Author: Ali McDonald
Yes, Even Upscale Hotels Are Dirty
I’d like to follow-up on my post about the Top 10 Dirtiest Hotels in the U.S. At the end of the post, I asked you to share your experiences about dirty hotel rooms. Little did I know that I would…
Dyson DC25 Vacuum Review
I hate vacuuming. My girlfriend has two long-haired cats, and the hair gets everywhere. (And, yes, I am allergic.) We've had an older Dyson DC14 Animal vacuum for the past couple of years, but I recently got the chance to…
Michelle Obama on Having a child with Asthma
In a new book titled ‘Healthy Child, Healthy World,’ Michelle Obama calls for increased efforts at asthma education and prevention. The book contains contributions by Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields, and Tom Hanks, as well as Obama's essay ‘On Having a…
Dr. Mercola Explains the Importance of Healthy Sun Exposure
In the video above, Dr. Joseph Mercola explains that UVB rays from sunlight produce vitamin D in the skin. Sunlight is the ideal source for vitamin D. See Sunlight Exposure, Allergies & Asthma to learn about the role of vitamin…
Masks for California Wildfire Pollution
As I write this, more than 12,500 firefighters are battling 1,088 fires across Northern California – and windy weather over the weekend could make the situation even worse. ‘It is increasing almost hourly,’ said Carol Jolley of the California Department…
Natural Treatment Options for Allergies
This guest blog post comes from Danielle Grilli of rVita.com: Throughout my childhood I watched my brother suffer miserably from allergies. Every year, as summer rolled around, he literally couldn
achooallergy.com Summer Clearance Sale
We have to make more room in our warehouse for new allergy relief products! Help us out by ordering some clearance items for up to 50% off. If you suffer from nighttime congestion and have never tried Breathe Right Nasal…
Review of Top 10 Air Purifiers
Visit Top Ten Air Purifiers to see the air purifiers that we most commonly recommend to allergy sufferers. Our best-selling, best-all-around units include the Austin Air HM-400 air purifier, the Blueair 601 air purifier, the AllerAir 6000 series air purifier,…
Cat Allergies, Cat Parasites & Environmental Control
Only in recent years have I befriended the feline species. I was always a ‘dog person.’ But in the past five years or so, I've had just as many feline roommates as human roommates, and I've grown to love the…
Are You Allergic to Your Cell Phone? Electromagnetic Sensitivity & Allergies
‘In addition to the typical pollen-producing allergies that are rampant during the months of spring, technophiles should take caution that some of their favorite gadgets may be the culprit of certain allergy symptoms,’ says Dr. Todd Rosengart, Chief of Cardiothoracic…
Asthma Symptoms & Salt Intake
WebMD reports that you might breathe easier if you watch your salt intake and avoid processed foods (which is where most Americans get three-quarters of their salt). In a recent study at Indiana University, researchers found that test subjects with…
Smog, Ozone Linked to Premature Deaths
According to CNN, a National Academy of Sciences report contradicts White House officials who say that the connection between smog and premature death has not been shown sufficiently. ‘The report is a rebuke of the Bush administration which has consistently…
Special Earth Day Announcement: Allergy Armor
Happy Earth Day! We have a special announcement for Earth Day 2008: Allergy Armor
Bed Bug Problem Spinning Out of Control
Veteran entomologist Rick Cooper had never actually seen a live bed bug until 1999. Since then, bedbugs have turned into a full-time job for his pest management company. ‘I would say it's spinning out of control,’ says Cooper. Indeed, Orkin…
Pollen Allergy Avoidance Tips
I received immunotherapy for pollen allergy several years ago, and while I rarely get sick these days, I’m definitely feeling the effects of pollen today. (The pollen count is well over 2000 here in Atlanta!) The short walk to my…
Sky-High Pollen Count in Atlanta
The pollen count in Atlanta was 1705 today. It was over 1000 last Thursday as well… and anything over 120 is considered extremely high. Yessir, this is allergy season. I went to visit an old friend last Thursday night, and…
AAAAI & ACAAI Comment on FDA Investigation of Singulair
Last week, leaders from the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) released the following statement in response to the announcement of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation…
HEPA Filters Improve Cardiovascular Health
MedicineNet.com reports that researchers in Denmark found that using HEPA filters for just two days significantly improved cardiovascular health in healthy, nonsmoking elderly people. ‘Our main finding was a significant improvement in the function of small finger blood vessels after…
