Feb 28
2007

Ready for another round of allergies?

My daughter recently had a bout with asthma. The strange thing is, she hadn’t had any problems for a couple of years. In looking at the possible triggers – She had a new batch of puppies at her dad’s. While the 2 dogs didn’t seem to bother her, the addional puppies seemed to put her over the edge.

To make matters worse, since we hadn’t had problems for a couple of years, I had become lax in some of the cleaning that I would have done when she had problems every year.

Once I realized what her problem was, I immediately started cleaning for asthma. That means thoroughly vacuuming walls, behind furniture, matresses, pillows, upholstery, screens, and vents, and dusting every crevice – including things like behind the tv and stereo inside the cabinet, the backs of furniture.
I normally dust the ceiling fans and blinds, but if you kinda skip those, you need to pay more attention if you have any allergies or asthma in your home.
A quick carpet clean and changing air filters and furnace filters finishes up the cleaning job.
You also want to change your hand towels everyday, just in case it is a virus triggering the response.
If you have pets, keep them clean and brushed, and their living areas cleaned. Keep pets out of the bedrooms of affected people.

The things that typically trigger asthma is actually pretty long…

House dust mites found in carpeting, mattresses, bed linens, toys, upholstered furniture, dampness, poor ventilation, unvented cooking, humidifiers
Animal-derived allergens from dogs, cats, rodents, and birds.
Mold found in carpeting, walls, and windows, caused by leaks, poor ventialtion, water damage, or dampness.
Nitrogen oxides produced by space heaters or gas-fueled cooking stove, used with poor ventilation.
Wood Smoke from wood stoves or fireplaces, used with poor ventilation, or faulty equipment causing fumes to come back into the room.
Fumes from cleaners, aerosols- like hairsprays, perfumes and even air fresheners, pesticides, formaldehyde found in some older household products.
Viral respiratory infections – exposure to infected people
Endotoxins from bacteria growing in soil, humidifiers, and other moist places.
Cockroach allergen
Tobacco smoke
Excess weight.

If there is one thing you can do to minimize allergy or asthma suffering- it is to become a vacuuming fanatic. The more you get into that bag, the less you have floating around in the air. It’s healthier, and you’ll have less dusting to do.

About the Author

Carole is the author of Secret Confessions of a Clean Freak. If you Love a really clean home, but Hate cleaning it, You’ll want a copy of her secrets for yourself- Get it now at http://CleanFreak.CommonSenseLiving.com

Written By: Carole Pagan

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Feb 25
2007

A good air purifier helps in purifying the contaminated air by freeing the air from pollutants. People living in a congested home and locality usually live in contaminated air. Environmental studies have revealed that the air inside the house is dirtier than the air outside. Air purifiers are extremely beneficial for people suffering from allergies and asthma. Dust, pollen, pet dander and molds are some of the allergy inducing particles. A home air purifier not only effectively removes these harmful particles, but also provides protection against hazardous smoke particles and airborne gases. The air purifiers convert the dirty and contaminated air into clean air and provide protection against second hand smoke.

Air purifiers alleviate asthma, and some completely removes the allergens causing asthma by providing superior quality air. By reducing the dust floating in the air, filtering second hand smoke, and purifying the air of chemical pollutants, car exhaust fumes or other contaminants, air purifiers improves the living condition of asthma sufferers. Even little children, especially newborn babies and old people, suffer respiratory disorders due to the bad condition of the air we breathe. Bacteria, viruses and other types of microorganisms cause pneumonia and tuberculosis, and sometimes certain diseases that may lead to death if not treated properly.

An air purifier reduces and sometimes eliminates contaminants in the air. Different techniques like filters, absorbents like charcoal, and electrostatic charges are used. The ionic air purifier is the newest type of cleaning device to make your home germfree. Other types of air purifiers are air purifiers with HEPA air filters. The additional setups include germicidal UV light and the emission of ions into the air to react with contaminants, making them harmless enough to breathe. The cost of filters and how many times you will need to replace them should be well researched before buying them.

Air purifiers will help purify the air in your vehicle. Vacuum your vehicle regularly as the seats can harbor dust mites, insect parts, pollen, molds, and pet dander. When the conditioner is on, always circulate the air rather than pulling it from outside. A good air purifier can reduce all kinds of irritants and allergens, and circulate clean sir throughout the car. The quality of your sleep and health can be improved by using a good air purifier. Air purifiers are used in many restaurants and other business houses, which allow smoking, to improve the air quality and keep it clean and fresh.

