By this point you have no doubt been saturated with news of the "swine flu." The rapid spread of this virus, coupled with its unique origins and a 24-hour news cycle have made this a very hot topic online, on the radio, and on television. While the major media outlets have certainly done their part to sensationalize this story, the reality is this is another variation of a virus that millions deal with each year.

In the last week we have seen the number of orders for masks rise exponentially for a variety of masks we sell, and unlike others we are NOT raising the price simply because demand has increased. We provide quality products to help those with asthma, allergies and other illnesses, not to take advantage of people need.

The swine flu, like the more common version of tge flu that visits us every year, is primarily spread through contact with an infected person. An uncovered sneeze or cough can expell the virus from an infected person and easily transmit it to those nearby. While masks do certainly help to keep the virus contained and often away from you, there are some other very basic measures that can be taken to help prevent you from becoming ill.

First, as mom always said, wash your hands. And like Chicago voters, do it early and often! There are really few better ways to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria. Germs abound and viruses in particular are more resilient to conditions outside of the human body. They can live for extended periods of time on telephones, doorknobs, countertops, and other places that germs use as a crossroads in their travels around the world.

Secondly, avoid crowded areas when possible. For most of us, that is much more easily said than done. Workplaces and schools are where most illnesses often spread. A good rule, if you're sick, stay home. Sure, your boss might be a little disappointed, but he would be much more disappointed if half of his employees wound up missing work due to illness. If your child is sick or feeling sick, keep them home for the day. Besides, do you or your child really want to spend a day feeling miserable at work or in school?

Lastly, stay away from people who are sick. The hugs and handshakes can wait without hard feelings. And if you do happen to be sick or have the flu, cover you nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough. Nothing ruins a friendship faster than when an ill coworker sneezes on you.

Like many viral infections, this swine flu will burn itself out in time. For most, those effected by the swine flu will not require a doctors visit or anything beyond the normal measures used to combat seasonal flu. For the elderly and children, particular care should be taken and should you feel the need, don't hesitate to visit your local physician to assess the situation. Until the swine flu eventually dies down, follow these simple steps to help stay healthy and keep the spread of this virus to a minimum.

In an effort to bring our readers the most up-to-date and important information about the world of allergy and asthma, we have asked Gina Clowes, founder of the online support group Allergy Moms, for an article about what children suffering with food allergies might be thinking, but are afraid to tell the grown-ups.

In this two part posting, Gina has done a tremendous service to parents and others by shining some light on how children with food allergies want to be treated. Here are the final five things that children with food allergies want you to know:

6. I’m embarrassed when people fuss over what I’m eating. I know I have to eat my own safe food, but it’s easier for me when I’m not singled out. Sometimes, it’s embarrassing when grown-ups ask lots of questions. I love to fit in more than anything.

7. I hear all adult conversations about my food allergies. My ears perk up when I hear grown-ups mention my name or food allergies, so don’t pity me or act terrified because then I get scared. Food allergies are just one part of me. Let me overhear you talk about all the other wonderful things about me!

8. Sometimes I’m sad about having food allergies. It’s hard to be the only kid in class not having a cupcake and eating something different from my box of “safe treats” especially when there are about 20 other birthdays in my class. I know it’s not the end of the world, but from my perspective, it’s tough at times.

9. I’m watching you—Mom and Dad! You may think that I’m too little to notice, but I see that you went back home to get my Epi-Pen® when you forgot it. I see that you read the ingredients on the Smarties every time. You are my role models and I am learning how to manage my food allergies from you!

10. I will do about as well as you do. My parents “can-do” attitude will help me cope with the challenges of living with allergies and ensure that food allergies don’t stop me from being everything I was meant to be!

Gina Clowes is the author of the book One of the Gang: Nurturing the Souls of Children with Food Allergies.

In an effort to bring our readers the most up-to-date and important information about the world of allergy and asthma, we have asked Gina Clowes, an author and founder of the online support group Allergy Moms for an article about what children suffering with food allergies might be thinking, but are afraid to tell the grown-ups.

In this two part posting, Gina has done a tremendous service to parents and others by shining some light on how children with food allergies want to be treated. Here are the first five things that children with food allergies want you to know:

1. I long to be included. I would like to look, act and eat like everyone else. I’d like to buy my lunch and sit wherever I want. I know I can’t, but I am so happy inside when someone cares enough to provide a safe potato chip, cookie or Popsicle for me. It’s nice when I can have something similar to what others are eating but I love it when I can eat the same thing as everyone else. Whenever it’s possible, please think to include me.

2. I’m scared I could die from my food allergies. I’ve heard my parents and teachers mention “life-threatening” food allergies and I remember having some reactions where I felt very sick and really scared. I could see how frightened my parents were too. Sometimes, I could use a little reassurance that I will be okay.

3. I feel like I’m the only one sometimes. If you have a support group or another way to arrange for me to meet other children who have food allergies, I would really like to know that I am not the only kid who has food allergies. Having another friend with food allergies in my classroom or at lunch time helps too.

4. I get confused when grown-ups offer me food. I know I’m supposed to be polite and listen to grown-ups, but my parents have told me I am only supposed to take food from them. When you offer me food or especially candy, I’d like to take it but I’m not sure about what I am supposed to do.

