Pollen 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

Open Window Policy? Windows and Allergies

So I am riding in my car, and a voice comes on the radio. No, it’s not the lyrics to The Rolling Stones’ Satisfaction. It was someone giving really bad advice about windows and allergies.

Bad Advice on Windows and Allergies

This really happened this past Saturday. I was listening to a home improvement show on the radio. The topic was controlling moisture and humidity in the home. The “guest” was selling a device to increase air circulation (a really good thing), but she was making me crazy with the bad information she was giving in an attempt to sell her product.

She talked about opening your windows on clear, dry, windy days to increase circulation and air out your home. She stressed that this was important if you have allergies. WRONG! Windows and allergies only work well together when the windows are closed and keeping pollen out!

If you have allergies to pollen, the last thing you want to do is throw your windows open on clear, dry days, especially windy days, when pollen counts are the highest.

Good Advice on Windows and Allergies

So what can you do?

If you really want to get the fresh air inside and keep the pollen out, you can use special air screens to repel the pollen. The Micro-Air Screens are perfect. They allow you to open the window 8″ (enough to get some air circulation), and the special screen media will repel the dust and pollen in the air. Because the screen repels the particles instead of filtering them, the media does not get clogged. You can read more at Air Screens for Pollen.

Just another thing to consider in your fight for clean indoor air!

Cheryl Krause
The Allergy Store

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