Mold Archives

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 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 wa 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!

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

Wool Is the Ideal Allergy Proof Bedding Fiber

wool makes best allergy proof bedding — image courtesy Dr Joseph Valks

If you are looking for allergy proof bedding, look no further than your friendly neighborhood sheep. If there are no sheep in your neighborhood, don’t worry. The Allergy Store offers a wide range of allergy proof bedding made from wool.

Wool Makes Great Allergy Proof Bedding – Naturally!

Whether you are concerned about toxic chemical treatments to make your bedding flame retardant or dust mites, mold, and bacteria are your major concerns, wool is the answer. Wool is naturally:

Anti-static
Anti-bacterial
Dust mite resistant
Temperature regulating

Washable Wool is Revolutionary

Advances in wool processing technology means that many wool wool is ideal allergy proof bedding fiber products are now washable. Shropshire wool is now available that retains loft and softness even with repeated washings.

Organic Wool Allergy Proof Bedding for Babies to Adults

From organic wool crib mattresses to mattress pads for king size beds, The Allergy Store has you covered. And if you want to cover your wool duvet, we’ve got a cover for that as well!

Mold Spores – Know the Enemy – Mold Part 2

A few questions we get fairly often are about mold spores in the air all the time and which ones are allergenic. Like pollens, mold spores are airborne allergens that are abundant, inside as well as outside, easily carried by air currents, and allergenic in their chemical makeup.

Found almost everywhere, mold spores in some areas are so numerous they often outnumber the pollens in the air.

Fortunately, however, only a few dozen different types of mold spores are significant allergens. In general, Alternaria and Cladosporium (Hormodendrum) are the molds most commonly found both indoors and outdoors throughout the United States. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Helminthosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus, and Aureobasidium (Pullularia) are also common.

Are there mold spore-related disorders?

Fungi or microorganisms related to them may cause other health problems similar to allergic diseases. Some kinds of Aspergillus may cause several different illnesses, including both infections and allergies. These fungi may lodge in the airways or a distant part of the lung and grow until they form a compact sphere known as a “fungus ball.”

In people with lung damage or serious underlying illnesses, Aspergillus may grasp the opportunity to invade the lungs or the whole body. In some individuals, exposure to these fungi also can lead to asthma or to a lung disease resembling severe inflammatory asthma called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

This latter condition, which occurs only in a minority of people with asthma, is characterized by wheezing, low-grade fever, and coughing up brown-flecked masses or mucus plugs. Skin testing, blood tests, X-rays, and examination of the sputum for fungi can help establish the diagnosis. Corticosteroid drugs are usually effective in treating this reaction; immunotherapy (allergy shots) is not helpful.

IAQ Regulations and Mold Spores

Standards or Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for airborne concentrations of mold, or mold spores, have not been set. Currently, there are no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants.

Up Next – Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

Till next time

Cheryl
Allergy Store – Helping customers since 1989
800 771-2246