Allergic to pets? You can still have them!

Though many people avoid having pets due to allergies, the video below gives you tips on how to have a pet despite your allergies.


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As was mentioned in the video, having an air purifier in your home is a good way to keep allergens out of the air. Make sure to keep your bedroom pet-free and have an air purifier, such as AllerAir's AirMedic series, there.

It is also a good idea to have an air purifier in the room where the pet spends the most amount of time so that, in addition to regular housekeeping, allergens are kept at a minimum.

What do you think about this video? Would this encourage you to get a pet?

Feel free to post your comments, questions or concerns. We'd be happy to reply.

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For more information on AllerAir's products, contact us through our website.

Dog house dust linked to lower risk of asthma

Homes with dogs may protect children from
developing childhood asthma.

Dogs are often called man’s best friend – but they may also protect children from developing asthma.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, showed that house dust from homes with dogs appears to protect against infection with a common respiratory virus that has been linked to the development of asthma in children.

For the study, the scientists fed mice with house dust from homes with dogs, which made them less vulnerable to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common childhood airway infectious agent.

They compared this group with mice that were infected with RSV without exposure to the dust and a control group of mice not infected with RSV.

Many children develop mild to severe symptoms from RSV infection, but severe infection in infancy is associated with a higher risk of developing childhood asthma, the researchers say.

Pets in the home beneficial to health

However, exposure to the dog house dust gave the mice a distinct gastrointestinal bacterial composition that appears to protect them from the symptoms associated with RSV infection, including inflammation and mucus production.

The researchers showed in a previous study that house dust in homes with pets such as dogs or cats features different bacterial communities than house dust in homes with no pets.

This research was presented as part of the 2012 General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology this month.

Source: American Society for Microbiology

Air purifiers for the home and children’s rooms

While inhalation and ingestion of a little bit of house dust is unavoidable, too much house dust may be harmful. Studies show that house dust can contain pollutants such as chemicals and toxins that may be harmful to human health – especially to the developing bodies and immune systems of children.

Regular cleaning, use of non-toxic products and air cleaning can help reduce those risks.

AllerAir has developed portable and powerful air purifiers for the home and office that feature the most complete filtration system with activated carbon, HEPA, pre-filters and optional UV germicidal filtration.

For nurseries and baby’s rooms, the AirTube series provide reliable protection from airborne chemicals, gases, odors, particles, dust and biological contaminants.

For more information, contact AllerAir.

Children, asthma and indoor air pollution

A growing number of children suffer from asthma.

They don’t call it an asthma epidemic for nothing – a growing number of children suffer from the chronic diseases characterized by inflammation of the airways and breathing problems.

Asthma accounts for one-third of all hospital stays and more than a half-million ER visits a year for kids younger than 15.

Children may be severely affected by asthma: Coughing may keep them up at night and they may be less active because they fear coughing fits from running.

According to health experts, African-American children and children of Puerto Rican descent are much more likely to develop asthma than white children.

Often, asthma can get worse or aggravated if the indoor air in the children’s homes is polluted.

Improving the indoor air quality is a major step in helping everyone breathe easier and in lowering the risk for asthma attacks in children.

According to Gary Emmett, M.D., there are easy and often surprising ways people can improve their indoor air quality:

• Never allow smoking in the home. Tobacco smoke is one of the worst offenders when it comes to indoor air pollution and it is one of the main substances that aggravate asthma in children.
• Reduce exposure to thirdhand smoke. This means that smokers should change clothes before they come indoors, as the smoke particles tend to cling to textiles, hair and even the skin of a smoker, which can make asthma worse.
• Use plastic covers on the mattress and pillow in the child’s bedroom.
• Clean the child’s bedroom daily with a wet cloth or wipes to control particles in the room.
• Avoid clutter in the child’s room. Clear surfaces are easier to keep clean. Objects that cannot be washed frequently should be stored in the closet (including stuffed animals and throw pillows).
• Ban pets from the child’s bedroom, including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, ferrets and mice. Pet dander has been shown to be a potent asthma trigger.
• Avoid using perfumes and other scented products, including fragrant personal care products and harsh cleaning agents, since they can also aggravate asthma symptoms.

Source: Philadelphia Media Network

Reduce airborne contaminants with air purifiers

AllerAir's AirMedic air
purifiers are great for particle
and chemical control.

In addition to keeping things clean and banning certain products in the home, an air purifier with activated carbon and HEPA can help keep the air clean and easy to breathe.

AllerAir has developed air purifiers for allergies and asthma, including the AirMedic Series, the AirMedic+ Series and the 5000 Series general purpose air purifiers.

