Allergy - Proof You House To Dust Mites

An allergic reaction occurs whenever the body enters into an altered state, or has a response, because of a substance. Many people have allergic reactions to dust mites. This allergic reaction includes watery eyes, a runny nose, and a rash that may even turn into full-blown hives. Dust mites are also the most common trigger for asthma. While it is usually best to avoid allergens, sometimes this is difficult to do.

So, what exactly is a dust mite? A dust mite is actually a mite that lives inside of the dust that is found within your home. The actual allergy is to their feces. This feces is produced approximately 20 times per day and is actually light enough that it can float in the air. For this reason, the humans that inhabit these homes can easily inhale the dust mites? feces. It is interesting to note that there are approximately 40,000 dust mites per speck of dust. With this in mind, you can easily imagine just how many dust mite stools enter into your respiratory tract. These mites especially like to live in humid areas and conditions where their food (mold and fungi) is most plentiful.

These mites need to be eliminated from the areas in which they most commonly breed. This usually includes warm, humid places such as beds, carpets, and upholstered furniture. These mites also live on the skin cells that people and their pets shed, and deposit their waste in all of the areas in which they gather. This wreaks havoc on a person who has allergies to dust mites.

There are some ways in which you can ?allergy-proof? your house. This is actually the first step that you should take towards effectively treating a dust allergy. While you may be thinking that you are going to have to tear the house apart for this to work, you do not have to do so. Here are some simple ways in which you can begin ?allergy-proofing? your home today.

? Dust and sweep your house on a weekly basis. You should also use a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner to keep your furniture and carpet clean.

? Keep your house moderately cool and maintain low levels of humidity by using a dehumidifier. Dust mites do not like living in this type of an environment and thus keeping your home air cool and not humid, you will be able to hamper their growth. Dehumidifiers are also helpful here.

? Ensure that your house is properly ventilated. HEPA air filters are useful here.

? Take time to wash your bedclothes on a weekly basis and dry them on high heat. There are also anti-allergen casings available for mattresses and bedclothes.

If you take the aforementioned measures and still find yourself suffering with dust mite allergies, then you should seek medical attention. Doctors can offer antihistamines and allergy injections, both of which can be very helpful for persons who are allergic to dust mites. There are also holistic measures that can be taken, but you would need to seek the advice of a homeopathic practitioner in order to see what would work best for you.

Nikola Babic works at http://www.beyondallergy.com, online magazine and resource for allergy sufferers offering latest news and information on different types of allergies and treatments.

Learn How To Breathe Again With An Allergy Air Purifier

Don't you just love the springtime when the flowers are beginning to bloom and people are beginning to take an interest in their landscaping once again. They begin mowing their lawns and trimming bushes and hedges. Unfortunately, this time of the year can be the worst time for someone who suffers from allergies. An allergy air purifier can help someone who suffers with allergies to cope with all the pollen and such that is taking place at this time of the year, or in many cases throughout the year. I love the smell of freshly mowed grass, but many others can't enjoy this luxury as their allergies can get the best of them and breathing can be a difficult thing. This article will give some tips on using an allergy air purifier.

An allergy air purifier can be a life saver to someone who suffers with allergies. Did you know that allergies are the leading cause for asthma. Asthma is a life threatening problem for many, as it makes breathing difficult. The airways become closed off because of irritations usually caused from allergies and breathing becomes a huge problem. Although there are medications you can take for asthma, many people die each year as a result of complications from it, so keeping the air we breathe in pure and contaminant free, is very important. That is where an allergy air purifier is very important to use.

An allergy air purifier is designed to draw room air into its filtering system and then filter out all the contaminants. It leaves those contaminants on its filter or filtering plate and blows back into the room, good clean uncontaminated air to breathe in. This will help promote not just good breathing, but overall good health as well. What we breathe into our bodies effects our overall health. It's a known fact that most colds are caught in our own homes than any other place. Why is that you may ask. Well the answer is simple. Our homes are an enclosed setting. It's like living in a box and breathing in the same air all the time. An allergy air purifier will take out the bad stuff that is in the air we are breathing, and give us back good clean oxygen to breathe in.

There are many things an allergy air purifier can eliminate that can cause allergies to flare up such as dust and dust mites which are all found in the home. Things like pollen and animal dander can also be contributing causes for allergies and are often found in the home as well. There are many other allergy contributors such as perfumes and things with perfume smells in them such as household cleaners, and the number one culprit tobacco smoke that can bring on an allergy attack, but all of these things can be contained inside an allergy air purifier too.

For more information on Air Cleaners and Purifiers for your home or business try visiting http://air-cleaners-and-purifiers.com, a website that specializes in providing helpful tips, advice and Air Cleaners and Purifiers resources to include Allergy Air Purifier and more.

