In a recent article published in the magazine Today's Facility Manager, Doug Garrett talks about the importance of understanding some of the basics related to moisture problems. Moisture problems are very hard to identify and to decide on a way to solve those problems.
A big question that we here from our customers and that faces almost every homeowner is “Why do I need to worry about moisture?” There are some reasons that seem obvious, but others are not as apparent. Property damage is the most costly for owners. Also, according to this article,
“Moisture is a major cause of damage to buildings, and it typically leads the pack as a cause for facility repair costs. Moisture is also a major cause of occupant comfort complaints. High relative humidity makes people uncomfortable, and the first response is often to turn the thermostat to a cooler temperature. If the relative humidity is too high, this leads to mold growth, which is another leading cause of indoor air quality (IAQ) complaints.”
According to the article moisture enters and affects a building on four different ways. Here are the four ways in order of the amount of moisture that will find its way into the home:
A big question that we here from our customers and that faces almost every homeowner is “Why do I need to worry about moisture?” There are some reasons that seem obvious, but others are not as apparent. Property damage is the most costly for owners. Also, according to this article,
“Moisture is a major cause of damage to buildings, and it typically leads the pack as a cause for facility repair costs. Moisture is also a major cause of occupant comfort complaints. High relative humidity makes people uncomfortable, and the first response is often to turn the thermostat to a cooler temperature. If the relative humidity is too high, this leads to mold growth, which is another leading cause of indoor air quality (IAQ) complaints.”
According to the article moisture enters and affects a building on four different ways. Here are the four ways in order of the amount of moisture that will find its way into the home:
- Air movement - this occurs via heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, as well as from drafts.
- Bulk or liquid - this occurs when water leaks in the roof, walls, or windows.
- Capillary - water is absorbed into, or through, wood or concrete into the facility.
- Diffusion - this is the ability of water vapor in the gas state to move through seemingly solid, but vapor permeable, building materials such as drywall.
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Developed by chronic sinus sufferer Dr. Ketan Mehta, the NeilMed NasaFlo Neti Pot is a complete, soothing, saline nasal rinse kit that provides much-needed moisture and natural relief from allergy and sinus symptoms. If you are congested, this natural remedy can make a huge difference if used regularly.
Saline rinses have been used for hundreds of years. Now you can naturally alleviate nasal irritation caused by occupational dust, fumes, animal dander, grass, pollen, smoke, smog, and house dust. The NasaFlo Neti Pot saline rinse is soothing to nasal passages—like a dip in warm ocean waters. You likely will not experience any burning or stinging. The NasaFlo is free of preservatives, iodine, and latex.
NielMed NasaFlo Neti Pot differs from Neilmed’s Sinus Rinse because NasaFlo uses a free-flowing gravity rinse method rather than a bottle. The NasaFlo kit comes with a neti pot device that allows gravity to do all the irrigation work. Many customers prefer the neti pot to the bottle because the neti pot does not create a feeling of pressure in the sinuses. With NasaFlo, there's no uncomfortable force or pressure.
The NasaFlo Neti Pot comes with complete instructions and 50 premixed packets of USP Grade Sodium Chloride & Sodium Bicarbonate in a pH Balanced & Isotonic Solution. It’s great for use after sinus surgery and safe for use among children and pregnant women.
Most masks we sell are one size fits all. They are adjustable. The key measurement from the top of the mask to the bottom is almost always more than enough for most people. The extra space around your head is taken up with the adjustable or rubber straps.
A general rule of thumb for our masks made by Respro is that they fit small. Our 3M Respirators run a little large with regard to the top and bottom measurement. With the 3M Respirators, it’s good to keep in mind that though they have some give and adjustability in them, they do not have as much leeway in them as the Respro models because of the fabric.
A quick way to get a better fit is to measure your face. At this point, you need to take a ruler, stand in front of the mirror, and do a quick measurement from the bottom of your chin to the middle of the nose (roughly just above the nostrils since you don’t want the mask to rest up by the eyeballs on the bridge of the nose).