5. I get itchy spots sometimes when grown-ups kiss me after they’ve eaten something I’m allergic to. I get itchy spots when your dog licks me too. I’m not quite brave enough to tell you this so I’m hoping you will remember that if you have just eaten something that I’m allergic to, I may get hives if you kiss me soon afterward.

Check back on Monday to read the second five things in Gina's great article. It will change the way you see, treat, and feel about a child suffering with food allergies.

Recently, we have been product testing our series of Dyson Vacuum Cleaners. We carry several of the Dyson Ball vacuum cleaners, the Handhelds, and the Dyson upright vacuums without the Ball technology. After a series of tests on carpet, furniture, and other fabrics, the Dyson DC25 Animal ranked as one of the best vacuums that I have tested this year.

I was surprised by the suction power of the vacuum. The suction was where this vacuum really separated itself from some others. It works very well on pet hair. The DC25 Animal comes with a Mini turbine head that attaches and can be used in your car or on furniture to sweep up pet hair.

This vacuum has all of the great features that make Dyson vacuums so popular. The Ball technology allows for easy maneuverability. It has a telescope wand, a combination accessory tool, a stair tool attachment, a motorized brush bar, and the hygienic, clear dust bin.

You can recognize the Dyson Animal vacuums by their distinctive purple color. The DC25 Animal is lightweight at around 16 pounds. This is a dependable vacuum that can be used for a variety of home applications.

Around election time last November, we blogged about one of President Barak Obama’s most important campaign promises. He promised his daughters, Malia and Sasha, that he would buy them a puppy after the election.

The story piqued our interest because in a widely reported quotation the President said that the dog had to be hypoallergenic, because his daughter Malia suffers from allergies. This past weekend the President fulfilled his promise. The White House announced that the Obama family has welcomed a Portuguese water dog named “Bo” into the family.

Portuguese water dogs have a single-layered coat and the dogs do not shed. This means that their presence in the home may be tolerated better by allergy sufferers. Any person with dog allergies should definitely spend time with any animal before purchasing to test whether or not the dog negatively affects them.

According to the book, The Complete Portuguese Water Dog, the breed is first recorded in history in 1297 A.D. The dog was described in a monk’s report about a drowning sailor who had been pulled from the seas by a dog with a “black coat, the hair long and rough, cut to the first rib and with a tail tuft.”

To see a picture of the new First Dog and to read about some of the intrigue behind the release of the puppy story to the media, check out this article from USA Today.

In the past few weeks, a light dusting of yellow pollen has started to blanket areas all over the South. Pollen grains are flying all over and causing people to experience allergy symptoms. One focus of our company is to try and educate people on how they can avoid allergens.

In an article released yesterday on the Medical News Today web site, Dr. Ewen Tseng, an otolaryngologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Frisco, offers some very relevant tips to avoid pollen exposure:

• Wear protective clothing, including gloves, to reduce exposure to allergens and avoid transferring pollen from your hands to your eyes and nose.
• Wear a protective mask. You should think of your nose as a filter. Against pollen, the nose is your first line of defense.
• Wash your hands, change clothes, and shower after working outside.
• One alternative to wearing a mask is nasal irrigation with a saline solution to rinse allergens from your nose.

These strategies to avoid allergens take very little time, effort, or money; but they can be a very important part of your daily routine. Try them and you might find that you can feel and breathe better.

Spring is here and that means warmer weather for every part of the country. After being trapped indoors all winter, must of us want to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. However, spring is also allergy season. Here in Atlanta, we already are seeing the tell-tale yellow deposits of pollen on our cars, porches, sidewalks, and roads.

Pollen is not the only allergen that causes trouble for allergy sufferers. Dust mites, animal dander, and mold also induce runny noses, sneezing, and watery eyes. On a recent morning episode of the Today Show, a feature story focused on six unexpected sources of allergens and some room-by-room solutions for controlling these allergens in your home environment.

To combat the pollen increase in the air, we recommend changing your HVAC and furnace filters. The other suggested solutions from the article and other allergy relief products can be found on our web site. HEPA vacuums, Anti-Allergen laundry detergent, Vital Oxide solution, Allergy Armor bedding and pillows, and air purifiers are all weapons in the fight against allergies.

Almost every week in our AchooAllergy.com team meeting, we talk about our company’s mission and what we are doing to fulfill that mission. We are in a battle with allergies and our number one weapon is environmental control.

Sometimes in the day-to-day bustle and the desire to meet deadlines, we can lose sight of how important some of our products are to the everyday lives of allergy sufferers.

However, yesterday on the front page of CNN’s web site, an article about a young child and his parents dealing with food allergies was a poignant reminder of how allergies can harm our quality of life.

Teddy, a four year-old with severe food allergies, has to stay clear of milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts. His parents have to be vigilant with any food products they buy at the grocery store, but they also have to monitor what Teddy eats in places outside the home like at school or restaurants.

One paragraph from the article illustrates Teddy’s situation:

If milk touches Teddy, he gets hives -- he doesn't even have to ingest it. This is a lot different from "lactose intolerance," which some people confuse with a milk allergy. Lactose intolerance produces gastric distress for someone. A milk allergy can be life-threatening.

Thinking about Teddy in a school cafeteria with peanut butter sandwiches and milk all around him has to be frightening for him and his parents.

At AchooAllergy.com, we want to do our best to promote education and research that will help allergy sufferers like Teddy. We want people to experience a higher quality of life and to breathe better.