The units feature the most relevant filtration media to remove a wide range of airborne pollutants, including particles and dust, strong odors, chemicals and biological contaminants.

Air purifiers for asthma and allergies need a medical-grade HEPA to remove 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns in size as well as a deep-bed activated carbon filter with at least 15 pounds of carbon (the more, the better) to remove odors, chemicals, gases and VOCs.

For more information, contact AllerAir today.

The things we love may cause allergy and asthma symptoms

Scented candles introduce
VOCs into the air.

We may love our furry pets, our “linen-fresh” scented rooms or the occasional glass of wine, but all of those things could be at fault for the rising allergy and asthma rates across the continent, experts say.

Up to 50 million American suffer from asthma or allergic diseases, allergists say, and the numbers keep rising.

Many reasons are suspected, among them

• Exposure to air pollution
• Dietary changes
• Lifestyle changes
• Genetics

But while these may be factors, people should be more aware of other allergic triggers, the allergists say.

Scented products and air fresheners

Air fresheners do much more than make that room smell a certain way. They also emit volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that have been linked to eye and respiratory irritation and other health problems.

Doctors have been seeing people complaining of sneezing, congestion, headaches, coughing, fatigue and asthma because of these chemical substances.

Air freshening products are also known to simply cover up a problem without solving it.

If odors, gases and chemicals are an issue, an air purifier with activated carbon and HEPA is the best way to go, along with source control and adequate ventilation, of course.

Keep the bottles corked

Wine and alcohol-containing drinks can cause rare but severe reactions and asthma attacks, allergists say.

Allergens such as hops, barley, ethanol, grapes, preservatives and more are often to blame.

Blame your best friend

Dog and cat allergens are present in most homes. Animal dander is light and can stay airborne for a long time, and it is easily spread from one home to the next.

Pet dander is a cause of allergic reactions.

The love for their pets will prevent most people from finding another home for them, so allergists recommend allergy shots and regular cleaning routines to keep the count as low as possible.

Source: USA Today

Air purifiers for allergies and asthma

AllerAir’s portable and powerful air purifiers for asthma and allergies not only feature a medical-grade HEPA filter, the gold standard in particle and allergen removal, but also a deep bed of activated carbon to remove a wide range of chemicals, gases and VOCs that also affect your health and well-being.

AllerAir's AirMedic Series

The AirMedic Series is designed to clean the air quickly and efficiently, with a 360-degree air intake and a powerful filter combination.

For enhanced protection against biological contaminants such as viruses, bacteria and mold, you can also opt for UV germicidal filtration in the AirMedic+ Series.

Contact us to find out more.

Tips to remove common household odors

Get rid of bad smells and odors in your home.

Having a strange smell and not know why or where it’s coming from can drive homeowners crazy.

In fact, in their search to find the cause and eliminate household odors, they can spend a lot of money.

But while sometimes an IAQ specialist’s or a plumber’s help is needed, there are many things homeowners can do to prevent stinky odors.

Air out and maintain little-used rooms
Open the windows or doors to little-used guest rooms and other areas and run the water in little-used bathrooms once a week or more. If they are not used for a long time, the water in the pipes leading to the sewer evaporates and methane-sulfur gases may build up and enter through the drain into the room.

Inspect your rooftop vents
A steady breeze or wind can create positive pressure in rooftop vents, which are supposed to release sewer gas into the air, and force the gas back into the house. The solution is to make the vent pipe long enough to avoid these drafts and let the foul smells escape.

Clean the sink pipe
If you notice a sour smell coming from one drain, it may be due to an obstructed sink pipe (also called P-trap). It may be caused by hair, toothpaste, gel, dirt and other substances. You can either take off the P-trap and clean it out or treat the drain with an enzyme-based cleaner.

Check your water heater
If the water smells bad, it may because of a deteriorating anode rod. They should be replaced every six months to six years.

Ban indoor smoking and get rid of stale smoke odors
Smoke odors tend to cling to carpets, air ducts, walls, furniture etc, so a thorough cleaning may be needed, or you can simply use an air purifier for smoke from AllerAir.

Air out your washing machine
Front-load washers can start to smell musty if you keep the door locked all the time. That’s because water can’t evaporate and mold can grow. The easy solution is to leave the door open when the washer is not in use.

Remove irritating pet odors
Pet urine stains on carpets or floors may release odors if the house gets humid or if the carpet is cleaned. A professional cleaner may use an enzyme cleaner to actually remove the stains.

Source: rosieonthehouse.com

Air purifiers from AllerAir to
remove odors and chemicals.

