News
J.D. Power Release Vacuum Survey
It is human nature for many of us to go through ‘buyer's remorse’ after a purchase. For some, even a small purchase can cause a bit of guilt after the fact (especially for me if that purchase is chocolately and…
Food For Thought: Allergies & Genetically Modified Food
This morning while I was getting ready for work, I had the NPR news app running on my iPad. I like to listen to it since it's short enough but broad enough that it at least gives me quick roundup…
Finally… The New Miele S8 Vacuums Available
Well, it took a lot of stopping and starting and some changing dates on Miele's part, but the all the new Miele S8 canister vacuums are now available for purchase online. _What makes each model unique? The UniQ is by…
Waxing… with a Side of VOC’s
While I generally shun most of same things men in my family have long considered habits of the opposite sex, there is one thing in particular where I break that mold. I have two furry caterpillars that are constantly on…
Fungi, Asthma & Your Lungs
Viruses, bacteria, and germs… they seem like a terrifying lot sometimes, particularly when the evening news shows stories of salmonella food poisoning, some ultra rare microbes with devastating effects or a story about how research on the mutating the Avian…
Allergy Armor Comforters and Organic Cotton Blankets
We recently expanded the our line of Organic Cotton Blankets. Traditionally, we have offered what we refer to as our 100 weight (wt.) crepe weave blanket. Perfect for year-round use, the crepe weave blanket is light enough for summer use…
Introducing the New Miele Cat & Dog
As the last in the new S8 line of Miele vacuum cleaners, the S8380 Cat & Dog is the perfect addition to any pet owner's home. While many of the features make this vacuum a great fit in any home,…
New Allergy Armor Comforter!
As the latest product in our line of Allergy Armor bedding, the Allergy Armor Comforter provides built-in allergen protection. Using our Ultra line of fabric, we've created a comforter that not only blocks allergens like dust mites, pollen and dander,…
Spring Allergy Deja Vu, All Over Again
We're not quite two weeks in to February, and while much of the Northeast and Midwest is literally digging out from under a few feet of snow, in other parts of the country, there have already been a couple days…
A Better Night – Sleep Tips
Sleep is something we’re all concerned with. Do we get enough? (Probably not) How can we sleep without waking up? And, why do we sleep but still feel tired? These are just some of the questions that we all tend…
New Year’s Resolutions
With 2013 now officially here, the annual rite of making resolutions, and often breaking them, is in full swing. All across the country people are trying to sweat, starve or deprive themselves to a reach a healthier place, and those…
Why Miele Filtration Matters
When it comes to the products we offer, the most common questions we receive are comparison questions. Why is this better than that? How does this compare to that? In the vacuum cleaner category we often get questions about how…
Laundry Detergent Warning
On Wednesday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning about the use of single load liquid laundry detergent packets. Though convenient and considered less messy than regular powder or liquid detergent, single use packets are accounting for a…
Acorns, Acorns Everywhere!
This is the time of year when it is quite common to be enjoying a cup of coffee, which you can purchase on sites like น้ำปั่น, on a brisk morning and see a squirrel feverishly sorting through fallen nuts. It…
Tis the Season for Dry Skin
A couple hours after I got out of the shower made it official – it's fall. I always know when it is officially fall for me when I first notice a dry spot of skin on my arm, particularly after…
Falling Organic Cotton Prices
It's not often that we have the opportunity to announce that prices are going down. Too often we get stuck in the position of passing on a message from the manufacturer – raw materials cost more, fuel costs more, so…
Fall Allergies Worse in 2012
No, it’s not your imagination. This fall’s allergy season has been a miserable one. Across the nation, allergists and physicians are seeing more people in their offices, many of whom have never suffered from fall allergies before. With more people…
Pulmicort Does Make You Shorter
In a recent study presented at the European Respiratory Society conference in Vienna, researchers defined the link between the use of a common asthma treatment drug and a child's height. For years it has been believed that budesonide, the primary…
The Return of Your Fall Nemesis – Ragweed
With August nearly halfway over, allergy sufferers' attention often turns to one particular allergen – ragweed pollen. Generally starting in mid-August (slightly later throughout the South), ragweed causes allergic flare ups for millions of Americans every year, and with extremely…
Genetics Plays Key Role in Eczema
Like many health issues and conditions, the primary determining factors are genetics and the environment. Both are not weighted equally in any given situation, but both play a role in the development of most medical conditions and diseases. Even when…
Rent or Own? Sound Allergy Advice Works for Both
As allergy and environmental control specialists, we have a variety of checklists and steps, from allergy proofing your bedroom to >easy ways to control indoor humidity, that we recommend to reduce allergens in your home and office. As with any…
Your Brain on Allergies
An article published in the most recent issue of the Journal of National Cancer Institute touches on a subject that we first wrote about several years ago – the link between cancer and allergies. At that time we pointed out…
Ford Launches SYNC AllergyApp
As a long time early riser, I am typically up and reading the news before the sun ever begins to peek over the Atlanta skyline. There’s the typical hubbub – Congress is lazy, politicians trading their usual election year barbs,…
Overcoming Allergies – Dana Vollmer
With the Olympics in full swing, millions around the world watch each day as athletes from across the globe compete. For those of us who sometimes feel that allergies and asthma are a problem we deal with on our own,…
Sir, Put the Strawberry Down, Slowly
Despite the topsy-turvy weather, I hope this summer is treating everyone well.
London’s Air: As Bad as Beijing?
