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 According to ScienceDaily, your home's humidity can indeed affect your mood.
A groundbreaking study found a connection between damp, moldy homes and depression.
The 2007 study, led by Brown University epidemiologist Edmond Shenassa and published in the American Journal of Public Health, surprised researchers. Shenassa actually set out to prove that there was no connection between depression and humidity in the home, but he proved otherwise.
"We thought that once we statistically accounted for factors that could clearly contribute to depression – things like employment status and crowding – we would see any link vanish," said Shenassa, the lead author of the study and an associate professor in the Department of Community Health at Brown. "But the opposite was true. We found a solid association between depression and living in a damp, moldy home."
Shenassa points out that mold doesn't necessarily cause depression; however, the association between depression and moldy homes is likely driven by two factors: 1) A perceived lack of control over the home environment. 2) Mold-related health problems such as asthma and allergies.
"Physical health, and perceptions of control, are linked with an elevated risk for depression," Shenassa said, "and that makes sense. If you are sick from mold, and feel you can’t get rid of it, it may affect your mental health."
"What the study makes clear," continues Shenassa, "is the importance of housing as indicator of health, including mental health. Healthy homes can promote healthy lives."
See The Link between Allergies & Depression to learn more.
If you live in a damp, moldy home, you can eliminate the excess moisture in the air with a dehumidifier. We recommend that you keep your home's relative humidity below 50% to control mold and dust mite populations.
 You can monitor the relative humidity in your home with a digital humidity gauge.
This time of year, during the cold, dry, winter months, many people actually need to increase the relative humidity in their home with a humidifier. Humidifiers add moisture to the air. Dry air can be troublesome to people with sinus problems and dry skin conditions.
If you use a humidifier, just be sure to monitor your humidity so that it doesn't get too high. You don't want to give life to a mold colony in your home! Also, clean your humidifier at least once a week to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
Posted by Scott on Saturday, December 29, 2007
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 Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was responsible for an estimated 94,000 life-threatening infections and nearly 19,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2005, reports WebMD. In the same year, roughly 16,000 Americans died from AIDS.
The number of deaths from MRSA doubled in just five years.
Most MRSA infections can be traced to a hospital or other healthcare setting, but about 15% of MRSA infections occur in people outside of healthcare settings. People over age 65 are four times more likely to get a MRSA infection.
"Hand washing is one of the most important ways to decrease the spread of MRSA in hospitals, but hand washing compliance rates [among health care professionals] are rarely 100%," says infectious disease specialist Elizabeth A. Bancroft, MD. "One thing a patient can do to reduce their risk is make sure everyone they come into contact with washes their hands or uses an alcohol hand rub."
For every 1,000 patients treated in U.S. hospitals, 46 cases of MRSA now occur.
Dr. Bancroft says that rates of invasive MRSA are likely to climb even higher.
Vital Oxide, a new, safe, environmentally friendly disinfectant, kills MRSA as well as mold, mildew, Norovirus, Legionella pneumophila, and E coli. It's also great for odor control.
See MRSA: The Super Staph Infection to learn more.
Posted by Scott on Friday, December 28, 2007
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 HealthDay suggests that you should see a doctor if you have a cough that won't go away.
"Cough is the most common respiratory symptom for which patients seek medical attention," says Dr. Alan B. Goldsobel, chairman of the cough committe at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
"Cough protects the body by removing mucus and irritating particles from the respiratory tract. Coughing is a useful function and does not always mean there is a problem ... However, coughing at night, after going to sleep indicates the need for medical attention."
While wheezing and shortness of breath are more commonly known as signs of asthma, a nighttime cough could be a sign of undiagnosed asthma. Some experts think that cough is the most common symptom of childhood asthma.
A chronic cough could also be a symptom of a viral upper respiratory tract infection, stomach or esophagus problems, an inhaled foreign body, or environmental irritation.
Posted by Scott on Thursday, December 27, 2007
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If you're a regular reader, you'll remember that I recently rented a house, and I've been working on a hypoallergenic home remodeling project.
At this point, I'm finished with all of the major labor, but I still have a lot of cleaning to do.
 Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to try out a new cleaning solution - Vital Oxide - and it works great!
