News
Warmer Temps Jumpstart Summer Ozone
With near record breaking temperatures in many parts of the country, poor air quality warnings are getting an early start to the season. As the mercury rises during the summer months, the combination of the heat and air pollution leads…
Mask FAQ Video – Two Things to Remember
The majority of our FAQ's often come from the Allergy Mask section of our site. Masks are a very personal item and often purchased for specific reasons. When choosing a mask there are two primary factors when making a base…
New Legislation on Auto Injectors & Anaphylaxis in Schools
For parents of children with food allergies, having and auto-injector on hand is almost second nature. With severe food allergies the risk of anaphylactic shock after exposure to the offending food allergen makes having and EpiPen nearby and easily accessible…
New ‘On Sale’ Section at AchooAllergy.com
From time to time we have an overstock of certain products here at Achoo. There are other times when we simply have short term savings that we want to pass directly on to you, our valuable customers. In the past…
Study Raises Concerns about Traditional Chinese Medicine
For centuries, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has used a variety of herbs and extracts as well as practices like 출장안마 massage and acupuncture, to treat a wide variety of health issues. And while TCM largely lacks Western research to prove…
Nailed – Toxic-Trio Found in ‘Trio-Free’ Nail Products
Some time ago, we mentioned the ‘toxic-trio’ (toulene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and formaldehyde) in relation to nail salons and nail care. In response to increasing awareness and in advance of upcoming regulations governing the toxic chemicals used in nail polish,…
Choosing Wisely – Tips for Allergies & Asthma Treatment
In an effort to reduce waste and needless testing in healthcare, ‘Choose Wisely’ is a public health initiative recently launched by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Using ‘top five’ lists, the ‘Choose Wisely’ series presents some of the most…
Insect Train Keeps Rolling Along – Bedbugs
Going along with the idea that this year is likely to be a veritable ‘Insectapalooza,’ Atlanta based pest control company, Orkin, recently released its top 50 cities for bed bugs. Unlike most other top 50 lists, this one isn’t much…
New Type of Peanut Allergy Test Yields Hope
Food intolerances and allergies can be some of the most painstaking and dangerous to accurately pin down. While a definitive method, a food challenge, exists, it consumes a great deal of time and expense. Worst of all, it requires patients…
Pollen Count Record Shattered
As we settle in to the last official day of winter (who knew, right?), temperatures across the south have been hovering around record highs – Think 80-85 degrees. Like the high temperatures, pollen counts are also setting records, and for…
Overuse of Antibiotics When Treating Rhinonsinusitis
While sinus infections can affect anyone, they often are most problematic for those who suffer from respiratory allergies or those dealing with the flu or other illness. Seeking relief, people will often head to their doctor’s office, and most carry…
Air Quality May Be Worse Than Thought
In a study recently released in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers complicate our current understanding of air pollution and how air pollution is oxidized in the environment. The initial finds are cause for some concern. The…
Asthma Claims Pulitzer Prize Winner
On Thursday, two time Pulitzer Prize winning author and journalist, Anthony Shadid died at the age of 43. Known for his work with major newspapers like the New York Times, Washington Post and Boston Globe, Shadid died in Syria of…
Defining the Link Between Environment & Health
Over a year ago, we implemented a FAQ function on our site, and since then, we’ve answered thousands of questions. Some of these questions you’ll see posted on product pages, and others you won’t see due to the personal nature…
Study Links Farm Environment and Allergy Development
There have been many studies that have started with the theory that exposure to more environmental allergens leads to an immune system that is less sensitive to common proteins like pollen, dander, etc. This is significant for allergy and asthma…
Nothing says ‘I Suck,’ Quite Like a Vacuum
Aside from being my parent's anniversary, February 14th is Valentine's day. Like every Feb. 14th, you're probably completely inundated with ads and offers for flowers, chocolates, and every other product, all with a Valentine's day spin. Rather than make a…
Link Between Less Sunlight and Food Allergies?
Though milk is often fortified with vitamin D, from grade school health classes on we've learned that much of the vitamin D we receive is from exposure to sunlight. In addition to keeping bones strong and healthy, vitamin D and…
Recent Allergy Test Study Questions Overuse
There rarely passes a week when you don't hear or see something related to allergies, and the larger trend recently seems to revolve a great deal around food allergies. Despite what seems to be a sharp increase in the number…
Allergic to… Bacteria?
Can you be allergic to bacteria? A study released in this month’s issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that some instances of asthma may be related to what could be classified as an allergic response to bacteria. _The…
Dirty Schools, Dirty Lungs?
There have been countless studies done on how certain issues like lack of sleep, and even problems at home, can affect children and their performance in school. More recently, individual states and cities have been taking this a step further…
How to Help Pet Allergic Guests Feel at Home
We have two cats and a dog, and I do what I know to do in order to keep pet dander around the house to a minimum. I try to keep the animals out of bedrooms, I have a leather…
Nail Polish Chemicals: The Toxic Trio
The Allergy Consumer Report recently covered the topic of toxic ingredients in nail polish in the series, Toxic Indoor Air in Nail Salons, Parts One and Two. The Huffington Post, in their Green section, also recently touched specifically on the…
Warmer Winter Temps A Drag for Allergy Sufferers
This winter has been an odd one for many parts of the U.S. Unlike last year when Atlanta experienced several inches of snow and colder than average temperatures, this past December was punctuated by nearly a weeks worth of temperatures…
Stay Protected During Flu Season
With winter fully upon us, the flu season is in full swing. From children to the elderly, the flu is keeping millions of people away from school, out of work and in the house. Worse for specific groups, the flu…
Taking Vitamin B5, Pantothenic Acid, for Allergies
We’ve talked before about the positive effect of some particular nutrients on preventing and relieving allergy symptoms. For instance, omega-3, whether taken as a supplement or through foods, helps a great deal in diminishing eczema symptoms and even allergy symptoms…
Stressed Infants More Prone to Allergies
We've previously discussed factors that influence the development of allergies and asthma in children. For instance, children born by c-sections and aren't exposed to as much bacteria during their birth are more likely to develop allergies. Those whose mothers take…
Neti Pots and Naegleria Fowleri
For the second time this year, neti pots have been linked to tragic fatalities via the contraction of Naegleria fowleri , the
Bedbugs’ Inbreeding Leads to Fast Infestations
You're probably aware of the resurgence in bedbugs that has plagued apartment buildings, hotels, and homes throughout the country, regardless of social class. Bedbugs are notoriously easy to get, and infestations happen quickly and pervasively, often filling entire apartment complexes…
Holiday Allergy Conundrums
Deciding to implement allergen avoidance routines makes a huge difference in many allergy sufferers' lives. Certain measures are no-brainers: using allergy relief bedding, keeping pets out of the bedroom, putting air purifiers in bedrooms, and using a HEPA vacuum cleaner.…
Key Symptoms: Flu, Cold, or Allergies?
