Search Results for: blog the allergy patrol

Allergy Attack — What Am I Doing Wrong?

In the last week or so, my allergies have kicked into overdrive. My days have been full of sneezing fits. The garbage cans are filling up with used tissues. My throat is tickling, and my eyes are watering. All the signs point to an allergy flare up! I’ve always had trouble with allergies. It all started when I was a little kid. My brother was three and I was five when we started with scratch tests and allergy shots and all that fun stuff. I’m no stranger to what an allergy attack feels like. But I have been fortunate — … Continue reading →

The Allergy Patrol

Do you or someone you love suffer from allergies? A monthly allergy patrol can help get rid of allergy triggers and help you live a little more comfortably. Use air filters on the heat vents in the rooms you use the most. You can use disposable cheesecloth — replace the cloth monthly — or pick reusable filters. Just don’t cover every vent in the house, because that can strain your heating system. Wipe down walls and ceilings once a month with a wet or magnetically charged cloth. You’ll be amazed at how much dust, dirt, and cobwebs you clear away. … Continue reading →

Sensitive Eyes

Sensitive Eyes sounds like a good title for a dreamy romance novel… but I was thinking more of your actual eyes being sensitive to things. Maybe I’ll write that romance someday, though! You may already know if you have sensitive eyes. Symptoms can include: Bloodshot eyes Excessive tearing or watering A generally uncomfortable feeling Basically, sensitive eyes are easily irritated by things that don’t bother most other people. You may find your eyes easily irritated by smoke, dry air, wind, chemical fumes, and more. A number of different things can lead to sensitive eyes. A healthy, normal eye has a … Continue reading →

National Children’s Study Recruiting Now

Researchers are planning the largest study of children in the United States ever — hoping to track one hundred thousand children around the country from conception to adulthood. For health nerds like me, this study is both interesting and ambitious, and I can’t wait to see how it goes. Right now, researchers are looking for mothers-to-be around the country. The first wave of recruitment focused on North Carolina and New York; in a few months, recruitment will be under way in California, Utah, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Minnesota. These initial locations will help weed out problems in the recruitment process. … Continue reading →

Bed in a Plastic Bag

Posted on by

When I was little, I had a very hard time with allergies. I was five (and my brother was three) when we first started scratch tests to figure out what we were allergic to. Among the laundry list of allergens were dust mites. Dust mites are pervasive little critters. These microscopic mites live in upholstery, pillows, mattresses, bedding, curtains, and carpets. Back in the early 1980s when we were first diagnosed with allergies, the way to deal with dust mites was to either get rid of them or block them. Most of the carpet in the house had to go. … Continue reading →

Supersuits for Dogs with Severe Allergies

Look! Out on the sidewalk! It’s a bird… It’s a plane… No, it’s a dog in a spandex bodysuit. This isn’t a Halloween costume in the making — it is an actual treatment to relieve itching in dogs with severe allergies. I recently read about the K9 Top Coat — a spandex suit that might be able to help pets who suffer from severe allergies. Many pets who have severe allergy problems end up on a lifetime of steroids that can stop the itching but in the long term is bad for your pet’s health. The K9 Top Coat is … Continue reading →

Deciphering Skin Care Labels

It is important to read the label — on the food you eat AND on the things you put on your body. A lot of products make a lot of claims… but what do they all mean? According to the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, there are no standard definitions for terms like “hypoallergenic” or “fragrance free”. Each company is allowed to interpret (and use) label terminology as they like. Dermatologist tested generally means that a skin specialist has tested the product. However, the test itself can vary. The dermatologist may have asked employees to try the product. The dermatologist … Continue reading →

Dealing with Dust Mites

Dust mites are popular… as far as allergens go. These tiny critters are to blame for allergies in a lot of people (myself included). So how do you keep the dust mites out of your upholstery and bedding? Here are some tips. Wash your pillows quarterly. Mark your calendar if you have to, but make sure you send your pillows through the washer four times per year. Wash your curtains quarterly, too. Wash your sheets and blankets at your washing machine’s highest setting. A study from South Korea found that temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit killed one hundred percent of … Continue reading →

Mold Basics

I’m allergic to mold. Allergic enough that I can’t take penicillin when I’m sick — I break out in hives. I can’t even eat bleu cheese — it makes my mouth burn. Fall is one of my big allergy seasons thanks to leaf mold. Mold is a definite health problem for certain people. You may be more sensitive to mold if you: Have allergies Have asthma Have another lung or breathing condition Have HIV Are a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy Have received an organ transplant Have any other immune system suppression or issue Exposure to mold can cause a number … Continue reading →

Damp, Mold, and Mental Health

A recent study from the Brown University School of Medicine looked at a possible link between damp, moldy homes and emotional problems like depression. Researchers looked at living conditions and health conditions in several cities around Europe, including Bonn, Germany, Budapest, Hungary, and Geneva Switzerland. Their data came from World Health Organization surveys performed in 2002 and 2003. Nearly six thousand men and women from households around Europe were asked about their health, including any diagnosis of depression in the last year. Participants were chosen at random, divided equally between men and women, and ranged in age from 18 to … Continue reading →