Allergies and asthma don’t always go hand in hand, but many people suffer from both of them. Most asthma sufferers have specific triggers that provoke their attacks. Those who have allergies also experience symptoms in conjunction with certain triggers. In some cases these triggers are unavoidable, but you can often reduce them as long as you know what they are.
Asthma sufferers often feel that their asthma is controlled if they can manage attacks with an inhaler or other asthma remedies. But true control involves preventing attacks in the first place, not treating them once they occur. Here are some ways that you can stop allergic reactions and asthma attacks before they start.
* Know the circumstances that surround your asthma attacks by paying attention. They will have something in common, you just have to find it. Determining what causes the attacks by taking note of these things is the first step in avoiding them.
* Steer clear of everyday triggers like smoke and noxious fumes. These are a frequent cause of an asthma attack, and you need to avoid.
* Stay indoors when pollution and pollen levels are high. Going out when there is an overabundance of these things in the air can be asking for trouble.
* Dust in the home should be gotten rid of. Keep your home as clean as you possibly can and use an air purifier. The use of a regular vacuum cleaner for vacuuming can make things worse though. Use water to clean as much as possible, as often as you can. Dust is kept out of your nose because the water traps it.
* Don’t have pets in the house. Animal hair, pet dander, saliva, and feathers can be the cause of an allergic reaction if you’re susceptible to these things. Except for fish, it’s best to not own a pet if you suffer from allergies.
* Be vigilant about controlling mold. Mold flourishes in damp areas, so ensure that your house is kept dry. Try using a dehumidifier and check that moist corners of the house are well ventilated.
* Cockroaches are often the cause of an allergy or asthma attack, so do everything you can to discourage them from visiting your home. Get rid of clutter, keep your food tightly stored, and don’t have standing water. If cockroaches don’t find these necessities in your home, they’ll look somewhere else.
Most allergy and asthma sufferers have a crucial need for medication. Not only can it help to stop symptoms but it can help them to be avoided as well. In order to control these ailments effectively it is important to take control over the environmental triggers as well. These tips can help you to breathe easier if you have allergies, asthma or both.
Filed under Allergies/Asthma by Kim Archer
Furnace filters play an important role in the management of clean air for the home. You may already know how an actual air conditioner cools the room and makes it more comfortable during summer but you should also be cognizant that it performs another very important function. Air filters take the dust out from the circulating air and supplant it with clean air. So aside from cooling, air handlers have a medically beneficial effect on the living space. For the furnace to be able to endlessly clean the air and render it free from pollutants, it will need a high quality filter. These filters trap out the dirt in the air so that the air returns from the appliance is clean.
The filters are positioned along the grill of the air conditioner so they serve as the last point the air passes before it is released to the room.
Air conditioner filters help shield us from evil little things called respirable particles. You can easily observe larger particles settle on your end table or lounge. Respirable particles are undetectable but are nonetheless present in the air. One can easily inhale them. Once inside our bodies these particles can easily lodge in the lungs and cause serious respiratory illnesses. Air conditioner filters extract these tiny particles so you obtain both cleaner air and a particle-free atmosphere in your room.
you’ll realize the importance of filtering your air if you understand the fact that the average person breathes in 1.5 million particles of dust each day. The EPA that provides these numbers also claims that the air quality inside our houses is more contaminated than that open air because air inside has no chance for dispersion of contaminants.
So the need for good quality air conditioner filters becomes very apparent. We need to be using them to help protect us against allergies and infections from airborne diseases.
Furnace air filters should be replaced as they gather dust. But as a homeowner how do you decide on which A/C air filters to purchase? There are numerous manufacturers but basically they all produce similar types of filters. Depending on how they operate, the major ones are High Efficiency Particulate Air (or HEPA) which provides pollen (and smoke) filtration, Pleated which provides a larger surface area, Electrostatic which takes advantage of a process that creates an attraction for dust, and Carbon which applies carbon filtration. Of all these, the Charcoal and the Electrostatic types are most common.
There are 2 kinds of A/C filters – normal throw-away filters and washable filters. Of the four disposable filters that we tested, the 3m filtrete line came out a clear winner. Of the 3 re-usable filters that we recently tested, the Boair filter came out on top due to the fact that it was the easiest to clean and it filtered the largest amount of dust.
Prior to placing your order for new air conditioning filters, you’ll have to determine if the chosen one fits your air handler. It’s not enough to simply know the size of the intended replacement; you should be able to determine the function of the air filter as well. For example, there are air conditioner air filters with UV sterilizers that counteract harmful contaminants in the air so they do not get into the body. You may need this kind for more crowded spaces. High Efficiency Particulate Air (or HEPA) air filters are well known for screening out tiny particles from the atmosphere so the space remains clear of pollens. These variants serve areas like smokers rooms.
Air conditioning filters make living rooms safe places to spend our time. They filter dirt from our air and kill any bacteria that may be lurking. We need to clean them often so they keep operating to protect our health.
Filed under Allergies/Asthma by Paul Mancini
June 23, 2009
How to Fight Gluten Allergy
Gluten Allergy, Celiac disease, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an auto-immune disorder in the intestines, which is triggered by gluten, a protein located in countless cereal grains. As a result, individuals with celiac disease have to adhere to a gluten-free diet. Be sure to study the gluten allergy symptoms and if you suspect gluten allergy contact your doctor.
Where is Gluten Found? The major resource of gluten in the food include wheat, rye, and barley. Oats may be accepted in very small quantities by certain patients with celiac disease, even though those with severe disease typically don’t.