Alternative Treatments For Allergy Sufferers

Doctors often prescribe medicine to treat allergies. But taking medicine has caused some allergy suffers to endure unnatural effects such as drowsiness and headaches. With growing concern of chemicals and pills, alternative approaches to treating pollen and springtime allergies are becoming more popular.

Interestingly, alternative medicine is being considered even by the mainstream. Approximately 40% of all Americans have tried some form of alternative medicine including some of the ones listed below.

Acupuncture is an age-old procedure that places or inserts needles to certain points in the body. To people who have never heard of this procedure, it might sound hard to believe that needles help someone with allergy prevention. However, a rising number of patients claim that acupuncture has helped them with their allergy problems.

In an acupuncture session, the therapist places needles on the face and corresponding areas of the body. To treat allergies, sometimes the Chinese herb moxa is placed on the tip of the needles. By doing so, the process is intended to clear the sinuses and restore normal breathing.

There?s a philosophic basis for acupuncture. The Chinese believe in an energy force called the Qi, which flows through the body near the skin. Based on this belief, the Qi must be balanced through the entire body. If the flow is broken, deficient, or disrupted, the individual feels pain. By pressuring the points throughout one?s body, the energy can become balanced and ultimately restore the health of the patient.

Similar to acupuncture, massage can help the allergy suffers; particularly individuals suffering from sinus problems. Tightened muscles could contribute to congestion. By relaxing the muscles in the neck and face, the therapist can help get rid of the congestion and allow easier breathing.

Sometimes the best way to combat allergies is to fight fire with fire. Some have argued that eating local honey can help you treat allergies to pollen. The thinking is that the local honey has the native pollen and eating it would allow you to become more accustomed to the effects. With this alternative treatment, one can build natural immunities without the use of chemicals. Although there?s no conclusive study that supports this claim, many have claimed some benefits of applying this practice.

Others have claimed a well-balanced diet is a great way to fend off allergies naturally. There is no specific food or drink that prevents these reactions, but the overall goal is to live healthy. A healthy diet means a healthy body and system. And we all know that combating allergies centers on a good immune system. Foods with good sources of vitamins can contribute to this well-being. Vitamin such as B6 and B12 help the creation of antibodies and reduce the effects of airborne allergies. Other vitamin such as C and E are antioxidants that charge the immune system by improving white blood cell production and cell membranes.

Alternative therapies shouldn?t always be considered as a replacement for conventional treatment for allergy suffers. Consult with a doctor before applying any of the approaches discussed here. There are no specific studies that claim that any alternative treatments to allergies are very effective. As such, these alternative treatments to allergy suffers should supplement medically prescribed treatments.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Allergies

I Have A Cat Allergy - What Can I Do?

If we were smart we would avoid things that we are allergic to but who said most of us were smart or sane when it comes to our pets. For most cat lovers there is no way they are going to part with their beloved pet because of a cat allergy.

That means you?ll need to learn to manage your cats and your cat allergy symptoms. Although you might not rid yourself of your cat allergy you should be able to make your symptoms manageable.

In case you have forgotten we?ll give you a little reminder about the allergens and the fact that they are airborne so when you breathe them in you can have a cat allergy reaction. There is a high rate of contamination and recontamination.

1. No More Monkeys Jumping On The Bed
Okay no monkey?s here but there will be no more cats sleeping on your bed. This might be the hardest habit to break but it?s a small price to pay to wake up clear headed in the morning and without your cat allergy bothering you.

2. No Trespassing
The bedroom has to become a cat free zone and this will reduce the allergens to almost zero. Don?t give into your cats. They?ll find somewhere else they love to curl up and you?ll find yourself suffering a lot less with your cat allergy.

3. Give Me An H..E..P?A
HEPA air filters do a great job of cleaning the air in your home and because cat dander is so difficult to pick up this is a smart way to be effective and help your cat allergy.

4. HEPA Vacuum
Vacuuming just became that much more important. You need to invest in a HEPA vacuum cleaner and you need to vacuum walls, carpets, furniture, and just about anything else that lives in the house other than Grandma?s fine china. You need to do it at least twice a week to reduce your cat allergy.

5. Steam Clean
Using a vapor steam cleaner to clean your home will kill the proteins in the dander. This has been scientifically proven. What that means is for under a hundred dollars you can rid your home of everything and you?ll find your cat allergy is forgotten.

6. Wash Em Now!
Always wash your hands right after handling your cat and make sure you do not rub your eyes at any time even after you?ve washed your hands. Your cat allergies will be better.

7. Heat It Up!
Wash all your bedding in water that is 140 degrees and do this twice a month to eliminate dust mites and cat allergens.

8. Bath Your Cat
Yes we know that this task could easily be worse than your cat allergy but you simply have to do it at least once a month and more often if you can.