It's a broad-spectrum disinfectant that kills germs like MRSA, E coli, Legionella, Norovirus, and other microbes. I've been using it to clean all the nooks and crannies in cabinets and in the bathroom.
Vital Oxide also works great for mold and mildew removal and prevention. I even used it on the exterior of my house to treat the vinyl siding.
Finally, it gets rid of odors. The previous occupants of my place had a dog that apparently spent a lot of time in the basement; needless to say, the basement had quite a strong canine odor (a wet canine odor, to be exact) - but not anymore!
Vital Oxide is ideal for allergy sufferers because it's odorless, hypoallergenic, and doesn't contain any VOCs.
It's also safe for the environment because it doesn't produce any toxic byproducts, and it's 100% biodegradable.
Vital Oxide is approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency. It's an all-in-one green cleaning solution.
Vital Oxide works based on the power of oxygen. Its active ingredient is stabilized CLO2, which is not the same thing as chlorine bleach. CLO2 is non-toxic, non-corrosive, and odorless; it's actually used by many cities to purify drinking water, and even though it's a powerful cleaning agent, it's safe enough to wash your hands in. CLO2 contains one chlorine atom and two oxygen atom, and it acts as an oxidizing agent to denature proteins and destroy bacteria, viruses, and allergens.
Posted by Scott on Monday, December 24, 2007
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 A couple of weeks ago, one of the largest truffles unearthed in the past 50 years was dug up in the Italian countryside by Cristiano Savini's truffle-hunting dog Rocco.
The truffle was donated to a charity auction held simultaneously in Macau, London and Florence, Italy and fetched $330,000, according to Reuters.
Truffles (not to be confused with chocolate truffles) are highly prized in Italian cuisine for their unique flavor and aroma.
Truffles are a kind of mushroom that grows beneath the ground as opposed to sprouting above ground. Both truffles and mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi and are members of the same family as mold.
People who are allergic to mold may also be predisposed to react to truffles or mushrooms or other foods containing mold, such as certain blue-veined or aged cheeses like Roquefort or Gorgonzola.
Oral allergy syndrome is the more common type of reaction, but anaphylaxis, though rare in the case of mushroom allergies, has also been reported.
To learn more about food allergies, visit the Food Allergy/Anaphylaxis Solution Guide.
Posted by Shifrah on Friday, December 21, 2007
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 A British study suggests that routine sinus infections are not helped by the antibiotics and other medicines that are regularly prescribed.
The study tested amoxicillin, steroid nose spray, and fake medicine on people suffering from symptoms of acute sinusitis. Results showed that the drugs did nothing to speed recovery.
Dr. Vinceza Snow, director of clinical programs and quality care at the American College of Physicians, states that the drugs "don't really change the course of the illness." She also adds that drugs designed to treat bacterial sinus infections have a hard time even reaching the sinuses.
This confirms the conviction voiced in guidelines issued in 2001 by a U.S. group of physicians. The guidelines advise against using antibiotics for most sinus infections in healthy people, and blamed overuse for contributing to the increase in drug-resistant bacteria.
Sinus infections affect about 31 million Americans every year. Allergy sufferers are particularly prone to develop them. Sinus infections can also trigger asthma attacks.
Rather than prescribing antiobiotics, Dr. Ian Williamson of the University of Southhampton in England says that "physicians can focus on effective remedies that improve symptom control," including over-the-counter pain killers.
Furthermore, he states that inhaling steam and flushing out thick mucous by squirting saline solutions into the nose also provide realief.
The Mayo Clinic suggests similar sinus infection care in its Acute Sinusitis Treatment section. In addition, the Clinic advises "treating an underlying allergic condition that contributes to sinusitis."
As in many allergy relief regimens, environmental control is key. Exposure to mold increases the risk of upper respiratory infections that often lead to sinus infections. Clean moldy areas of your home, making sure to wear a mask to protect you from inhaling spores.
Dry air in the home, such as that created with the use of forced hot air heat, is also known to contribute to sinus infections. A humidifier may help prevent sinusitis by adding moisture to the air.
If symptoms develp even while taking these precautions, self-care is usually effective: - Make sure to drink plenty of fluid to dilute mucous and promote drainage.