Take this measurement and compare to some of our masks. Mask distance from top to bottom:
Please use this guide to help you when you are choosing which mask is best for you. Also, keep in mind that every mask has different filters and applications. Depending on your allergy and asthma needs, the actual fit of the mask might be secondary to filter capabilities of the mask.
A general rule of thumb for our masks made by Respro is that they fit small. Our 3M Respirators run a little large with regard to the top and bottom measurement. With the 3M Respirators, it’s good to keep in mind that though they have some give and adjustability in them, they do not have as much leeway in them as the Respro models because of the fabric.
A quick way to get a better fit is to measure your face. At this point, you need to take a ruler, stand in front of the mirror, and do a quick measurement from the bottom of your chin to the middle of the nose (roughly just above the nostrils since you don’t want the mask to rest up by the eyeballs on the bridge of the nose).
Take this measurement and compare to some of our masks. Mask distance from top to bottom:
- Respro Aero Small – 4” --- fits people with small face and children. Also, keep in mind that unless you have a very small head, the chances are that you it will not fit around your head.
- Respro Aero Medium – 4.5” --- fits most women.
- Respro Aero Large – 4.75” --- fits most men.
- Respro Techno M – 4.75” --- fits most women and some men.
- Respro Techno L – 5.125” --- fits most men.
- 3M 6291 Mask --- 4.75”
- 3M 6391 Mask --- 5.0”
Please use this guide to help you when you are choosing which mask is best for you. Also, keep in mind that every mask has different filters and applications. Depending on your allergy and asthma needs, the actual fit of the mask might be secondary to filter capabilities of the mask.
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With spring officially upon us and pollen season revving up, now’s a good time to remind ourselves about how to protect ourselves from pollen exposure and how to use the knowledge of pollen counts to our advantage. As Understanding the Pollen Count describes, "Similar to a weather forecast, a pollen forecast is a prediction of future pollen levels and helps allergy sufferers plan their outdoor activities and medication regimens. Specific for geographical regions, pollen forecasts take into account pollen counts, temperatures, precipitation, weather forecasts, and other natural events."
By checking the pollen forecast during spring allergy season, you know what days it might be best to stay indoors altogether, and you're aware of how much precaution you will need to take against the pollen exposure that's unavoidable. Pollen.com is an excellent resource, providing you with maps of the National Allergy Forecast and a place to input your zip code for specific pollen count information in your area, among other tools.
During high pollen count season, keep the following in mind in order to limit your exposure and keep symptoms to a minimum through allergen avoidance:
- Remember that pollen counts are worst in the morning and lowest after a rainfall, so try to perform your outdoor activities accordingly.
- Shower after going outdoors because airborne pollen will stick to your clothing, hair, and skin. Be aware that pets bring pollen indoors as well.
- Wear an allergy relief mask when gardening.
- Use a HEPA air purifier to filter pollen from your indoor air.
- Be sure to place window filters in any open windows.>
- Vacuum often to rid carpeting of tracked-in pollen.
A small study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and Duke University has shown that sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) treatments can help milk allergic children overcome their allergies, ScienceDaily reports.
The findings, which were presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, bring us one step closer to the increased acceptance of SLIT in this country. The therapy involves administering increasingly higher doses of the allergenic substance or food under the tongue until the allergic individual's immune system no longer reacts.
Hopkins Children had already done some research on oral immunotherapy, showing that this treatment is successful. The difference between oral and sublingual immunotherapy is that with oral immunotherapy, the patient ingests the milk protein rather than placing it under the tongue, as in the case of SLIT.
So how do the two types of treatment compare? While both methods seem to be effective in treating milk allergies, oral immunotherapy appears to be slightly more effective than SLIT; however, SLIT is done with lower doses of the offending allergen, making this therapy a lower risk for severe allergic reaction to the treatment itself.
Lead investigator of the study, Robert Wood, M.D., director of Allergy and Immunology at Hopkins Children's says, "We are very excited to see that both approaches can achieve significant improvement in children with milk allergies, but we continue to see slightly better tolerance in children on oral immunotherapy. Nonetheless, SLIT emerges as a new, if slightly less powerful, weapon in our arsenal."