Though I know the Olympics are coming up very quickly, thoughts about it have largely been tucked away in the back of my mind. From an allergy/asthma perspective, there are certainly athletes competing who are dealing with asthma, like US…
Thoughts and Prayers
I wanted to deviate a bit from the usual blog topics, particularly in light of the news yesterday. The entire AchooAllergy.com staff would like to extend our sincerest thoughts and prayers to the victims and those effected by the shooting…
Feeding Food Allergies
For anyone with severe food allergies, one of the most basic needs can feel like a perpetual challenge – eating. Eating out is a near constant worry, and even preparing your own meals can be difficult, particularly when first diagnosed…
FDA Officially Bans BPA in Bottles
The Food and Drug Administration has officially banned the use of bisphenol A in children's sippy cups and infants bottles. Though at first glance the news may seem positive, a look closer reveals lingering problems with the FDA ruling and…
Wet Weather and Summer Mold
After last week’s record breaking heat and dry conditions, the pendulum has swung the other way. This week has provided continuing warm temperatures but also violent storms, high humidity and plenty of rain. The last part of this equation is…
Toxic Dangers in Your Yard
For many homeowners there is a certain amount of pride that comes along with having a well manicured lawn. It can take a great deal of work and money to keep a lawn looking green, lush, and free of weeds.…
Summer, Sparklers and Bee Stings
No matter where you live, each summer usually brings out a wide variety of stinging insects. From honeybees and hornets to wasps and carpenter bees (we always called those ones bumblebees), there are a lot of stingers flying through the…
Popular Allergy Drug Clarinex Now Available as Generic
The popular allergy relief drug, Clarinex, will soon be available in a generic form. The active ingredient in Clarinex, desloratadine, has received FDA approval and is now offered in 5mg doses under the Mylan Pharmaceuticals label. _Desloratadine is an antihistimine…
Fourth of July Safety Tips
With 4th of July celebrations starting tomorrow and likely running through the weekend, there are a few safety tips to keep in mind. Whether it’s specific food concerns for allergy sufferers, keeping your pets in mind, maintaining a safe grille…
Reducing Exposure to Vehicle Emissions
While the political debate over whether emissions regulations are too onerous on manufacturers, evidence linking increased exposure to emissions and asthma and lung damage continues to pile up. From decreased lung development to increased rates of asthma, studies published in…
Some Like It Hot!
So maybe the title is a bit deceptive since there will be no mention of the famous movie by the same title that starred Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis, except for this one. What I am referring to, however, is…
Link Between Antibacterial Soaps and Food Allergies?
For several years, one hypothesis behind the increase in allergies has been the ‘hygiene theory.’ This suggests that in western societies, children are exposed to fewer germs and bacteria, and that this lack of exposure can actually lead to a…
No Cats Allowed!
As a dog owner, traveling with Cotton can sometimes be a bit of a hassle. While he goes with me nearly everywhere around the city, visiting family in Ohio or friends in other states presents a challenge. Do I leave…
Poor OAQ Outdoors Means Time to Focus on IAQ
As the temperature begins to heat up, people in cities across the country begin to see their air quality index dive deeper in the red hues. While the summer is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors with family and…
To Ban or Not to Ban? Aww Nuts!
I've been waiting to see something along these lines for quite some time now. In the midst of this feisty election year, PeanutAllergy.com partnered with OpposingViews.com to run a poll. Should peanuts be banned from schools? While the breadth of…
Pregnancy, Stress & Asthma
Swollen feet, odd cravings, increased sense of smell, irritability – all are things that can be associated with pregnancy, and they may send you to a medical professional for pregnancy testing in order to confirm if you’re pregnant. You may…
Study Links Smoking, Pregnancy & Acute Asthma
While it may seem to be a common perception at this point, the fact remains that the effects of smoking during pregnancy has far less data to back up a link to asthma development than smoking around children after birth.…
Excessive Licking and Biting? An Allergy?
Though this entry isn’t as provocative as the title might lead some to believe, for those of us with dogs, you may notice your dog licking and biting their paws from time to time. There are a few reasons why…
Reverse Course – CA Attempts to Repeal Flame Retardants
With Technical Bulletin 117 in 1975, California became the first state to pass legislation that required flame retardants to be a part of the sofas. From there, the law spread to encompass nearly all home furnishings that included foam, like…
Dr. Redding on Weather.com and Home Allergies
Back in April of this year, we interviewed local allergist Dr. David Redding. Recently he was featured in a couple videos on the Weather Channel. In these, he goes over some in-home tips on how to reduce allergens. From using…
Asthma Study to Focus of Possible Effects of Fracking
While the debate over the environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing continues, there is now a concentrated interest in studying the possible health effects of living in communities where ‘fracking’ takes place. Communities in western and northern Pennsylvania offer a unique…
Food Allergies a Disability in the Workplace?
While I do not claim to be an expert in the areas of allergies, asthma and MCS, I do have some measure of confidence in my ability to speak and write on these issues. Though following news in regard to…
Studies Support ‘Hygiene Hypothesis’ on Allergies
As the prevalence of asthma and allergies continues to climb in most Western societies, the causes of these chronic conditions are still not known. Though, with a collection of news stories, research pieces, and press releases coming in over the…
FDA Approves Dymista – New Nasal Spray
On May 1st, the FDA approved a new seasonal allergy nasal spray, Dymista, for use in the U.S. Manufactured by Swedish pharmaceutical company Meda, Dymista is for children over the age of 12 and adults. It will be available by…