- Avoid alcohol, which can worsen the swelling of the lining of the sinuses and nose.
- Consider taking over-the-counter decongestants.
- Moisturize and flush sinus cavities.
See Dr. Wellington S. Tichenor, M.D., on Sinusitis Treatment for more information. Also visit Sinus Relief Products for more sinus infection relief products.
Posted by Shifrah on Tuesday, December 18, 2007
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 WCVBTV in Boston reports that a new dating service is the first to use DNA analysis for match-making.
ScientificMatch.com uses DNA technology to find people dates who have "a natural odor you'll love, with whom you'd have healthier children and a more satisfying sex life."
The company analyzes DNA and identifies compatible mates by matching two people with different immune systems.
"Nature attracts us to our genetic matches with our noses. The fact is, we love how other people smell when their immune systems are different from ours—they smell sexier," claims ScientificMatch.com.
The high-tech match-making service costs $1,995.
Posted by Scott on Thursday, December 13, 2007
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1888PressRelease reports that the Dust Mites Guild of America has gone on strike to protest unfair labor conditions brought about by Allergy Armor™ allergy relief bedding.
"It's bad enough that we're invisible to humans and have been relegated to the demeaning duty of disposing of their dead skin," laments Charles D. Mite, President of the Dust Mites Guild of America. "But now, just because some people have sensitive immune systems, everybody's buying these horrific Allergy Armor™ bedding packages."
"We dust mites don't stand a chance against Allergy Armor™," continues Mite. "Once the cover zips up, there's no getting out, no getting in. Fellow mites are trapped inside pillows and mattresses, starving and dying. It's just not fair. And now achooallergy.com is literally giving away Allergy Armor™ bedding packages!"
Allergy Armor™, developed by achoo! ALLERGY & AIR Products, Inc., zips up to block dust mites and their associated allergens out of pillows and mattresses. Approximately 80 percent of allergy sufferers are sensitive to dust mite allergen.
Several million dust mites may live inside a single mattress. Since they feed off dead human skin, there's never a shortage of food. The average human sheds about 600,000 particles of skin every hour; that's about 1.5 pounds a year (and most of that dead skin flakes off in bed).
"As of today, we are walking out of all bedrooms equipped Allergy Armor™," says Mite. "If these animals known as 'humans' want to get rid of all the dead skin on their beds, they can vacuum it up themselves."
In a move that sparked the nationwide dust mite strike, achooallergy.com recently announced plans to give away 15 Allergy Armor™ Ultra bedding packages (among other prizes totaling $22,000) during their second annual Allergy Relief Holiday Giveaway. Allergy Armor™ Ultra, recently recommended by Women's Health magazine, is the most comfortable and most effective dust mite barrier available, featuring the smallest average pore size in the industry at 2.8 microns.
Sign up for the Allergy Relief Holiday Giveaway achooallergy.com. Registration ends on December 14.
Posted by Scott on Wednesday, December 12, 2007
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Yesterday, Jeffrey Kanel of AllerAir Industries held a meeting with achoo! ALLERGY employees. Such meetings are a regular occurrence at achoo! ALLERGY, where continuing education regarding allergy relief products and disseminating this information to allergy sufferers is one of our top priorities.
AllerAir specializes in air purification units containing activated carbon, which controls exposure to chemicals, off-gassing, and noxious fumes. AllerAir president discusses this further in AllerAir President Sam Teitelbaum on Activated Carbon Filtration. People who suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) are greatly helped by the use of such units. Even people without manifested sensitivities to chemicals benefit from the use of a carbon air purifier that eliminates toxic gasses and odors from the air.
The amount of carbon in any given unit is important because it increases "dwell time," a crucial factor in the success of removing lethal chemicals from the air. Dwell time refers to the amount of time that a substance takes to pass through the carbon filter. The thicker the carbon, the longer the dwell time and the better the unit is at trapping chemicals. AllerAir is proud to offer the highest carbon content in the industry. Their carbon filters run at a minimum of two-and-a-half inches in width.
Kanel also recommends running units on the low setting in order to increase dwell time. Lower settings cause air to pass through the carbon filter more slowly, increasing the amount of time the air “dwells” on the filter, thereby allowing the carbon to absorb as many chemical substances as possible.