Researchers caution that both therapies can lead to violet allergic reactions and that these treatments should always be done under a physician's care. Furthermore, the study was quite small; the research will need to be conducted on larger groups before conclusive results can be drawn.
To read more about SLIT, see Sublingual Immunotherapy Offers Hope of a Cure for Allergies.
The findings, which were presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, bring us one step closer to the increased acceptance of SLIT in this country. The therapy involves administering increasingly higher doses of the allergenic substance or food under the tongue until the allergic individual's immune system no longer reacts.
Hopkins Children had already done some research on oral immunotherapy, showing that this treatment is successful. The difference between oral and sublingual immunotherapy is that with oral immunotherapy, the patient ingests the milk protein rather than placing it under the tongue, as in the case of SLIT.
So how do the two types of treatment compare? While both methods seem to be effective in treating milk allergies, oral immunotherapy appears to be slightly more effective than SLIT; however, SLIT is done with lower doses of the offending allergen, making this therapy a lower risk for severe allergic reaction to the treatment itself.
Lead investigator of the study, Robert Wood, M.D., director of Allergy and Immunology at Hopkins Children's says, "We are very excited to see that both approaches can achieve significant improvement in children with milk allergies, but we continue to see slightly better tolerance in children on oral immunotherapy. Nonetheless, SLIT emerges as a new, if slightly less powerful, weapon in our arsenal."
Researchers caution that both therapies can lead to violet allergic reactions and that these treatments should always be done under a physician's care. Furthermore, the study was quite small; the research will need to be conducted on larger groups before conclusive results can be drawn.
To read more about SLIT, see Sublingual Immunotherapy Offers Hope of a Cure for Allergies.
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One of our most popular dehumidifiers last year will be back and ready for shipment next week. The Danby dehumidifier was one of our top selling units in 2009. Customers raved about their performance and durability. With all the wet weather around the country this spring, you can be one of the first to order your new dehumidifier. Pre-order now and we will ship your new Danby out next week.
For several years, Danby dehumidiers have been one of the best available dehumidifiers for removing excess moisture from the air in your home. Specializing in room and home dehumidification, these dehumidifiers have been recognized with national awards and accolades for being well built, affordable and versatile enough to meet most standard home applications.
With three different models and two distinct styles, our current offering of Danby dehumidifiers provides excellent dehumidification and convenience without breaking your budget. On our Danby page, there is a basic comparison of each of our Danby dehumidifier models.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us with your dehumidifier questions at 1-800-339-7123, or via email at cs@achooallergy.com.
For several years, Danby dehumidiers have been one of the best available dehumidifiers for removing excess moisture from the air in your home. Specializing in room and home dehumidification, these dehumidifiers have been recognized with national awards and accolades for being well built, affordable and versatile enough to meet most standard home applications.
With three different models and two distinct styles, our current offering of Danby dehumidifiers provides excellent dehumidification and convenience without breaking your budget. On our Danby page, there is a basic comparison of each of our Danby dehumidifier models.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us with your dehumidifier questions at 1-800-339-7123, or via email at cs@achooallergy.com.
We may have another piece to the puzzle about why we’re experiencing an increase in the prevalence of allergies. In Recent Studies Link Obesity to Food Allergies, Medical News Today reports on a study that "suggests rising childhood obesity may be promoting the increased occurrence of food allergies which rose by 18 percent from 1997-2007."
According to First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" Campaign, 32 percent of children or teens – an estimated 25 million – are obese or overweight. The allergy study, which was published in the May 2009 Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, linked obesity with a greater likelihood of developing atopic disease, including eczema. In addition, researchers discovered a 59 percent increase in food sensitization. Researchers stated, "The analysis of continuous Body Mass Index (BMI) with total IgE levels supports the concept that increased weight is associated with increased allergic predisposition."
Founder and CEO of Immuno Laboratories Jeffrey Zavik adds, "The statistics are startling. Testing for food allergies and following a nutritional program based on the diagnostic results could help parents make healthier family choices which is one of the goals of the Let's Move Campaign."