About the Author:

Barney Garcia writes about many different topics. His air purifier and allergy relief websites -> home air purifiers and allergy air purifiers

Written By: Barney Garcia

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Feb 22
2007

Dust mites are so incredibly small that if you were to examine one gram of dust, you would find as many as 500. However, remember the saying, Big things come in small packages. This is true for dust mites in that this small creature can do a lot of damage. Keep in mind that the dust mite itself is not necessarily the problem but the proteins produced in the feces.

The dust mite is related to ticks and spiders and is commonly found in carpet, furniture, curtains, stuffed animals, bedding, and any place where dust collects. For a dust mite to grow, they must have a warm and humid environment, which is why you would not find them living in a dry climate or any place 3,000 feet above sea level or higher. While most people think they have reaction to dust, the fact is they actually have a dust mite allergy.

Dust mites eat dead skin from humans and then produce up to 20 pellets of waste each day. That means a female that lays eggs can produce around 30 mites every three weeks. For the person with a dust mite allergy, this is really bad news. Now, the interesting aspect of the dust mite is that since they do not bite or spread any type of disease, people without a dust mite allergy are not affected. On the other hand, the person with a dust mite allergy will definitely be miserable.

The most serious problem associated dust mites, is that this indoor allergen causes perennial allergic rhinitis. Because dust mites reproduce so quickly and can be difficult to eliminate, the person with a dust mite allergy will have symptoms of itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose or stuffiness, respiratory problems, stopped up ears, asthma, and atopic dermatitis.

If you suspect that you have a dust mite allergy, you can do several things to make it better. For one, keep the home dusted and vacuumed regularly, especially if you have animals living inside the home. Additionally, if you live in a humid region, you might invest in a good dehumidifier, keeping the percentage of humidity between 75% and 80% and the air temperature around 75 to 80 degrees. Remember, once the humidity dips below 50%, the dust mite will die and the person with a dust mite allergy finds relief from the annoying symptoms.

Often, people with severe dust mite allergy will remove wall-to-wall carpeting and opt for hardwood or ceramic flooring instead. Other steps would include choosing furniture other than overstuffed, hanging blinds or shades instead of curtains, and if the kids have moved out and now on their own, packing up the old stuffed animals for storage or charity. Having a dust mite allergy can be frustrating but in most cases, the symptoms are not dangerous. The only exception would be for people with asthma in that a dust mite can trigger an attack.

About the Author: Grant Segall is a Pharmacist and webmaster for http://www.allergy-allergy.com

Written By: Grant Segall

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Feb 19
2007

Air quality has come down drastically due to industrialization and changing demographic characteristics. The air that we breathe today contains pollutants like dust, pollens, and microbial organisms. This is the case with the quality of air both indoors and outdoors. The number of people experiencing severe respiratory problems and other major health problems due to air pollution is on the rise. The air indoor, contrary to what most of us believe, is more polluted compared to the air outdoors.

Purifying the air is one way of solving this problem. Air purifiers in various shapes and sizes are available in the market. They clean the air indoors. Compact air purifiers are smaller and easy to carry around than larger ones. They are compatible with the larger ones.

Types of Compact Air Purifiers
Compact air purifiers are specifically designed for use in large as well as small rooms. They use different technologies. The compact series includes ionic air purifiers, ozone air purifiers, HEPA filter air purifiers, carbon air purifiers and ultraviolet light air purifiers.

Ionic air purifiers are silent, and reduce bad odor considerably. Contaminants in the air are negatively or positively charged and are collected in the purifier plates, which have an opposite charge. This is the method used for removing harmful particles from the environment.

Ozone air purifiers destroy microbial organisms and certain chemicals that cause bad odor, thereby cleaning the environment. However, they are ineffective against certain allergens and chemicals.

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are fitted with a sieve, usually cloth type, and a fan for air circulation. They filter out 99.9% of the contaminants from the air.

Carbon Air Purifiers make the environment cleaner and breathable for asthma patients, children, babies, and elderly. The Ultraviolet Light Air Purifiers sterilize microorganisms that pass through it, thus cleaning the air indoors.

