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Pollen Allergies? Here’s Help!

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It’s that time of year again when you walk outside and your car is covered with a thick layer of yellow dust and when you’re outside for 30 seconds and you start sneezing non-stop (not fun, is it?).

Pollen negatively affects human health in a variety of ways. When the pollen count is high, many people experience:

  • Runny and/or stuffy nose
  • Itchy eyes
  • Sneezing
  • Respiratory problems such as asthma

These symptoms could be contributed to a pollen allergy, typically referred to as hay fever.

Weeds, grasses, trees, and some shrubs are the common culprits for pollen. Weeds have commonly been determined to be the most productive of pollen producers and are identified as the plant that causes the most allergies.

 

How does pollen cause my symptoms?

When pollen is inhaled through the nose and throat, the body experiences an immune response that results in hay fever, because it attaches to the cells and creates histamine. It is this releasing of histamine that causes the symptoms of a pollen allergy.

How can I avoid pollen?

The most overlooked way to avoid pollen is a simple change of your home air filter. Air filters are proven to reduce many of the common airborne contaminants, such as pollen, from the air you breathe. In addition to changing your air filter on a regular basis, here are some other things you can do to avoid pollen this spring:

  1. Stay indoors, be sure to keep windows closed during high pollen counts
  2. Wash your hair before going to bed at night to avoid sleeping in pollen that accumulated in the air during the day
  3. Make sure outdoor pets are bathed before coming inside. This can prohibit the distribution of pollen on furniture and carpets
  4. Consider the use of an air filter and possibly even an air purifier in your home for more protection from pollen and other contaminants such as dust mites and viruses

Source: ehow.com

This spring, you don’t have to let pollen get the best of you. By regularly replacing the air filters around your home and being more mindful of local pollen counts, you can find yourself winning the battle against pollen.

What’s Hiding In Your Carpet?

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When it comes to healthy living, many of us feel we have everything checked. From the food we eat, to the water we drink, many of us are more concerned about a healthy lifestyle than ever before. There is something that many of us miss however. According to a recent article by Market Watch, there are hidden health hazards right underneath your feet. They are in your carpets and rugs and could be negatively impacting your overall health. If you were to tell someone that their carpet contains more bacteria per square inch than their toilet, they probably wouldn’t believe you. Unfortunately however, it is true. Within many carpets you may find dirt, dust mites, molds and other potentially harmful pollutants.

Many of us vacuum our carpets regularly to clean them up and to prevent dirt from accumulating. But how often do we think about changing the filter within our vacuum cleaner? How often do we pay attention to the vacuum bags and accessories that we are using? Choosing the right accessories can make a huge difference in your overall health. Below are a few products to help ensure that your carpet and rugs are healthy and won’t pose any hidden dangers:

The Genuine Hoover Type Y Vacuum Bags Allergen 3-Pack are replacement vacuum cleaner bags for all Hoover WindTunnel vacuum cleaner models. These replacement bags feature allergen filtration for a clean home environment and are especially useful for those who suffer from allergies and asthma. With these Hoover replacement bags you will be able to trap 100% of dust mites and their eggs, as well as airborne particles such as pet dander, spores and other allergens.

Many of us do not pay close attention the filter that is in your vacuum cleaner. It is vital to the way your vacuum performs and can eliminate several contaminants found inside many carpets. This is why the Hoover WindTunnel HEPA Vacuum Filter is essential. It uses a Hoover HEPA filter to capture 99.97% of dust, pollen and other common household allergens.

The Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Vacuum Belt is a genuine Hoover vacuum cleaner belt for your WindTunnel T-Series Vacuum Cleaner. This Hoover WindTunnel Vacuum Belt contains 2 vacuum belts and it fits your WindTunnel Upright Cleaner. Your vacuum belt should be replaced every 6 months to ensure optimum performance.Other great accessories can be found here.

With this being allergy season, many never think that the source of their allergies could very well be their own carpet. However, take comfort in the fact that there is something we can do about it. Having your carpet cleaned and regularly vacuuming your carpet can prevent many of these contaminants from showing up.

IMAGE CREDIT: http://soyouwanttobeabanquetmanager.blogspot.com

Sick Building Syndrome: There’s Something in the Air

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Imagine this: you’re at work. You’re coughing, tired, dizzy and have a nasty headache on top of that. The thing is, after you leave, you feel better. Why is that? It may not always be that you’re just happy to leave the workplace. In fact, those are classic symptoms for Sick Building Syndrome (or SBS). SBS is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience health effects that appear to be linked to time spent inside a building, but no specific cause or illness can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or may be widespread throughout the building.

According to numerous studies, SBS is an increasing problem in the US and around the world. The main culprit behind SBS is inadequate ventilation, which could also occur if heating, ventilation and HVAC systems do not effectively distribute air in the building. With this problem increasing, and with allergy season in full swing, we can’t forget that we have a weapon to fight with – Air Purifiers. Air purifiers will help to reduce the spread of viruses, bacteria and other airborne contaminants that could seriously affect air quality. We have spotlighted two air purifiers that will help you fight off SBS and seasonal allergies.

The Virus Zero Portable Air Purifier (SP-PA4) is a lightweight purifier that neutralizes airborne allergies such as pet dander, tobacco smoke and dust mites. This small and lightweight purifier can sit on a desktop or even fit in your car’s cup holder. The Virus Zero Purifier treats up to 231 square feet of space and only uses 4 watts of power.

The 3M Filtrete Air Cleaner Purifier helps to purify the air in your office, by reducing airborne particles such as mold spores and pet dander. The 3M Filtrete Air Cleaner will reduce odor and captures microscopic allergens such as smoke, dust, smog particles and pollen. The 3M Filtrete Air Purifier releases filtered air from the top of the unit to increase air circulation.

With levels of indoor air pollution rising, we cannot underestimate the value of an air purifier. Consider this: air purifiers can also help you obtain a better night’s sleep by removing many of the allergens that keep us awake all night with an itchy or sore throat. Who wouldn’t want a better night’s sleep?