Interestingly, it’s not necessarily being obese that causes food sensitization; rather, as Dr. Mona Morstein, Chair of Nutrition at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Professor for Gastroenterology at the College, Clinical Supervisor of its outpatient clinic, discusses in her recent article, Obesity Rising to Epic Proportions; Could Food Allergies be Causing Your Weight Problem?", how food allergies could be contributing to obesity. The causal relationship – which is causing which – is not yet clear.
According to First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" Campaign, 32 percent of children or teens – an estimated 25 million – are obese or overweight. The allergy study, which was published in the May 2009 Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, linked obesity with a greater likelihood of developing atopic disease, including eczema. In addition, researchers discovered a 59 percent increase in food sensitization. Researchers stated, "The analysis of continuous Body Mass Index (BMI) with total IgE levels supports the concept that increased weight is associated with increased allergic predisposition."
Founder and CEO of Immuno Laboratories Jeffrey Zavik adds, "The statistics are startling. Testing for food allergies and following a nutritional program based on the diagnostic results could help parents make healthier family choices which is one of the goals of the Let's Move Campaign."
Interestingly, it’s not necessarily being obese that causes food sensitization; rather, as Dr. Mona Morstein, Chair of Nutrition at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Professor for Gastroenterology at the College, Clinical Supervisor of its outpatient clinic, discusses in her recent article, Obesity Rising to Epic Proportions; Could Food Allergies be Causing Your Weight Problem?", how food allergies could be contributing to obesity. The causal relationship – which is causing which – is not yet clear.
By now we're all familiar with the resurgence of the bedbug problem over the last few years. Once relegated to only to the catchy "Good night, sleep tight…" rhyme for most of us, hotels and homes across the country – even high end ones – have unfortunately become a little more intimate with the nasty little creatures. Interestingly, bedbugs are not in fact dangerous. They do not spread disease, and for almost everybody, their bites are annoying at most; they feed on human blood and their bites produce red welts that can itch severely. But, dangerous or not, no one is okay with co-habitating with bedbugs.
Especially in closely packed cities like New York, one person's infestation can mean that a whole apartment or condo unit is at risk. A recent New York Times article, A New Breed of Guard Dog Attacks Bedbugs, puts it this way: "In cities like New York, where neighbors are often separated only by bricks and mortar, one person’s infestation is everybody’s problem, since bedbugs can crawl through walls and along wiring and pipes, and hitchhike on clothing, furniture, luggage and more. In this city of 8.3 million, it seems as if everyone has a bedbug story."
As the problem of bedbugs grows, so have the ways to both detect them and deal with them once they are found. Bedbug-sniffing dogs, who are trained to detect the presence of live bugs and eggs, are in high demand – and they are surprisingly accurate: According to entomologists at the University of Florida, a well-trained dog can signal the presence of a single bug or egg with 96 percent accuracy. It's no wonder man's best friend has become the frontline in bedbug detection.
Confirming the presence of bedbugs is only the first step. Getting rid of them is no easy task – and it's expensive, as The High Cost of Bed Bugs describes. Protecting your home from bedbug infestations as much as is within your power is a logical proactive approach. See Five Ways to Bite Back at Bed Bugs for more information, and be sure to arm yourselves with Bed Bug Bedding, which is also available wholesale.
As the seasons change, you may wonder how different weather conditions affect your allergies. Weather.com offers an illuminating look into the role of weather in your allergy symptoms:
Wind is a big culprit in causing allergies to act up because it distributes pollen and mold. Those who suffer from hay fever or seasonal allergies are particularly affected by the wind because of the plant allergens it disburses throughout the air – as far as many miles.
Rain can be good news for allergy sufferers. While a light rain won't do much to help alleviate allergies, a heavier rain can clear the air of allergens for hours following the downpour. In spring, rains can reduce pollen counts, which is also good news for pollen allergic individuals. However, rains also cause grasses to grow, leading to more grass pollen in the late spring and early summer months. Rain in the fall and winter can also lead to greater amounts of tree pollen in the spring.
Smog, it comes as no surprise, is bad news for those with allergies or asthma. Interestingly, symptoms caused by pollution are not usually felt until one or two days after exposure. Recent research has demonstrated that ozone can cause chronic inflammation of the airways in asthma sufferers. In addition, even if acute symptoms from smog aren't apparent, some scientists believe that exposure to diesel engine exhaust can increase a person's sensitivity to pollen and dust mites.