What?s most important to realize when you suffer from a cat allergy is that you do not have to get rid of your cat. Your cat is a family member and getting rid of your cat is like getting rid of one of your children. You can have your cat and your cat allergy too.

Get all the latest information about Allergies from the only true source at http://www.1allergyinformation.com Be sure to check out our Cat Allergy pages.

Allergy Drops Provide Freedom

Are you chained to your weekly allergy shot treatments? Typically shots need to be given once a week and require not only time but money as well. Allergy drops which have been used in Europe for some time are now being offered here in the United States. These drops are given at home and therefore can reduce the cost of doctor office visits even if you only have a copayment.

Allergy shots and allergy drops are both immunotherapy treatments allergists use for their patients. The "new" sublingual allergy drops(not to be confused with eye drop treatments) have the same goal of slowly making the sufferer immune to whatever allergen is causing their problems. This is sometimes referred to as desensitization.

Disadvantages of Allergy Shots

1. Allergy shots can be inconvenient because they require a weekly trip to the doctor's office. Typically, shots consist of diluted versions of the allergen to which the patient reacts. The patient then has to wait approximately 30 minutes after the injections to make sure there is no adverse reaction before leaving the allergist's office.

2. Allergy shots can be costly. Even if you don't count the time lost out of work or school there is usually a cost associated with the office visit itself. Even if the shots are covered by your medical insurance typically there is a copayment with each visit. I know my copayment for an office visit is $15. If you have to go every week that adds up to a whopping $780 per year out of your pocket.

Advantages of Allergy Drops

• Save time - the patient visits the doctor only two or three times a year versus as many as 52
• Save Money - reduced patient visits equals reduced copayments
• Much More Convenient - patient received the prescription at the office and places the drops under his or her tongue at home

Some patients have experienced adverse reactions to sublingual allergy drops. The risk is similar to that of taking allergy shots but you can see that most people would think that the advantages far outweigh the risk of having to deal with a reaction on their own. Typically you would seek medical treatment immediately.

Many allergists will begin a patient's treatment using both shots and allergy drops and if the drops show a reduction in symptoms similar or better than the shots the allergist will most likely suggest that the patient move to just the drops. Given the convenience of this course of treatment it has been shown that more people will take the drops on a regular basis in comparison to the injections.

Treatments get better every day, rumor has it that allergy pills are around the corner that will treat more than the symptoms of allergies but will act as replacements for the allergy drops and allergy shots that exist for immunotherapy therapy treatments that exist today. Though immunotherapy does not work for everyone if it does the effects can seem miraculous.

Marilyn Franklin writes for AllergyFiles.com where you can find more info on how to manage your allergies.

What's The Best Allergy Air Purifier? 5 Things You Should Know

We've all seen those air purifier infomercials. But can can allergy relief be as easy as spending $449 for a home air purifier? Last year over 4 million air purifiers were sold in the US. And while allergies rank #1 as the reason people bought an air purifier the rise of childhood asthma (up 60% over the last 10 years) is a close second.

The strong competition between manufacturers is creating confusion for consumers. According to one industry analyst:

"Manufacturers are battling over whether ozone purifiers, ion purifiers, and the no-replacement-filter-type purifiers are best in the minds of consumers"

According to Rich Mayer, a Research Scientist who specializes in Air Purification Technology 3 things stand out:

After testing 314 air allergy purifiers we discovered that most experts still agree that a HEPA filters are the most efficient for removing pollen and dust. Next is UV light - which can kill bacteria and viruses that can contribute to allergy reactions.

5 things you should know before you buy an Air Purifier

#1: Replacement Filters are Over-Priced

In Japan air purifiers include 2-3 extra replacement filters. WHY? Because the Japanese think ahead.

U.S. manufacturers realize American's don?t think ahead so they overcharge. Once you purchase an air purifier you?ll be stuck paying what they ask. (Reminds me of my $89 inkjet printer ?the replacement cartridges are $28!)

Remedy: Ask for filter prices first. Every 6-12 months you?ll need to change filters. And anything over $25 is too much.

Buying Hint: Ask for a discount on extra replacement filters before buying.

#2: Avoid Purifiers That Say: ?No Replacement Filters?

The idea sounds great but once you've seen a dirty HEPA filter (HEPA?s are a cloth-like filter which holds dust and pollution) you realize the ones without filters aren't catching very much dust or pollen ? YOUR LUNGS ARE!

?No Replacement Filter Models? include:

Ionic Breeze

Oreck Models (they contradict themselves on their website. You have to replace filters, but they aren't HEPA)

Remedy ? Get an air purifier that has affordable replacements. HEPA is important if you have allergies.

#3: "Fanless" Air Purifiers Won?t Move Enough Air

The ionic purifiers sell you on how quiet they are and how little electricity they use. The problem is they don?t move any air.