Dairy foods may not be tolerated when persons with celiac disease has active symptoms, since lactose intolerance frequently develops. However, this is because of the lactose sugar in the dairy foods, rather than the proteins, which can cause milk allergy.
What Common Foods are Gluten-Free?
Foods such as soybean flour, tapioca flour, rice, corn, buckwheat and potatoes are usually safe for people with celiac disease. See below for more information regarding a gluten-free diet.
Why Follow a Gluten Free Diet?
* Even though if there are no evident symptoms, celiac disease can cause severe vitamin and nutritional shortages, since the intestines may not be able to absorb important nutrients if gluten is being eaten.
* Rates of certain cancers of the gastrointestinal tract are much higher in people with celiac disease, and there is evidence that this risk is decreased with a gluten-free diet.
* People with active celiac disease are at increased risk for other auto-immune conditions, (such as diabetes mellitus type 1, Graves disease and Hashimotos thyroiditis) especially those with continued gluten exposure.
* Mothers with untreated celiac disease are at increased risk for having a low birth weight baby.
How to Follow a Gluten-Free Diet? First, reading all labels on prepared foods is critical. Do not eat any foods that contain the following:
* Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
* Flour or cereal products
* Vegetable protein
* Malt and malt flavorings
* Starches (unless specified as corn starch, which does not contain gluten)
* Various flavorings, which can be derived from cereals containing gluten
* Vegetable gum
* Emulsifiers, stabilizers derived from cereals containing gluten
Next, especially when eating at a restaurant, avoid the following:
* Breaded foods
* Creamed foods
* Meatloaf and gravies
The following are good choices for a gluten-free diet:
* Broiled or roasted meats (beef, poultry, fish)
* Plain vegetables
* Plain salads
* Potatoes (white, sweet, yams)
* Corn
* Rice
* Beans
* Fruits
* Breads and baked goods made from alternative flours (rice, soy, tapioca, arrowroot, potato)
* Breakfast cereals containing only rice, corn, grits or hominy (Such as puffed rice). Some people with celiac disease may tolerate oats as well.
Are There Other Advice Regarding Nutrition?
It is a good idea to see a dietician or nutritionist on a regular basis to ensure that your gluten-free diet is well balanced and meeting nutritional needs. Your doctor may also prescribe various vitamin supplements to make up for any nutritional deficiencies. Since bone loss is a common problem in people with celiac disease (due in part to vitamin D deficiency), frequent monitoring with bone density scans is recommended.
Consider buying a cookbook with gluten-free recipe ideas, and visit various sites specializes in the support of people with celiac disease.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your physician for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.
Filed under Allergies/Asthma by Maja Maartens
Air conditioning air filters play a vital role in the provision of clean air for the home and office. You might already know how an actual air conditioner cools the living space and makes it more comfortable during summer but you should also be aware of the fact that it performs another very critical function. Air filters filter the dust out from the circulating air and exchange it with clean air. So aside from cooling, air handlers have a medically beneficial effect on the room as well. For the air handler to be able to continuously clean the air and deliver it free from contaminants, it will need a good air filter. These air filters filter out the dirt in the air so that the breeze that comes out of the appliance is clean.
The filters are positioned along the grill of the air conditioner so they serve as the last point the air passes before it is released to the room.
Air conditioner air filters help protect us from something known as respirable particles. You can easily observe particles settle on your end table or lounge. Respirable particles are undetectable due to their size but are nevertheless present in the air. You can easily inhale them. Once inside our bodies these particles can accumulate in the lungs and can cause serious respiratory diseases. Air conditioning filters extract these particles from the air so you have both visibly cleaner air and a contaminant-free atmosphere in your living space.
you’ll start to acknowledge the importance of filtering your air if you look at the fact that the average human inhales 1.1 million particles of contaminants a day. The EPA that provides these statistics also claims that air inside our residences is far more polluted than that outside because air inside has little chance for dispersion of contaminants.
So the call for A/C filters becomes paramount. We need to be using them to help protect us against allergies and infections from contagious diseases.
Air conditioner filters need to be changed as they accumulate dust. But as a homeowner how does one decide on which air conditioner filters to purchase? There are countless manufacturers but essentially they manufacture similar types of filters. Depending on how they work, the major ones are High Efficiency Particulate Air (or HEPA) which provides filtration of minute particles, Pleated with a larger surface area, Electrostatic which uses a natural process that creates static attraction for dust, and Charcoal which applies the principle of carbon filtration. Of all of these, the Charcoal and the Electrostatic variants are most commonly used.
There are two kinds of furnace air filters – normal disposable filters and re-usable washable air filters. Of the four disposable filters that we tested, the 3m filtrete line came out a clear winner. Of the three washable air filters that we recently tested, the Boair filter got top marks due to the fact that it was the simplest to clean and it filtered the largest amount of contaminants.
Prior to placing your order for new air conditioner air filters, you will want to determine if the new one fits your air handler. It’s not enough to know the size of the intended replacement; you should be able to ascertain the functionality of the air filter as well. For example, there are A/C filters with ultraviolet sterilizers that negate harmful contaminants in the air so they can’t get into the body. You might need this style for more crowded spaces. HEPA air filters are well known for filtering out small particles from the air so the space remains clear of pollens. These variants serve areas like smokers rooms.
A/C air filters make living rooms safe places to spend our time. They remove dust from the air and destroy any bacteria that may be around. We need to clean them often so they keep operating to protect us.
Filed under Allergies/Asthma by Paul Mancini