Cold weather can exacerbate both asthma and eczema symptoms; the cold temperatures can trigger asthma attacks, and drier air can make eczema worse. Fluctuating temperatures, such as those undergone by skin that's exposed to freezing temperatures and then warmed, can also lead to cold-induced hives. The good news about cold weather, however, is that a late freeze can lessen tree pollen counts.
Heat in the form of mild winters can lead to an early spring, which means an early and longer pollen season. Mild winters are also a problem for allergy sufferers because of mold, which thrives when a combination of rain and mild weather increases spore counts. Lastly, a sudden rise in temperature can also trigger asthma attacks.
Wind is a big culprit in causing allergies to act up because it distributes pollen and mold. Those who suffer from hay fever or seasonal allergies are particularly affected by the wind because of the plant allergens it disburses throughout the air – as far as many miles.
Rain can be good news for allergy sufferers. While a light rain won't do much to help alleviate allergies, a heavier rain can clear the air of allergens for hours following the downpour. In spring, rains can reduce pollen counts, which is also good news for pollen allergic individuals. However, rains also cause grasses to grow, leading to more grass pollen in the late spring and early summer months. Rain in the fall and winter can also lead to greater amounts of tree pollen in the spring.
Smog, it comes as no surprise, is bad news for those with allergies or asthma. Interestingly, symptoms caused by pollution are not usually felt until one or two days after exposure. Recent research has demonstrated that ozone can cause chronic inflammation of the airways in asthma sufferers. In addition, even if acute symptoms from smog aren't apparent, some scientists believe that exposure to diesel engine exhaust can increase a person's sensitivity to pollen and dust mites.
Cold weather can exacerbate both asthma and eczema symptoms; the cold temperatures can trigger asthma attacks, and drier air can make eczema worse. Fluctuating temperatures, such as those undergone by skin that's exposed to freezing temperatures and then warmed, can also lead to cold-induced hives. The good news about cold weather, however, is that a late freeze can lessen tree pollen counts.
Heat in the form of mild winters can lead to an early spring, which means an early and longer pollen season. Mild winters are also a problem for allergy sufferers because of mold, which thrives when a combination of rain and mild weather increases spore counts. Lastly, a sudden rise in temperature can also trigger asthma attacks.
From March 1st through April 30th, Blueair is running a special promotion on replacement air purifier filters. If you need new filters to prepare for the spring allergy season, this is the perfect opportunity to stock up on filters at a great price.
If you have owned your Blueair air purifier for a few years, you also may want to consider upgrading from the regular Blueair particle filter to the Blueair smokestop filter. The Blueair smokestop filter provides better filtration for smoke and other odors.
According to a study that will be presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAI), Medical News Today reports in New Research Suggests Link Between Climate Change And Outdoor Allergies that climate change may affect respiratory allergic disease, including allergic rhinitis. Researchers from the Allergy and Respiratory Diseases Clinic at Genoa University in Italy recorded pollen counts, the duration of the season, and the prevalence of sensitizations for five types of pollen in the Bordighera region of Italy from 1981 to 2007. They found an increase in both the duration of some pollen seasons and that the total pollen load increased progressively for some species.
Lead author of the study, Ronato Ariano, MD, states, "Climate changes are a reality, and they can be documented if long enough periods of time are considered."
World Allergy Organization Past-President G. Walter Canonica, MD, adds, "By studying a well-defined geographical region, we observed that the progressive increase of the average temperature has prolonged the duration of the pollen seasons of some plants and, consequently, the overall pollen load."
While results showed that the percentage of patients sensitized to these allergens increased throughout the years of the study, it is not certain whether the prolonged pollen seasons put more people at risk for developing allergies, or whether the increase in allergies is caused by other factors.
This question brings up an interesting possibility in answering the conundrum of why the number of allergic individuals keeps rising: Is climate change and the resultant increase in pollen season and pollen counts tipping the scales of our total allergen load?
