achoo! The Blog focuses on allergy relief, asthma management, and creating a healthy home environment.
Recent Allergy Test Study Questions Overuse
by theblog@achooallergy.com6 Feb 2012 at 11:21 am
There rarely passes a week when you don't hear or see something related to allergies, and the larger trend recently seems to revolve a great deal around food allergies. Despite what seems to be a sharp increase in the number of children allergic to specific foods, a recent article in the journal Pediactrics calls in to the question the use of modern allergy tests and how their overuse can be ... read more
Annual White Sale - 15% Off Bedding!
by theblog@achooallergy.com3 Feb 2012 at 4:25 am
As February begins, we're excited to announce our Annual White sale! From now until the the end the month, save 15% on ALL bedding.
Save big while making your bedroom allergy and asthma friendly. All items, from our exclusive lines of Allergy Armor bedding to comforters, blankets and everything in between are now on sale.
Allergy bedding and allergy mattress covers are a simple solution to ... read more
Allergic to... Bacteria?
by theblog@achooallergy.com1 Feb 2012 at 9:58 am
A study released in this month's issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that some instances of asthma may be related to what could be classified as an allergic response to bacteria.
The allergic response, though not fully understood, is often fairly simple. When protein allergens like pollen, dander or dust mites enter airways and bind to IgE (Immunoglobulin E) receptors, mast cel ... read more
Weak Winter Not Good for Allergies
by theblog@achooallergy.com30 Jan 2012 at 7:54 am
It's almost February, and many of us across the country are still wondering when winter will arrive. Though there have been some cold snaps, followed by 60-70 degree days, another weekend outdoors sans jacket or a coat is giving me the impression that this is about all we're going to get. If that is the case, allergy sufferers are in line for a tough spring.
Freezing winter temperatures
... read more
Allergy Certifications and Seals
by theblog@achooallergy.com27 Jan 2012 at 11:15 am
In the industry that is allergy relief, just as with any market, there are a variety of products and providers available. One thing that manufacturers often do is proudly display any certifications they have attained for their products. But what do these seals and badges really mean or signify?
Certifications can vary greatly across a wide spectrum. Some certifications come from large, non-prof ... read more
New Study on Vacuums Confirms Old Advice
by theblog@achooallergy.com25 Jan 2012 at 11:01 am
If you've spent time on this site investigating indoor air quality or simply looking for ways to relieve allergy symptoms, you have likely come across specific characteristics we suggest that you should look for in a vacuum cleaner.
For years we have recommended that allergy, asthma and MCS sufferers invest in a quality HEPA vacuum cleaner that features a sealed system. The reason was because
... read more
Remove Hidden Allergens From Guests
by theblog@achooallergy.com23 Jan 2012 at 11:06 am
For pet allergy sufferers, keeping dander out of the house seems like an easy task if you don't own a pet, but there are still some hidden ways that dander can make it's way inside your home and on your furniture.
Since pet dander can be as small as just a few microns, it can easily become airborne and attach to household items, particularly clothing and upholstered furniture. So while yo ... read more
Introducing - Allergy Armor Organic Cotton Blanket
by theblog@achooallergy.com20 Jan 2012 at 9:40 am
After months of preparation and planning, we are proud to introduce the exclusive Allergy Armor Organic Cotton Blanket!
For allergy, asthma and MCS sufferers, certified organic products provide relief from the chemicals and toxins that pollute our everyday lives.
Grown in the U.S., without the use of pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers, our organic cotton is a natural alternative to modern te
Dirty Schools, Dirty Lungs?
by theblog@achooallergy.com18 Jan 2012 at 10:35 am
There have been countless studies done on how certain issues like lack of sleep, and even problems at home, can affect children and their performance in school. More recently, individual states and cities have been taking this a step further and have examined the link between poor indoor air quality and increased instances of hospitalization due to asthma.
Studies like this are important for two r
... read more
How to Help Pet Allergic Guests Feel at Home
by theblog@achooallergy.com16 Jan 2012 at 6:46 am
We have two cats and a dog, and I do what I know to do in order to keep pet dander around the house to a minimum. I try to keep the animals out of bedrooms, I have a leather couch, I have minimal drapery, and I vacuum frequently with my Dyson. But I'm sure I'm not as motivated to keep pet dander under control as I would be if any of my household were allergic to cats or dogs. When allergic ... read more
Daily Habits for Allergy Relief
by theblog@achooallergy.com13 Jan 2012 at 5:04 am
Knowing that you can do something to take charge of your allergy symptoms is empowering, especially if you've resigned yourself to the sniffling, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes as facts of your life. Butallergen avoidance and environmental control can really change an allergy sufferer's life.