A healthy home environment is conducive for healthy living. Air purification is easier today with the advent of newer technologies. The review of all major kinds of air purifiers is available online. The purifiers are ranked on the basis of technology, efficiency, costs, noise level, style and ease of use. Individuals can consider these parameters before settling for any particular machine.

About the Author:

Barney Garcia writes about many different topics. He is a proud contributing author and invites you to his websites. www.allair-purifiers.info and www.air-purity-forall.info

Written By: Barney Garcia

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Feb 16
2007

Asthma, a disease of the human respiratory system, which narrows the airways, commonly in response to a “trigger” such as an exposure to an allergen, exercise, cold air, or emotional stress. This narrowing can cause symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. Between asthmatic episodes, most people with the condition feel fine. This disease is a chronic inflammatory condition wherin the airways develop an increased responsiveness to certain stimuli, shown by bronchial hyper-responsiveness, increased mucus production, inflammation, and intermittent airway obstruction. asthma can be anywhere from mild to life threatening, but can generally be controlled with a combination of drugs, inhalers and changes in lifestyle. People have focused on asthma recently because of its rapidly increasing number of patients, affecting up to one in four urban children. Genetic factors can contribute to cases of asthma, but there is no clear pattern of inheritance found. It is a very complex disease which is influenced by many various developmental, genetic, and environmental factors, which work togetherto create the widespread condition.

Breast-fed babies have proved to be less susceptible to asthma. Current research indicates that the prevalence of asthma in children has been increasing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health Interview Surveys, around 9.2% of US children under 18 years old had asthma in 2001, in comparison with just 4% in 1980. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 8% of the population of Switzerland suffer from asthma today, compared to 1.9% in 1983. Asthma is more common in countries outside North America, but is by no means a problem restricted to location. “WHO” estimates that there are between 15.3 and 20.1 million asthmatics in India. In the U.S., urban residents, African Americans and Hispanics are affected moreso than the population as a whole.

Around the globe, asthma is the cause of approximately 175,000 deaths per year. Asthma and AthleticsAsthma appear to be more common in athletes than in the general population. One particular survey of participants in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games revealed that 16% had asthma, and 10% were on medication for asthma. There seems to be a high number of asthmatics in sports like mountain biking, cycling, and long-distance running, and a somewhat low percentage in weightlifting. It is not clear how much of these cases are results of the effects of training in the sport.

About the Author

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the article, this caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

Tyler Brooker is the owner and operator of Asthma Area, which is the best site on the internet for all asthma related information.

Written By: Tyler Brooker

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Feb 13
2007

For sufferers of asthma, allergies and other respiratory diseases, indoor air pollution in the form of dander, dust and pollen particles can be a real irritant. Purifying the house along with proper indoor ventilation and filtration system is essential for a healthy home atmosphere. Keeping your house clean of dust, dander, smoke, pollen, and other airborne particulate matters will help to reduce the irritation and other respiratory difficulties. Air purifiers, filters and heap filters are beneficial to control and reduce the exposure to indoor allergens.

There are several health authorities that recognize the types of filtration systems that are beneficial in reducing the amount of airborne particulates. The Mayo clinic recommends an air particle filter for household ventilation systems. The American lung association recommends using a heap air filter purifier for the bedrooms of asthma sufferers. Ionic filters and heap filters have been recognized by the Asthma and allergy foundation of America (AAFA) and the British Allergy Foundation.

Selecting the right type of air purifier for your home is the most important task. The air we breathe plays a dominant part in our health. While selecting air purifier, we need to look at dependable and reliable technology. The best way to test air is to test it inside the submarine! The submarine needs to be purified and the technology used must be the best system that is proven, tested and reliable. An air purifier with the technology that can capture and destroy bacteria, viruses and mold, and capture irritating cooking odors, harmful chemical fumes, unwanted pet odors, second-hand cigarette smoke and other indoor air pollutants such as dust and pollen; is the best of the lot that can deep clean the air you inhale.

It is not necessary to be an allergy sufferer to enjoy the benefits of an air purifier. Air purifier is essential to remove dust, cigarette smoke and other allergens. There are different models available for home and office use. The HEPA and electrostatic air purifiers use activated carbon and sometimes UV purification. It removes 99.97% of all dust and pollen particulates that pass through the filter. Depending on the design of your hoe, your economic constraints and the level of allergies that your family members possess, There are different types of air purifiers that will work for you.

