control allergy symptoms Archives

October 12, 2012July 5, 2014

Ragweed and Mold – Fall Allergens

If you find you are scratching your eyes and feeling a bit more stuffy than usual, it may be because fall allergens such as ragweed are at their peak. The other thing that is causing problems for a lot of people is mold. All of the wet leaves on the ground have to be raked up. When you do it releases mold spores right where you are working. Ragweed pollen and mold are the most common fall allergens for people with fall seasonal allergies

Not to take the fun away but you may want to keep the kids out of those big piles of leaves if the have allergies or asthma.

Another thing we are getting calls on is people are turning on the heaters for the first time and getting all stopped up. The problem is mold, dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander can build up on the heating coils during the summer. When you switch on the heat for the first all of that starts to burn off. Besides smelling bad, the allergens become airborne. This is the most common of the indoor fall allergens.

Being in South Florida we would see it all the time when the first good cold snap hit. We don’t have the problem at out house because we don’t have heat.

Best thing you can do aside from having the system cleaned, is to open a few windows when you first turn on the heating system. Do it early in the day so anything that blows out has a chance to settle.

Wishing you the best of health
Mike Krause

800 771-2246

September 21, 2012July 5, 2014

Pet Grooming to Control Allergies

If you have allergies to your pets you know it is important to keep them groomed. Regular grooming reduces the amount of loose skin particles (dander) and hair available to be shed. The actual allergy causing agent is a protein that is found in the saliva and urine of animals. However, as they lick themselves and empty their bladder, this protein adheres to the skin and fur and is just ready to flake off and become airborne where you can inhale it and become sick. So, think of pet grooming to control allergies as nothing more than controlled shedding. You are removing the bits before they fall off on their own and stick to your belongings. You are deciding where and when the shedding will happen!

What are the proper tools and procedures for pet grooming to control allergies? Is it different from standard pet grooming?

While grooming needs vary depending on your pets breed, at a minimum you should brush your pet at least once a week. Not only is it good for your allergies, it is also good for your pet. If your pet likes to be brushed (I have one cat that loves it and one that hates it), it is also a great opportunity to spend time together. Your pets skin (like your own) is the largest organ of the body. Regular brushing will spread oils, remove dead skin and dander, and keep fur from becoming matted. It also stimulates the skin and makes the pet feel good (except for our one cat that hates being held).

If you aren’t sure what kind of brush to use, talk to your vet or a local groomer at one of the big box pet stores. They can direct you to the right brush for your pets fur. Our cats get brushed with a soft bristle brush as they both have short to medium length hair that is not coarse. I brush first with the lay of the fur and then against it. I am really gentle around the face. I don’t brush near the eyes because they really don’t like it. But one cat is crazy for being brushed on the cheeks and belly.

If you use Allerpet coat conditioner, this is a great time to apply it. After you are finished brushing the animal, just rub them down with a rag moistened with the Allerpet pet allergen eliminating solution. It will work to remove any of the bits of protein that weren’t removed by brushing. As a bonus, it will make the pets fur very soft and shiny. See our very own Rory, a Shiny Black Cat., after her application of Allerpet/C. Now that is one shiny black cat!

If you are extremely sensitive to your pets, it might help to get a family member or friend to do the grooming.

Remember, grooming alone won’t stop your allergic reactions, but anything you can do to reduce your exposure to allergens will reduce your reactions. That’s a good thing for both you and your pet, and that’s nothing to sneeze at!

Til Next Time

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

December 9, 2011July 18, 2014

What is AllerSoft?

AllerSoft is a registered trademark of Narcote, LLC. They make allergy control fabrics as well as other medical and sports related fabrics.

The main AllerSoft fabrics you will see are either all cotton fabrics or cotton polyester blends. The blend is the original fabric used in AllerSoft dust mite proof mattress covers. Because it has polyester in addition to the cotton, it can be woven more tightly. Because the weave is tighter, the pore size between the fibers is smaller.

The polyester also makes the fabric more durable than the all cotton fabric.

However, when it comes to softness, you just can’t beat AllerSoft 100% Cotton fabric. It is so light, thin, cool and comfortable you don’t even know it is on the bed. Of the people that walk into our retail location and feel the fabrics before they make a purchase, the AllerSoft 100% cotton is the most popular.

The Allersoft 100% Cotton is also available in a certified organic form.. This is the same cool, comfortable AllerSoft cotton fabric, however its growth has been certified to be organic. That means it was grown without chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer.

When you are looking for allergy-proof mattress and pillow covers and you want cotton content in the fibers, be sure to look for the AllerSoft trademark. It is a sign that you are getting a quality fabric. But then again, we wouldn’t sell AllerSoft if it didn’t do the job.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl
The Allergy Store