When implementing an allergen avoidance routine, your first steps should include using basic envi ... read more
Nail Polish Chemicals: The Toxic Trio
by theblog@achooallergy.com9 Jan 2012 at 8:25 am
The Allergy Consumer Report recently covered the topic of toxic ingredients in nail polish in the series, Toxic Indoor Air in Nail Salons, Parts One and Two. The Huffington Post, in their Green section, also recently touched specifically on the "toxic trio" in How Toxic is Your Nail Polish Really?.
The toxic trio comprises three extremely toxic chemicals that, until recently, were found in almost a ... read more
Are Schools Prepared for Allergy Emergencies?
by theblog@achooallergy.com6 Jan 2012 at 4:48 am
The death of a first-grader in Richmond, Virginia highlights the possible unpreparedness of schools to deal with allergy emergencies.
Ammaria Johnson had a peanut allergy. While out at recess, she broke out in hives and began complaining of shortness of breath. Though she was taken to the school clinic, they had nothing they could give her and called 911. Sadly, she didn't make it.
Head of the ... read more
Warmer Winter Temps A Drag for Allergy Sufferers
by theblog@achooallergy.com5 Jan 2012 at 9:56 am
This winter has been an odd one for many parts of the U.S. Unlike last year when Atlanta experienced several inches of snow and colder than average temperatures, this past December was punctuated by nearly a weeks worth of temperatures in the 70s - literally 20 degrees warmer than average! This pattern has not just held true here in the South, but all over the U.S.Aside from ski resorts havin ... read more
Stay Protected During Flu Season
by theblog@achooallergy.com29 Dec 2011 at 8:35 am
With winter fully upon us, the flu season is in full swing. From children to the elderly, the flu is keeping millions of people away from school, out of work and in the house. Worse for specific groups, the flu is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths annually in the U.S. While the flu virus itself is found in multiple variations and mutations, two of the easiest ways to avoid it are two ... read more
Taking Vitamin B5, Pantothenic Acid, for Allergies
by theblog@achooallergy.com26 Dec 2011 at 12:45 pm
We've talked before about the positive effect of some particular nutrients on preventing and relieving allergy symptoms. For instance, omega-3, whether taken as a supplement or through foods, helps a great deal in diminishing eczema symptoms and even allergy symptoms in general. Making sure to get enough vitamin D also helps allergy problems.
Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, can als ... read more
Stressed Infants More Prone to Allergies
by theblog@achooallergy.com24 Dec 2011 at 9:34 am
We've previously discussed factors that influence the development of allergies and asthma in children. For instance, children born by c-sections and aren't exposed to as much bacteria during their birth are more likely to develop allergies. Those whose mothers take probiotics during pregnancy are less likely to develop allergies. In addition, children who are exposed to dogs are less likel ... read more
Neti Pots and Naegleria Fowleri
by theblog@achooallergy.com20 Dec 2011 at 10:22 am
For the second time this year, neti pots have been linked to tragic fatalities via the contraction of Naegleria fowleri , the brain-eating amoeba. While this raises alarms over the use of neti pots to relieve congestion and allergy symptoms, the neti pot itself is NOT the problem. Indeed, there is something in the water.Naegleria fowleri is typically found in warm, freshwater sources and is ... read more
Bedbugs' Inbreeding Leads to Fast Infestations
by theblog@achooallergy.com19 Dec 2011 at 7:02 am
You're probably aware of the resurgence in bedbugs that has plagued apartment buildings, hotels, and homes throughout the country, regardless of social class. Bedbugs are notoriously easy to get, and infestations happen quickly and pervasively, often filling entire apartment complexes from the initial infestation of just one unit.
If you've ever wondered just why infestations happen with s ... read more
Holiday Allergy Conundrums
by theblog@achooallergy.com12 Dec 2011 at 6:56 am
Deciding to implement allergen avoidance routines makes a huge difference in many allergy sufferers' lives. Certain measures are no-brainers: using allergy relief bedding, keeping pets out of the bedroom, putting air purifiers in bedrooms, and using a HEPA vacuum cleaner. However, other environmental control measures require careful, weighed consideration so that the measures themselves don
... read more