The Learning Library

The Truth About Cats and Dogs (and Their Dander)! What Am I Allergic To? Despite what you may have heard, you are not allergic to your animal's hair. Rather, pet allergies are reactions to a protein found in the saliva, dander (dead skin flakes), or urine of an animal. Urine is the main source of allergens from rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs. In cats, the main source of allergens is a protein called Fel d1, secreted by the cat's salivary glands and sebaceous glands in the skin. Dog allergen also comes most commonly from dander and saliva. Dander particles are similar to, only much smaller than dandruff on the human scalp, and they are constantly shed into the environment. Cat allergen is so sticky that it adheres to walls, furniture, clothing and shoes. People who do not even own a cat can have allergy symptoms due to allergen being tracked into their homes. Any of these allergenic proteins from any animal can easily become airborne and land on the lining of the eyes or nose, or be inhaled directly into the lungs. Continue reading →

  Allergy Testing: Why It's Important And What You Can Learn Should You Get An Allergy Test? After my serious anaphylactic reaction to shrimp when I was a child, my parents took me to an allergist and had me tested for a full range of possible allergies. If you or your child has ever had hives or breathing problems after consuming certain foods, you should see an allergist before any more serious reactions occur. If you (or a family member) are waking up consistently with a runny or stuffy nose, with itchy or red eyes, or with a skin rash, you might be reacting to allergens lurking in your environment. Allergy testing can cut down on frequent trips to the family physician or the pharmacy, and it can eliminate the guesswork by honing in on the allergens responsible for your discomfort. Continue reading →

  Latex, Nickel, And Other Skin Allergies Terms To Know Before continuing our discussion on skin-related allergies, I want to introduce you to some terms that you'll see again in this article. Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction involving the whole body. It is a serious condition that should be treated as an emergency. It's not just dairy and tree nuts that can bring on anaphylaxis. Latex and insect bite allergies can often bring on this serious reaction in sensitive individuals. Continue reading →

  Living Comfortably With Both Seasonal & Perennial Allergies: What is Allergic Rhinitis?   Allergic rhinitis is a fancy term for what you know as nasal allergies. The prefix rhin derives from ancient Greek and means "of or pertaining to the nose" - aptly demonstrated in English words like "rhinoceros". Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory reaction of the nasal passages to allergens, such as dust mites, animal dander, mold spores, and pollen. Rhinitis is one of the most prevalent and chronic diseases in the U.S., affecting up to 40 million people annually, including 10 to 30 percent of adults and up to 40 percent of children. Continue reading →

  Closing Up For Winter - 5 Strategies For Surviving Indoor Allergens 1. Replace Or Clean Your Furnace Filter A good furnace filter can capture both nuisance particles and allergens. For best results, if you have a standard 1-inch disposable filter, you should replace it every 3 months. We highly recommend the 3M Filtrete Ultimate filter for its efficient removal of allergens. Any disposable furnace filter should have a MERV rating of 11 or higher to be an effective filter. If you have a permanent electrostatic filter, this is a good time to remove and clean it, so there is no restriction of airflow as you head toward winter. Continue reading →

  Back To School Allergy Tips The following tips are directed toward college-bound students and parents. But if your son or daughter is not yet at that stage, you can implement these suggestions in their bedroom at home so they will sleep restfully with fewer allergy and asthma symptoms. Remember the Bucket Theory - less exposure at home means your child is less likely to react strongly to allergens at school. Continue reading →

  Renovation Considerations Whether you are embarking on a small room renovation or building a home from scratch, you can make decisions on the front end that will help your allergies or asthma in the long run. Whether your renovation project is do-it-yourself or you're working with a professional, ask these questions when buying materials: Continue reading →

  Home Service Companies - Avoiding Scams and Getting the Most for Your Money Duct Cleaning If you're like me, you've probably seen advertisements for duct cleaning services in your Sunday circular that feature pictures of dust mites they promise to eliminate. The truth is that having your ducts cleaned will not take care of a home dust mite problem. It is true that a very small amount of the dust mite allergen that becomes airborne could settle in your ductwork; however, ducts are far from the humid, fibrous environments where the mites live and produce their allergenic waste. Dust mites are lazy, lumbering creatures who are unlikely to crawl up your wall and into your air registers. Duct cleaning can be a worthwhile service in the event you have had severe flood damage as there may be mold spore in your ducts that could circulate through the home. Also, if you have had a major construction project, fire, or other cause for large particulates to have settled in your ducts, you may consider having them cleaned. The general maintenance recommendation for duct cleaning service is about every 20-25 years. It should be noted that more recently built homes with flex (accordion-style) ducts should not be cleaned as the ducts themselves can be damaged If you are concerned about airborne particulates coming from your duct work, we recommend a good furnace filterin conjunction with our AllerTech®  Vent Filters. They're both easy to install, electrostatically charged to trap small and large particles, and less expensive than paying a company to clean your duct system every few years! Continue reading →

Pore Size & Encasing Efficiency In 1999 a team of researchers at the University of Virginia published a study entitled "Evaluation of materials used for allergy bedding: Effect of pore size in blocking cat and dust mite allergen." The stated purpose of this study was "to develop a method for testing encasement materials made of breathable fabrics." A new testing...

During the summer months, skin is faced with unique challenges. Not only does skin dry out in the heat, it can also be damaged by the sun if care is not taken. See our tips below for keeping healthy this summer: Moisturizing The Right Way Keeping skin healthy in summer heat involves doing some things and not doing others when...