Mucus vs. Mucous vs. Mucosa
I often see ‘mucus’ and ‘mucous’ used incorrectly and people ask, “What is mucosa?” So I thought I’d try to explain the difference here. (Yes, I’m a geek…) Mucus – Noun – A viscous, slimy mixture of mucins, water, electrolytes,…
AAAAI 2008 Notes: Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT)
At this year's meeting, several allergy researchers spoke about SLIT – sublingual immunotherapy. This ‘new’ allergy treatment is similar to SCIT- subcutaneous immunotherapy (allergy shots) – but SLIT delivers the solution in the form of drops under the tongue, as…
AAAAI 2008 Notes: Seasonal Allergies & Suicide Rates
The most interesting session I attended at AAAAI 2008 was entitled ‘Neuroimmunologic Consequences of Allergic Inflammation.’ How do allergies affect your brain and mood? We all know that allergies can make people feel miserable. Therefore, a link between allergies and…
AAAAI 2008 Notes: Psychosocial Issues Facing Children with Asthma
Licensed social workers Melissa T. Korenblat-Hanin and Jennifer Moyer Darr spoke to healthcare professionals about the psychosocial impact of asthma. An asthma diagnosis can be devastating to children on psychological and social levels. Suddenly they hear that they're not supposed…
AAAAI 2008 Notes: The Role of Vitamin D in Atopic Disease
Before I begin this post, allow me to restate that I am not a doctor, and therefore my understanding of information presented at the AAAAI 2008 meeting is not 100% clear. That said, I will do my best to accurately…
AAAAI 2008 Notes: A Look at Common Food Allergens
Dr. Robert A. Wood, MD FAAAAI, told attendees that cow's milk allergy is not going away. In fact, it looks like it's getting worse. Back in 1990, the first big study on cow's milk allergy concluded that most children become…
Can Greasy Hair Clean Your Air?
According to NewScientist, greasy hair may reduce the amount of ozone that you inhale. Researchers at the university of Missouri in Rolla found that, on average, unwashed hair absorbs around seven times more ozone than washed hair. ‘Ozone is probably…
2008 AAAAI Annual Meeting in Philadelphia
I just got back in town from Philadelphia, where I attended the 2008 annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). The trip was exhausting, but it was also a wonderful, non-stop learning experience. _achoo! ALLERGY…
AAAAI 2008 Notes: Air Pollutants & Airway Inflammation
Dr. Andre E. Nel, MD PhD, explained how air particulates injure the airways and promote allergic sensitization. Small particles create oxidative stress; that is, they generate oxygen radicals that can cause damage and lead to cell death. The smaller the…
Molly Shannon: Allergies Are No Laughing Matter
Actress and allergy sufferer Molly Shannon has teamed up with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and the makers of Zyrtec to launch the Allergies Are No Laughing Matter campaign. Molly and the AAFA will teach allergy sufferers…
No Laughing Matter – But Here’s An Allergy Joke Anyway
As an allergy sufferer myself, I realize that allergic diseases are no laughing matter. In fact, some people who don't have allergies seem to think that allergic conditions are not as serious as other medical conditions – or that allergies…
Price Foundation Asks FDA to Block ‘Heart Healthy’ Claim on Soy
Speaking of soy… The Westin A. Price Foundation, a non-profit charity focused on nutrition, has asked the FDA to block the ‘heart healthy’ label from use on soy food products, according to physorg.com. ‘We have filed this petition because there…
Can You Avoid Allergy Medications?
A reader recently sent in an interesting question: I have a question. Generally speaking. If you take preventive action against allergic triggers, could you avoid all the pharmaceutical and over-the-counter medications like singulair and nasonex? In some cases, yes, allergy…
Allergy & Asthma Facts from WebMD
WebMD reports on allergy facts and statistics, based on the best available data: Percentage of the U.S. population that tests positive to one or more allergens: 55%. Number of people in the U.S. who have either allergy or asthma symptoms:…
New Allergy Armor
Say hello to your new favorite pillow! Allergy Armor
The Allergy Sufferer’s Survival Guide is here! Order Your Free Copy Now
Because customer education is a top priority at achooallergy.com, we decided to move away from the traditional catalog format this year and focus on teaching people how to survive allergies: by avoiding allergens with scientifically proven environmental control methods. The…
Elite Athletes Rely On Honeycomb Mask to Filter Beijing Air Pollution
As the August Olympic games in Beijing draw near, many world class athletes and trainers are discovering the benefits of the I Can Breathe!
