Air Pollution and Asthma … Bad Air Affects Us All

air pollution and asthma are relatedFor years the EPA has been saying the air inside our homes and offices can be more polluted than the air outside the front door.

This is very true because of how tight our homes are engineered to save money.  Then factor in all the various household chemicals we use day to day, and you can see we can have indoor air pollution as well as outdoors.

Whether inside or outside, air pollution and asthma are not a match made in heaven.

People with asthma need to be aware of all the “stuff” outside in the air that can hurt them. Man-made air pollution comes from cars, trucks, industries, and other sources of burning fuels.

During the summer months when it is very hot, lots of sunlight and low winds create something called a smog cloud. In some places like LA, it literally looks like fog. Not a day goes by that we don’t hear something about the ozone level or layer.

In our local newspaper, we have an ozone chart that shows what the ozone level for the day will be. In South Florida, most days are good or mild. We have the ocean breeze that keeps the ozone levels down.

No matter where you live, it is important that you monitor your daily ozone levels. People with asthma need to stay in air-conditioned spaces when the ozone levels are high.  Ozone is the major reason that air pollution and asthma don’t play well together.

FYI… If someone tries to sell you an air purifier that they say stops harmful ozone and hangs around your neck .. RUN…

Wishing you the best of health
Mike Krause
AllergyStore.com – Serving Customers Since 1989
800 771-ACHOO

Can Duct Cleaning Help Your Allergies

We have received several calls over the last few days from people wanting to know if we thought having their ducts cleaned would help their allergies.

dirty-ductWe know for a fact that heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are a collection point for all sorts of contaminates that can make your allergies worse and trigger asthma attacks. The duct work in a home or office can have mold, dust, pet dander, pollen, bacteria and even dead bugs.

Now many people assume that just because they change their filter regulary that their HVAC system is clean and allergen free. Not really. Think about all the stuff you find under the fridge when you moved it after 1 year. Now multiply that by 20. In 25 years we have seen some really nasty duct work.

Hiring a quality duct cleaning company will not only remove these contaminates improving the air quality, it has been proven that it may allow you system to run more efficiently.  A dirty coil can add $30-$40 to your electric bill.

We believe duct cleaning when done correctly can help reduce allergy symptoms. The key is to hire a company that does it correctly. The guy who says he can clean you entire HVAC system for $69 is not going to really clean your duct work. He is just cleaning out your wallet.

To find a quality company in your area visit the National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA)  website www.nadca.com. They can provide you with the certified member companies in your area.

Wishing you the best of health

What’s the State of your Air Pollution?

The American Lung Association has released their State of the Air report. You can check it out at State of the Air.  You can even enter your State and ZIP code to get the air pollution report for your area.

I entered entered my ZIP to check my air pollution level and discovered that according to the report, the air in my area is not so good.

Well, I know that!  Living by the Everglades we have lots of molds and pollens year around.  However, I was fascinated to find out that those natural particles are included when they calculate air pollution.

So I guess that when we read about air pollution, the term includes both natural (like molds and pollens) as well as man-made (like soot and car emissions).  The page also gives the scary thought that 6 of 10 Americans live in an area with poor air quality.

Sure makes me glad that I have invested in my Austin Air Healthmate air cleaners.  I can live in one of those high particle areas and breathe easy knowing that my HEPA filters are capturing those molds,  pollens, as well as the household dust that causes my allergies.  My Austin Air machines also have carbon and zeolite to get some of those man-made pollutants out as well.Right now, you can purchase an Austin Air HealthMate and get $25 off the price by entering Promo Code AF47 at check-out.

No matter the State of the Air, Austin Air is there to help.

 

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

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