Pollen Allergy and Cats

Had an interesting conversation with a customer a few days ago about pollen allergy and cats.

This woman had several cats.  She is not allergic to cats.  However, she started having a problem that seemed to be caused by the cats.  They had no problems with regular cuddle time or sleeping with her.  She had no allergy symptoms after these activities. However, when she let the kitties out in the morning and then brought them back in later, she noticed that she couldn’t pet them without sneezing and getting watery eyes.  She started trying to connect her pollen allergy and her cats.

She wondered if the cats could possibly bring in mold spores (she is highly allergic to mold) or pollen (she is allergic to pollen) on their fur.  Of course!  Pet coats are perfect for collecting mold spores and pollen.

That is why we always recommend keeping pets inside on windy or high pollen count days. We know the connection between mold and pollen allergy and cats.  Did you?

She inquired if there is a cat allergy spray she could use to take care of the “not-cat” allergens that were collecting on the cats.  Of course!

Allerpet is not a spray, but it is perfect for taking care of these and any other allergens on the cat.  It is also a great coat conditioner.  Not only will you have an allergy-free cat, but you will have a shiny cat as well.

The same goes for dogs.  If your dog goes outside, it will bring those outdoor allergens inside.  Rover can spread pollen and mold all over the house.  Allerpet works for dogs as well.

So don’t blame cat allergy if the cat makes you sneeze.  It might just be something the cat is wearing.

Til next time!

Best Mask for Gardening and Outdoor Activities

gardeningSpring has sprung and summer is just around the corner.   Time to get outside and enjoy the warm temperatures and fresh air.  If you have allergies and like to be outside, it can be a challenge.  Don’t reach for another dose of antihistamine; stop allergies before they start. Reach for a pollen-protecting mask.  Reach for the Qmask.  We think it is by far the best mask for gardening and many other outdoor activities.

The Pollen Problem

Spring brings tree pollen and summer brings grass pollen.  If you are gardening outside, you are going to breathe pollen.

It is in the air and on the plants.  Depending on the wind speed, the best mask for gardening blocks pollenpollen doesn’t even need to originate in your yard for you to be exposed.  The wind is important to pollen dispersal. Plants depend on the wind.  The pollen you can breathe in your yard can come from plants miles away.   The minute you go outside you are exposed!

Reduce reactions to pollen by reducing your exposure.  This doesn’t mean you have to stay inside.  It does mean that before you go outside you should put on a mask that stops pollen.  Be sure to pick a mask that doesn’t let in pollen and doesn’t restrict your airflow.  That’s where the Qmask comes in.

What Makes QMask Best Mask for Gardening

Gardening is physical. Digging, pruning, carrying debris, watering, mulching, and more.  All of this physical effort is good exercise. When you exercise your muscles need oxygen.  The last thing you need is a mask that restricts your airflow and your oxygen.

qmask blocks pollen easy to put onBreathe easy with the Qmask.  The revolutionary material won’t clog and it won’t restrict your airflow.  Instead of trapping pollen and other debris, it blocks and repels them.

In a nutshell, pollen hits the mask and bounces off.  You breathe easy and you breathe pollen-free.

Wear glasses?  Not a problem with the Qmask. The flexible edges conform to the contours of your nose and cheeks easily and comfortably.  Your glasses or sunglasses will not fog up and the Qmask won’t compete with your glasses for valuable real estate behind your ear.

Instead of wide straps, the Qmask uses soft ear loops to keep your mask in place.  It won’t interfere with your hearing aids either!

That’s just the start.  Unlike cheap paper-style masks that you use once and throw away, the Qmask is reusable.  Just rinse to remove any pollen and let it drip dry.  Wear it over and over and over again.  Al season long you’ll agree that the Qmask is the best mask for gardening.

Be Cool

With all that exercise, you can work up a sweat.  Be cool with the qmask is best mask for gardening and other outdoor activitiesQmask. It won’t get hot no matter how strenuous your activity.   Mary-Margaret “says it is cool, easy to breathe, and totally prevents inhalation of pollen You can’t ask for more in a mask for gardening.”

Other Ways to Avoid Pollen

When you come inside, head to the bathroom and remove all your clothing.  Your hair and clothes are like pollen magnets.  When you come inside you bring all that pollen with you.  You don’t want to spread it around the house.

Shower and wash your hair to remove pollen and mold spores.  Deposit your pollen-filled clothes in the hamper. Do not keep the hamper in the bedroom!

During Spring and summer months, check your pollen forecasts at Pollen.com.  Don’t hang clothes out to dry these days.   Keep pets inside as well.  Their fur picks up pollen and it will hitch a ride inside.

So grab your Qmask and get gardening! Tell us what you’ve grown in the comments below

Til Next Time

Cheryl

Ragweed and Other Reasons to Keep Outside Out

If you’ve been experiencing itchy or watery eyes lately or noticed that you are sneezing, sniffling, or itching more than often, you might be allergic to ragweed pollens.

This is the time of year ragweed and other weeds are the most common pollens in the air.  Single ragweed can produce over one billion grains of pollen.  Can you imagine unleashing one billion particles of allergy-causing misery? It is like single ragweed is an invading army and your immune system just doesn’t stand a chance. Doesn’t it make you want to sneeze just to think about it?

Well, the same wonderful end of summer and early fall weather that triggers the ragweeds to produce pollen also tempts us to open our windows.  But, if you have allergies it is really not a great idea.  It is best to keep the outside out.  It also seems counter-intuitive to the idea of “fresh” air.

I was speaking to a young man in the midwest earlier this week about his conflicting desires to want the “freshest” air in his house balanced with his desire for his daughter to breathe the cleanest air.

He had been researching air exchanging units and had read some pretty convincing marketing materials supporting the benefits of “clean” air from the outside.  His question was spot on,  “If this unit brought air in from outside and the air had pollen or mold, was he making things better or worse?”

Well, if this unit sucked the air from outside and did nothing to clean that air, then things would be worse.  If the unit brought air in, cleaned it up, then dumped it into the house, then it truly would be “fresh” air.

Remember you don’t want to bring more pollen or mold into your house than already sneaks in every time you open a door.  Remember, you also carry bits of pollen and molds from the air on your clothes and hair if you go outside when counts are high.  It really is best to keep the outside out.

If you do open your windows, then run your HEPA air cleaner on high.  Put it to work sucking up those particles.  Look into using MicroAirScreen Window Air Screens that will allow you to open your window 8″ but still block those pollens and molds.

Also, take a moment to check the pollen levels before you open up.  Many newspapers print pollen counts and you can always visit Pollen.Com to get your local forecast.  They even have a mobile app that you can download if that’s your style. So, no matter how you approach it, keep the outside out and the inside in.

Til Next Time!
Cheryl