Enjoy breathing cleaner, healthier air with AllerAir air purifiers for the home and office, air scrubbers for smoke, air cleaners for allergies and asthma, air purifiers for mold, and more.

Contact AllerAir for available options and a personalized recommendation based on your indoor air concern, your budget and your preferences.

Suddenly feeling allergic to your cat or dog? It may be sticky spores not dander...

If you suddenly seem to be sneezing and wheezing whenever your beloved pet comes around there's still reason to hope. The cause may not be cat or dog dander, but the tree and flower spores they're carrying into your home. 

In many parts of the U.S. this year pollen levels have been consistently high, triggering allergic responses even in people who have never before experienced seasonal allergies.

  

Allergist Dr. Joseph Leija of the Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park, IL suggests you wipe fur and paws with a towel you store in a resealable bag between uses to minimize contamination.

Experts also suggest:

• Washing hands frequently, especially after handling your pet
• Changing your clothes and showering when you come in from outdoors
• Leaving shoes at the front door to avoid tracking in pollen  
• Using an air purifier for allergies to reduce airborne contaminants indoors
• Using your dryer instead of line-drying clothes 
• Keeping windows closed 

For more information on our air purifiers for allergies or air purifiers for pet odors connect with us: 

Visit our website: http://www.allerair.com/

Start a live chat session with an indoor air quality expert
Follow us on twitter
E-mail or phone 1-888-852-8247

Bad news for allergic dog-lovers: Study finds "hypoallergenic" dogs no better for household allergen levels

Image: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

"Based on these results it may be better to simply pick a dog you love and actively remove as much of the allergens as possible," says AllerAir Air Quality Expert Stephanie Bristow. 

It's a blow to allergic dog-lovers everywhere...it seems the concept of a so-called "hypoallergenic" dog is a myth.

Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital says their study revealed that  "hypoallergenic"dogs do not have lower household allergen levels than other dogs.

Hypoallergenic dogs are believed to produce less dander and saliva and shed less fur.

"We found no scientific basis to the claim hypoallergenic dogs have less allergen," says Christine Cole Johnson, Ph.D., MPH, chair of Henry Ford's Department of Public Health Sciences and senior author of the study.

"Based on previous allergy studies conducted here at Henry Ford, exposure to a dog early in life provides protection against dog allergy development. But the idea that you can buy a certain breed of dog and think it will cause less allergy problems for a person already dog-allergic is not borne out by our study."

This is believed to be the first time researchers measured environmental allergen associated with hypoallergenic dogs. Previous studies analyzed hair samples from only a handful of dogs in a small number of breeds.

Henry Ford researchers analyzed dust samples collected from 173 homes one month after a newborn was brought home. The dust samples were collected from the carpet or floor in the baby's bedroom and analyzed for the dog allergen Can f 1. Only homes with one dog were involved in the study. Sixty dog breeds were involved in the study, 11 of which are considered hypoallergenic dogs.

While researchers acknowledged limitations in their study – the amount of time the dog spent in the baby's bedroom was not recorded and the size of its sample did not allow looking at specific breeds – they say parents should not rely on dog breeds classified as hypoallergenic.

"Based on these results it may be better to simply pick a dog you love and actively remove as much of the allergens as possible," says AllerAir Air Quality Expert Stephanie Bristow. "An ideal mix of preventive measures would be the use of a high efficiency air purifier for airborne allergens, and a good cleaning regime that involves washing bedding once a week in warm to hot water (whatever the fabric permits) and using a HEPA vacuum."

Interested in learning more about air purifiers for pet allergies and odors? Connect with us:

Visit our website: http://www.allerair.com/
Start a live chat session with an indoor air quality expert
Follow us on twitter
E-mail or phone 1-888-852-8247

Indoor Air Quality News: Study finds flame retardants at high levels in pet dogs

It seems even the family dog may benefit from cleaner indoor air.

A new study by Indiana University scientists have found chemical flame retardants in the blood of pet dogs at concentrations five to 10 times higher than in humans.

"Even though they've been around for quite awhile, we don't know too much about these compounds' toxicological effects on humans or animals," says study author Marta Venier.

"The bottom line is that we still need to keep measuring them, particularly in homes."


The study focuses on the presence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the blood of dogs and in commercial dog food.

PBDEs have been widely used as flame retardants in household furniture and electronics equipment. The compounds can migrate out of the products and enter the environment.
 
Even though some of these chemicals have been phased out, they're still found in homes and in household dust.

Pets spend the majority of their day indoors breathing in these pollutants. Using an air cleaner with a good HEPA and carbon filter can provide cleaner, healthier indoor air for pets as well as the people who love them.