(Note; Because of this problem Sharper Image went to fans in their new models)

Remedy: Avoid purifiers without fans.

#4 Avoid Loud Fan Motors

A few people have emailed me that after buying an air purifier they couldn't sleep.

Remedy: For a super quiet fan ask for one with brushless motors. Read the box for decibel levels. 20-35 decibels is quiet enough for sleep.

#5: It Won?t Do The Square Footage On The Box

I called Oreck when their new $700 tower was listed as covering 1100 square feet. ?How Many Times Does It Change The Air In The Room?? (which means how many times it will change all the air in that room). They didn?t know. Finally a tech said: ?One per hour?. That?s poor.

Remedy: Make sure to ask for 4-9 ?Changes Per Hour? per Square footage.(You may have to call the manufacturer) Square Footage as listed on the box is also based on an empty room.

How to Choose The Right Technology

Here are some guidelines to match the basic technologies to your needs:

#1 HEPA, Pre-filter, Neg/Ion, Plasma Grid = Helpful for allergies and asthma, some odors

#2 Carbon, Charcoal, Ozone = Helpful for odors, smoke, animal smells, chemical sensitivity, VCO?s, and immune system

#3 UV, TiO2, Plasma Grid, Ceramic = Helpful for immune system (colds, flu, viruses, pathogens), and eliminating musty odors

New Sensor Technology There is a cool new technology from Japan that detects pollen. It promises to bring greater allergy relief. It continuously adjusts the purifier to the room saving electricity and guesswork.

In the end the home Air Purifier I found became one of the 3 parts of the plan that eliminated my allergies.

Mark Richardson is a Los Angeles based Health Practitioner and Author. He has been interviewed on over 300 radio and TV stations across the U.S. on how he cured his allergies and asthma. He recommends looking at http://www.airpodcleaner.com you can email your questions to Mark at healthideal@hotmail.com.

Allergy Tests Effectiveness

Many people suffer from allergies. The problem that most allergy sufferers face is that it is difficult to pinpoint just what it is that they are allergic to. This is where allergy tests come in. But how effective are they in discovering exactly what it is you're allergic to? Are they accurate? Are there many ways to even perform the tests? We're going to try to answer some of these questions as well as explain how allergy tests work. Hopefully, by the time you're done reading this, you'll have a pretty good understanding of allergy tests are.

The basic premise behind giving allergy tests is very simple. Your allergist will inject you with small portions of each allergen to determine exactly what it is that you are allergic to. However, in reality, it isn't quite that simple. There are several methods to giving these tests and unfortunately all allergists give them differently.

The one method, which takes the longest, is to start with the smallest dose of allergen for each allergy. Since there are about 8 or 9 outdoor and 8 or 9 indoor allergies, this comes out to about 16 to 18 shots for each allergen at each dosage level. There are approximately 6 or 7 dosage levels for giving these tests. So by the time you are done testing, you could effectively have gotten as many 126 shots. While this may sound on the verge of insanity, it actually goes by very fast. Each dosage level is administered simultaneously in these standard kits. So you're getting about 8 shots at a time.

The way the test works is simple. After each dose is given, a period of about 10 minutes is allowed to pass. The allergist then checks to see if there are any signs of a reaction. If not, then they move up to the next dosage. Now, each allergen can react at a different dosage. So each reaction point has to be noted. Obviously, very detailed record keeping is involved here.

Other allergists simply go the direct route and administer the highest test dosage to start with and work their way down. This is not as accurate because an allergen that reacts at dose 6 may not react at dose 3 but will react at dose 4. Why does this matter? Because the ultimate serum created will actually be a little stronger than it needs to be. Granted, the difference is slight but many allergists feel that difference is significant enough.

But how accurate are these tests, even if you go the long route? Truthfully, they aren't as accurate as people want to think. The reason, as explained to me by my allergist, is because the skin, which is where the tests are given, reacts differently to allergens than the actual sinus passages. To get a more accurate result, you would have to inject each sinus passage, one shot at a time, and then what for a reaction. The amount of time it would take to administer these tests under those conditions would make testing virtually impossible. So skin testing is the best we can hope for.

So because the tests themselves are not that accurate, the actual allergy shot created for them is only going to be so accurate. This is why many people who take allergy shots get very little relief from them, if any.

Therefor, the alternative to allergy testing and allergy shots is simply to treat your allergies with natural foods and herbs. You can find such treatments by visiting our website.

To YOUR Health,

Steve Wagner

Steve Wagner used to suffer from allergies terribly, but with proper diet he is now allergy free. Come visit our website at http://www.natures-healing-remedies.com/products.html asthma where you can learn how to be allergy free. Also, pick up your FREE report on how the drug companies are killing us as well as get a FREE 52 week series featuring treatments for a different ailment each week.