It’s that time of year when it seems that you or someone you know is sick all the time. With many of winter’s common sicknesses having similar symptoms, it’s often hard to know what the sickness is. __ You definitely…
Allergen-Reducing Vacuuming Techniques
Winter is a time when allergens tend to build up in record amounts in your home. People and pets spend more time indoors, and homes are sealed tight against the elements. In addition, forced air heating systems make nasal and…
Christmas Lead Dangers
The Soft Landing Safe Living Guide's article, Top 5 Ways to Avoid Lead this Christmas, expands on the topic of Christmas lights lead exposure risks, which we talked about on Monday. Although it is not as prevalent as it once…
What’s Wrong with this Picture?
When I saw this photo on Pinterest (which I've blogged about before), I cringed. Knowing that Christmas lights are often rife with lead, which is used both to insulate the wiring and as a flame retardant, seeing a child handling…
Allergy to Hair Dye Puts Woman in Coma
FoxNews.com article Woman in Coma After Allergic Reaction to Hair Dye reports on the tragic case of a mother in England who experienced an apparent allergic reaction when she dyed her hair
New Dysons: The Digital Slim and Dyson’s Most Powerful Animal Vacuum
I've expressed the fact that I love Dyson vacuum cleaners on this blog before. My Dyson DC24 is going strong and I still get a thrill out of how much and how well it picks up. But now I have…
Chemicals in Baby Crib Mattresses
It wouldn't be that shocking if you discovered the couch you're sitting on was manufactured with 'suspect chemicals'. Sure, formaldehyde and flame retardants are common carcinogens we have grown to reluctantly accept into our homes as the trade-off for inexpensive,…
Wool Allergies
As temperatures continue to drop, you may find yourself reaching for warmer clothes
Antibiotics, Probiotics, Obesity, and Allergies
A recent article on ABC News, Antibiotics Could be Driving Up Obesity discusses a topic highlighted by Dr. Greg Sharon in our latest allergist interview. We've discussed the hygiene hypothesis before: the theory, simply stated, that posits that the cleaner…
Coming Soon – The Miele S6 Vacuum Cleaner
One thing that has consistently set Miele apart from other vacuum cleaner brands is the push to innovate and introduce new and improved products. As we say farewell to the Miele S4 canister vacuums cleaners, the new Miele S6 canisters…
How to Deodorize and Add Fragrance to Your Home Naturally
Especially around fall and winter holidays, it's hard not to want to add that special touch to your home with fragrance. And if company is coming, you always want to get that lingering pet or fish dinner odor out of…
Interior Brick Walls and Allergies
I’m in Cambridge visiting my sister who’s in graduate school at Harvard. This is my first ‘real’ time being in the Boston area (I can’t really count the three-hour stop I made here almost a decade ago) and I’m enjoying…
Top Two Fall Allergy Relief Products
Fall is in full swing
One Easy Way to Choose Safe Personal Care Products
Chemical exposure is all around us. Whether we are inhaling fumes from furniture or shower curtains, or ingesting food with preservatives or BPA content, toxic chemicals enter our bodies in various ways
Yellow Tipped Flames and Your Health
My husband and I have been talking to our custom home builders, and it seems we will soon have to make a decision about whether we prefer a gas range or an electric range in our new home. An almost…
Dealing with Unexpected Indoor Air Pollution
The more you know about the dangers of the toxic chemicals that are all around us, the more you do your best to avoid them. Simple lifestyle changes like swapping Windex for a homemade vinegar solution to clean glass and…
Bed Bug Prevention Tips
In today's blog, we bring you a summary of tips from RealSimple.com about how to prevent bed bugs: ‘Prevention is key.’ Bed bug extermination can cost upwards of $1200 and the physical and emotional toll the process exacts can be…
How to Keep Your Food Safe
The recent listeria outbreak makes it clear that being allergic to a food is not the only reason ordinary food might pose a severe health hazard. Below is a summary of food safety tips from the Centers for Disease control,…
Dust Is Toxic Too
I often go TheSoftLanding.com to research safe, non-toxic products for my children. Especially when it comes to plastic items, navigating what's safe and what could contain hormone-disrupting or neurotoxic chemicals is particularly difficult; it helps to have a guide for…
Raw Milk Lessens Allergy and Asthma Risk, Study Finds
According to a recent large European study, children who drink raw milk are less likely to develop allergies and asthma, reports FoxNews.com. While a direct cause-and-effect relationship between raw milk consumption and less incidence of allergies and asthma cannot be…
Formaldehyde Sources in the Home
Keeping indoor air quality healthy requires knowledge about what products in your home might compromise indoor air quality