of which ranges from irritating, itchy skin rashes to severe, life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.
Allergist James Sublett, MD says, "Food allergies are serious, b ... read more
Friedrich Kuhl in Consumer Reports
by theblog@achooallergy.com30 Jun 2010 at 5:55 am
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Yesterday, on their Home and Garden blog, Consumer Reports reviewed a brand new line of window air conditioners from Friedrich. The Friedrich Kuhl line of air conditioners have a sleek, new design with many great features that appeal to anyone who needs help cooling their home this summer. According to the article, five of the Friedrich models currently rated are strong performers. Two of the mod
... read more
Is Your Sunscreen Safe?
by theblog@achooallergy.com28 Jun 2010 at 7:11 am
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Staying protected from the sun is not as simple as slathering on any old sunscreen. While it's good that Americans seem to have become more and more conscious of the dangers of unprotected, prolonged sun exposure, we still have a long way to go in terms of using sunscreen products that don't possibly cause more harm than good. Factors such as the inclusion of hormone-disrupting chemicals, ... read more
Peanuts on Airplanes - Yes or No?
by theblog@achooallergy.com25 Jun 2010 at 12:32 pm
It's an almost classic combination that little bag of peanut snacks you munch on while in the air. But for many, a growing number in fact, peanuts are deadly, and some wonder whether they should be allowed in the confined space of an airplane. Recently, as CNN reports in a story called Should Peanuts be Banned from Planes?, the U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed banning peanuts ... read more
Bedbugs Going After Goldman Sachs?
by theblog@achooallergy.com23 Jun 2010 at 6:15 am
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These days it seems like everyone is on the attack against the investment banking industry. It looks like bedbugs have joined the fray and possibly have invaded the Goldman Sachs building. With bedbugs, you always can count on two things. These critters do not discriminate, and it is very costly to exterminate them.Last week on the Top Stocks blog at MSN Money, writer Elizabeth Strott posted a ... read more
Health Effects of Burning Oil
by theblog@achooallergy.com21 Jun 2010 at 8:11 am
CNN Health reports on the health risks of the smoke clouds formed from burning off the oil from the recent oil spill. The smoke carries with it soot, volatile gases, and other toxic byproducts.
Dr. Phil Harber from the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA says that the most immediate risk is to cleanup workers more than 12,600 of t ... read more
Salt Rooms Treat Asthma?
by theblog@achooallergy.com18 Jun 2010 at 7:35 am
Fox News reports on a wellness center in Manhattan that features salt rooms, which are said to help skin problems, sinus issues, and asthma. Salt therapy, also known as halo therapy, has been practiced since the 1800s and is believed to be cleansing to the skin and lungs. The wellness center aims to mimic natural salt caves in Europe.
Watch the latest news video at video.foxnews.com
While allergist ... read more
Kroger Recalls Ice Cream
by theblog@achooallergy.com16 Jun 2010 at 5:49 am
Summer has already arrive here in the South where temperatures have been over 90 degrees for the past week. Ice cream, the cool summer treat, is probably flying off the shelves. But, food allergy sufferers always have to be concerned when trying new foods and ice cream is no exception.
The Kroger Company announced last week that it is recalling select containers of the Kroger Deluxe Chocolate Pa ... read more
Summer Cold or Allergies?
by theblog@achooallergy.com14 Jun 2010 at 6:25 am
A CNN Health feature 'Summer Colds' May Not Be Just That highlights a condition many of us experience as spring temperatures yield to summer's less forgiving ones. Cold viruses exist all year round, but they are much more common in colder months. A true cold has symptoms lasting up to ten days that include congestion, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, and watery eyes. However, what many con ... read more
Stinging Insect Allergies
by theblog@achooallergy.com11 Jun 2010 at 10:44 am
As my husband was doing some yard work last week, he came across a couple of yellow jacket nests in our yard. Thankfully, he only got stung once and was subsequently able to safely destroy the nests, but the experience reminded me that summer is a good time to cover some insect allergy information.Don't think that if you are stung once and you're okay, that you're not allergic to insec ... read more