Selling Your Home and Odor Control

One of the top turn-offs for home buyers is smoke odor and pet odor. Unfortunately, those are often the most difficult odors to remove. From AllerAir, the odor control experts, here’s an action plan to tackle odors for your open house:

1. Forget the air fresheners.

Surprised? Cat, dog and smoke odors can’t be effectively masked with air freshening plug-ins, gels and oils. The only thing you’ll do is draw attention to the fact that you’re desperately trying to cover-up an odor problem. These fragrances are also laced with chemicals which are unhealthy to breathe and may trigger allergies in your prospective home-buyers.

2. Bring in a friend for a sniff test

Ask a friend to come in and smell your home – and don’t be offended by their feedback. It’s a neat trick of biology that we quickly become accustom to strong odors in our own environment – so chances are you can’t even smell the full extent of your odor problem.

3. Tackle the odor issue head on

If you smoke – stop smoking in your home and make sure you’ve emptied and removed your ashtrays. If you have pets, change cage linings and litter boxes frequently and consider isolating pets to one room in the house. It’s easier to tackle one stinky room than an entire stinky home.  

3. Increasing air circulation is only a start

Leaving windows open for a few hours prior to your showing can remove that stale lived-in smell, but is not enough to remove pet odors and long-term smoke-smell. Start by doing a top to bottom clean – wash down walls, bedding, curtains, pet toys and blankets and consider hiring a cleaning service that specializes in cleaning carpets and upholstery. In the case of smoke, you may also want to consider re-painting as the smoke will have penetrated deep into your dry-wall.

4. Buy an air purifier (or several) with the deepest-bed activated carbon filter you can afford

Most air purifiers only have a HEPA filter for particles or a tiny carbon filter which is completely ineffective on tough pet odors and smoke odors. A deep-bed activated carbon filter will actually absorb odors and smoke. It’s important to keep these units running 24/7 as it may take time to remove odors that are embedded in furniture, draperies, carpeting, clothing and anything else soft and porous in your home that can hold on to odor. Try a 5000 D or a smoke unit like the 5000 DS with an extra tar-trapping filter. 

5. Bake

Once you’ve taken steps to properly control your odor problem – concentrate on creating an inviting atmosphere. It may sound crazy, but people respond to the smell of freshly baked cookies or bread. If you don’t have time to bake, boil some orange peel, cinnamon, vanilla and cloves on the stove top. Real estate agents swear by it.  

Dealing with Pet Allergies: Keep your pet. Reduce your suffering!

Most commonly associated with cats and dogs, pet allergies can actually be triggered by a wide variety of pets including birds, gerbils, hamsters and even horses!

Pet allergies occur when your immune system reacts to proteins in pets' dander (skin flakes), saliva or urine. Inhaling these allergens triggers inflammation in the lining of your nasal passages, causing sneezing, a runny nose and other signs and symptoms usually associated allergies.

For some people, pet allergies actually lead to an asthma attack triggering contraction of airways of the lungs resulting in wheezing and shortness of breath.

As a pet owner, it's often frustrating when people suggest you "get rid" of your pet to combat your allergies. True, eliminating the source of the allergens seems like the most logical course of action, but for most pet owners this isn't a desirable or practical solution (although in the case of asthma it may something to seriously consider).

If you have pet allergies, but want to keep your pet, here are a few coping strategies:

No Pets in the Bedroom!

You spend more time in your bedroom than any other room in your home. That means the air in your bedroom should be as clean as possible and free from animal allergens.

Run a HEPA air filter 24/7

With pet allergies a high quality air cleaner is a must. Your home has constant supply of airborne allergens, therefore your air purifier should be providing constant air cleaning. AllerAir’s Air Medic series is designed for 24/7 operation and comes with a 10 year warranty on the motor! It features a medical-grade HEPA that removes 99.97% of even the smallest airborne particles, like pet dander and hair and has a large carbon filter for odors and chemicals.

Buy a HEPA vacuum and use it often
A good HEPA vacuum traps the allergens you vacuum up, preventing them from being blown back into the air. With pet allergies it’s really important to vacuum at least twice a week to help reduce the allergen level.

Bathe your pet and its toys once a week
Studies show that weekly baths can reduce the level of allergens on an animal by up to 85%. I speak from experience when I say wear gloves if bathing a cat --- I also did it in an enclosed shower stall which prevented wild escapes which could hurt both you and the animal.



Image credit: 
Image: federico stevanin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. No advice on the internet should ever replace that of a qualitfied physician.