About the Author:

Barney Garcia writes about many different topics. He is a proud contributing author and invites you to his websites. www.air-purity-forall.info and www.air-purity-forall.info/sitemap.htm

Written By: Barney Garcia

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Feb 10
2007

An asthma patient has particularly sensitive air passages, or airways, resulting in difficult breathing for the patient when these air passages are irritated from an introduced substance or atmospheric change.

Asthma medications frequently need to be reviewed by a patient’s physician in order to ensure that the medication continues to be effective for the patient in controlling and preventing the onset of asthma attacks. Yo ur guide to asthma, symptoms, causes, treatment and more.

Many patients will require not just a preventative or reactive medication, but a tailored combination of both types of medications in order to provide them with maximum relief from their illness. Most physicians agree that the desired outcome it to get the maximum relief from the minimum amount of medication.

There is currently no cure available for asthma, however new discoveries in the medical research field are increasing the medications and techniques used to monitor and treat asthma in patients with the disease.

Among both children and adults, asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in countries including the United States and much of Europe. Because asthma is considered a chronic illness, treatment regimens for patients must be followed accordingly in order to reduce the affects and ongoing health problems that can result from mismanagement of the condition.

Pregnant women who suffer from asthma need to monitor and reat their asthma correctly, not only for their own health but for that of their unborn child. It is perhaps never more important for a woman asthmatic to stay in touch with their treating physician than when they are pregnant.

Although there is much concern of the safety of medications taken during pregnancy, most of the commonly used asthma medications have been proven to be both safe and effective. Although no new asthma medications (or other medications, for that matter) will ever undergo direct testing on pregnant women due to the serious risks and implications facing the developing company.

Some asthma medications have proven through repeated usage over many years, that they are not only effective in treating asthma and safe for the unborn child, but also that they provide protection of the unborn child from afflictions like oxygen deprivation that might occur as a result of the mother’s asthma condition.

Physicians and researchers agree that it is imperative for pregnant women to continue their treatment plan for their asthma. There is no risk associated with treatment medications that is large enough to counteract the benefits to the unborn baby as a result of keeping its mother healthy.

About the author:

Diana for www.health-care-information.org Complete guide to as thma and asthma treatment.

Written By: Diana Statham

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Feb 7
2007

Eating fish reduces the risk of various diseases including heart disease, diabetes, childhood asthma and prostate cancer, among other.

Fish is a staple diet of most Asians. In China, the average person eats more than 20kg of seafood a year, three times that of the consumption of Americans. Fish is indeed an excellent food and is an important part of a healthy diet. It is low in saturated fat, high in protein and unsaturated fat and rich source of fatty acids. About half of the human body’s dry weight is made up of protein and that includes brain cells, muscle, skin, hair and nails.

Among the many types of edible fish, oily cold-water fish like tuna, salmon mackerel, sardines, anchovies, pilchards and cod are well known for their health-giving properties due to their high content of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids first came into prominence in the 1970s and researchers and nutritionists recommend eating two to three meals of fish a week to reduce the risk of diseases ranging from childhood asthma to prostate cancer.

Eating oily fish has been found to benefit the heart. It helps to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and reduce blood pressure. Omega-3 fatty acids in the fatty tissue of the fish are also anti-inflammatory with anti-blood clotting actions. Fish oils may also reduce the risks and symptoms for other disorders including diabetes, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, some cancers, and mental decline.

There are many healthy ways to enjoy fish. You could steam, grill, stir-fry, poach or eat it raw like sushi. Fish with darker flesh such as sardines, mackerel, salmon, tuna and herring contain more omega-3 fatty acids than white fish. Besides fish, other seafood such as scallops, calamari, trout, sea perch and squid are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, albeit in smaller quantities.

While it is good to eat fish, it is also wise to avoid those high in mercury levels. Excess mercury affects the nervous system, causing numb or tingling fingers, lips and toes.