Ironically, the very carbon that filters chemicals from the air can cause sensitivity issues in those with MCS. To alleviate this problem, we offer an AllerAir Test Kit, which consists of five different types of carbon samples. The kit allows buyers to choose the type of carbon in their AllerAir air purifier to ensure that it will not be bothersome. Test kits run at $60, which is deducted from the cost of the unit.
Along with carbon filters, AllerAir units come with HEPA filters, which are 99.97% effective in trapping allergens such as pollen, mold, and dust mites. AllerAir's HEPA filters are specially treated to prevent cracking at the pleats, a common phenomenon that impedes HEPA filter effectiveness. UV lights, an optional add-on, are also available to destroy pathogenic substances.
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In addition to the UV light, consumers may choose from a comprehensive breadth of customization options. For instance, the AllerAir 5000 DS and DXS air purifiers are designed especially to deal with tobacco smoke. Armed with special pre-filters to trap tar as well as specially blended activated carbon that traps up to 400 of the toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke, AllerAir is a prime choice air purification system for environments affected by tobacco smoke. The AllerAir 5000 Vocarb air purifiers feature over 40 different blends of impregnated carbon to combat the effects of particular Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Customization also extends to the appearance of the units, which can be painted to blend in to their surroundings.
Across the spectrum of their varied offerings, AllerAir units are easy to maintain, perhaps among the easiest out there. A pre-filter that traps larger matter is housed just within the unit’s underside – you can simply pull it out and vacuum or replace it in seconds, without any tools.
Achoo! employees left the meeting feeling proud to offer their customers such an all-inclusive and top-of-the line product that protects against both allergens and chemicals.
Please visit our Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Solution Guide and our AllerAir product page for more information. And, as always, feel free to call us at 1-800-339-7123 or email us with any questions.
Posted by Shifrah on Thursday, December 06, 2007
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Greetings from Las Vegas! I'm here in the city that never sleeps with Craig Avramovich (achoo! ALLERGY's web developer) for PubCon Las Vegas 2007. PubCon is the leading search engine and internet marketing conference. Keynote speakers include Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist.org, and Matt Cutts, software engineer at Google.
 Thanks to this blog, I was able to attend a Blue Man Group show as part of PubCon's "Blogger's Night Out." (That's me in the photo with a member of Blue Man Group.) While the percussion-based, multimedia performance was awesome, I was a little miffed by the extreme waste of paper. Near the end of the show, a wave of paper streamers made its way from the back of the theater to the stage. Those of us in the audience were passing along the paper above our heads for several minutes. I actually heard someone near me say, "There goes another forest!" Okay, I'll admit, the stunt was unique and fun, but it definitely wasn't very environmentally friendly. I guess that's why they're not called Green Man Group.
Yes, Las Vegas is certainly a land of extravagance and excess - not very environmentally friendly - and not very allergy friendly, either. One might think that Las Vegas would be a great vacation spot for allergy sufferers since it's in the middle of the desert, but so many non-indigenous plants have been introduced to the city that pollen allergies are actually a big problem here these days.
To make matters worse, smoking is permitted nearly everywhere, and I have yet to see an air purifier!
Hypoallergenic hotel rooms are hard to find in Vegas, too; although, I did discover a few local hotels that offer hypoallergenic bedding, including The Westin Casuarina Las Vegas Hotel and Imperial Palace. The Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas also offers hypoallergenic bedding, and the entire hotel is smoke-free.
But, unfortunately, most rooms in Las Vegas harbor germs, cigarette smoke, dust mites, and perfumes, as well as chemical sprays, detergents, and deodorizers. Be warned; this is not a great vacation spot for allergy sufferers.
Thanks to my arsenal of allergy relief products and the allergy immunotherapy I received several years ago, I normally don't have problems with my allergies (unless I'm in close contact with a cat), but I have been sniffling ever since I arrived in Vegas.
Craig and I are on our way to a Q & A session with Google engineers, so that's all for now, folks, but I'll be back in Atlanta and blogging as usual next week.
Posted by Scott on Wednesday, December 05, 2007
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