Sharper Image Settles Air Purifier Lawsuit, Files Bankruptcy
Last year, Sharper Image settled a class-action lawsuit which alleged that the company misled customers about the effectiveness of their Ionic Breeze air purifiers. Sharper Image agreed to offer $19 merchandise credits to each of their 3.2 million customers who’ve…
The Benefits of White Noise at Night
Did you know that unfamiliar noise at night can disturb your sleep pattern and suppress your immune system, even if you don't wake up? ‘White noise’ helps block out disturbing noises and allows for a more restful sleep. Air purifiers…
Can Microwave Popcorn Damage Your Lungs?
The butter flavor in microwave popcorn contains the chemical diacetyl, which has been linked to lung damage, according to CBS News. In the past, factory workers have successfully sued popcorn manufacturers after getting ‘popcorn lung’ from inhaling diacetyl fumes all…
Top 10 Dirtiest Hotels in the U.S.
TripAdvisor has released their list of the Top 10 Dirtiest Hotel in the United States: Hotel Carter – New York, NY Ramada Niagara Falls – Niagara Falls, NY (now closed) Days Inn Vanderbilt / Music Row – Nashville, TN Red…
Milk & Egg Allergies Now Harder to Outgrow
The JHU Gazette reports that milk and egg allergies, once considered temporary childhood conditions, are now more persistent and harder to outgrow. New research suggests that milk allergy and egg allergy cases typically continue well into school years and beyond.…
Steamboy Steam Floor Mop Featured in NY Times
The New York Times recently featured one of our cleaning products, the Steamboy Steam Floor Mop: ‘Safely cleans all the floors in the house – stone, ceramic or sealed hardwood – without chemicals, according to its manufacturer, Reliable. It begins…
Child Given Zyprexa Instead of Zyrtec
According to msnbc.com,the U.S. Pharmacopeia report shows that the rate of drug name mix-ups has more than doubled since 2004, primarily because of new drugs with similar names to pre-existing drugs. One child was given the schizophrenia drug Zyprexa instead…
Dr. Oz: The Value of Sleep
Dr. Mehmet Oz, frequent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, recently spoke with Dr. Rubin Naiman, a clinical psychologist and sleep specialist who says that most sleep problems could – and should – be treated without medications. On Oprah &…
AllergyKids.com Mother Exposes ‘Big Food’ Industry in NY Times
The New York Times recently interviewed Robyn O'Brien on her view that the alarming increase in childhood food allergies stems from a profit-driven global conspiracy. (O'Brien has also been interviewed by CNN, CBS, and our own Allergy Consumer Report.) O'Brien…
Family: Teen Daughter Died from Allergic Reaction to Toothpaste
Daily Mail reports that Francesca Sanna, 19, died after having what appears to have been an extreme allergic reaction to her toothpaste – read more. The toothpaste was Aquafresh Mild & Minty, according to her family. The coroner concluded that…
Exercise-Induced Hives & Food Allergies
Mary Pickett, associate professor of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University, gives advice on dealing with exercised induced-hives at timesdaily.com: Exercised-Induced Anaphylaxis ‘If exercise causes large hives (usually a centimeter or more in diameter) along with throat swelling or…
Latex Banned from Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore has announced that it has banned latex products. ‘Latex hospital gloves were invented here, so it's only fitting that Johns Hopkins takes the initiative to promoting alternatives,’ says anesthesiologist Robert H. Brown, who chairs the…
Will Cloned Livestock Increase Food Allergies?
Natural Foods Merchandiser reports that the FDA may soon declare that meat and milk from cloned animals is safe to eat. Some experts are concerned about ‘the unpredictability of cloning, the higher risk of animal birth defects, and unresolved issues…
Cost of Asthma Inhalers to Double
According to The Detroit News, many low-income asthma patients across the country will be at-risk of missing doses of their asthma medication beginning in 2009, when CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) inhalers will become prohibited. The FDA is probiting the use of CFC…
Pediatricians Offer New Advice to Breast-Feeding Mothers of Allergic Children
In 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advised mothers of children with a family history of allergies to avoid cow's milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, and tree nuts while breast-feeding. Now, according to msnbc, the AAP has changed their advice…