It delays walking in an infant and talking in children. It causes muscle and joint pain as well as an increased risk of heart attack. If you enjoy catching and eating your own fish, don’t fish in polluted water. Bottom feeder species, such as catfish, may ingest more pollutants. Smaller fish such as sardines and anchovies are specially recommended for consumption because they naturally contain oils that are lower in heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic and environmental toxins ( e.g. pesticides, dioxin and PCBs ) than larger predatory fish such as tuna and cod. Pregnant women, women planning pregnancy and children up to six years of age should choose carefully the type of fish they eat.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

www.medical-explorer.com

Written By: Anonymous

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Feb 4
2007

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system, where the airways get obstructed due to muscle spasm and swelling within the airways which may be with or without secretions. Ayurvedic texts have it that wrong and unsuitable diet and subsequent digestive impurities are a potent cause for respiratory allergy leading to asthma. A combination of other allergic or non-allergic factors, including air pollution, vagaries of the weather, emotional stress and heredity predispositions, can also be responsible for the genesis of asthma in susceptible persons.

In recent years a number of scientific studies have come to the conclusion that certain foods and nutrients exacerbate asthmatic inflammation and bronchial hyperactivity while others reduce such pathology and promote easier breathing. Due to the advanced and effective emergency management of asthma available these days its reasons are often overlooked. But it is a fact that an asthmatic attack in the case of young patients is mostly precipitated by wrong food.

According to ayurveda, asthmatic reactions to food can vary widely as both the whole and the processed foods are known to precipitate such attack. Diet, the chemicals added to food items these days and individual susceptibility supported by seasonal discrepancies and other environmental factors are found to set off allergic reactions in the body. It is widely documented that several commonly used food items like milk, yoghurt, ice-cream and other dairy products cause coughing and wheezing in many asthmatics.

Any unsuitable food can lead to a respiratory spasm, or cause irritation or inflammation that will then overreact with environmental triggers like virus, pollens, smoke and dust. Apart from any ordinary fruit and vegetable, this may include even common foods like cereals such as wheat, rice and maize, poultry products and bakery items or eatables made of yeast.

Many modern foods consumed occasionally or as part of our daily diet have preservatives, flavors and colors which are considered as potential prompters of respiratory or other allergies.

It is seen that in some patients even an attack of hyperacidity sets into motion an episode of asthma. This factor highlights the ayurvedic dictum of maintenance of post- digestive purity also. Asthmatics are advised to choose a food that suits their digestion in perfect order. It is better to scan ones diet and evolve a food plan carefully as many times the reactions occur hours after a particular food has been eaten.

About the Author:

Lucy Nicholas also writes on Acne. More information http://www.natural-acne-treatments-reviews.com/

Written By: Lucy Nicholas

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Feb 1
2007

Asthma is a respiratory disorder characterized by abnormal lung condition in which accumulation of mucus in the lungs is found. Natural asthma remedies are the most preferred way of treating asthma since the conventional methods of treatment for asthma may have a lot of side effects.

Wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness are some of the symptoms caused by the narrowing or obstruction of the airways. Airway inflammation, a condition which makes the airways in the lungs turn red, swollen and narrow is one of the causes of narrowing or obstruction of the airways.

Herbal asthma aid is a natural product that is formulated with the medicinal herbs which is one of the most effective natural asthma remedies. Garlic, ginger and mustard are said to prevent the accumulation of mucus in the lungs and hence these are taken as natural asthma remedies. Herbs such as licorice have the tendency to expel the mucus from the lungs. This is used to clear the lung of mucus accumulation.

The ingredients of these products contain the herbs like Elecampane, Ginger, Garlic, Mustard and Licorice. The herbs mentioned above have medicinal properties that appose asthma symptoms. Licorice is an herb that clears the mucus accumulation from the lungs. If the patient is having high blood pressure he should not use licorice separately.

Before choosing any herbal remedy for asthma the patient has to consult a doctor to perform several diagnostic tests to confirm that he is having asthma. After the confirmation the patient can choose an herbal remedy for asthma in consultation with the doctor. The choice of the remedy depends on the condition of the patient.

Most of the people prefer an herbal remedy for asthma as it is known fact that they are more effective on a person without any side effects. It is the choice of a patient to choose an herbal remedy for asthma in consultation with a medical practitioner. They should consult a doctor before taking up any herbal remedy for asthma.

Visit : http://www.natural-treatment-guide.com/asthma/herbal-remedies-for-asthma.html or http://www.natural-treatment-guide.com/asthma/herbal-remedy-for-asthma.html for more information about Asthma prevention.

** Attention Webmasters / Site owners ** You can reprint this article on your website as long as you do not modify any of the content, and include our resource box as listed above with all links intact and hyperlinked properly.

Written By: Balaji B

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