5 Tips for Dealing with Fall Allergies

It's a well known fact that the worst part of allergy season is in the spring. I mean, that's when the plants the most pollen, isn't it? Well, spring may be the start of the allergy season, but it's only the beginning. Many people find their allergies are actually worse in the fall.

Image by Clearly Ambiguous

Why the fall? You would think that most plants were finished with their pollinating by the time September rolls around. And most are. But not ragweed, which hits its stride in the fall and continues until the end of allergy season in October.

So, if you're still suffering from intense allergies (or maybe just started), we've put together a few quick Fall allergy tips:

1. Find out when the allergy season end in your area. In most places it's October, but global warming (and regional differences) means it varies from place to place
2. Don't discontinue your anti-allergy regimen just because the leaves are coming off the trees. If you're taking medication, keep taking it until you know the season is over. Ragweed (not to mention indoor allergies) can still pack a wallop. Allergy medications are safe to take all the time, even when there are no allergens present.
3. Fall may get too chilly for the air conditioner, but keeping the windows closed still keeps out that annoying pollen.
4. You're never too old to develop allergies. If the fall leaves you with a runny nose and watery eyes it may not be a cold, check with your doctor or an allergist, no matter what your age is.
5. Remember our pollen avoidance tips from the spring. Many of them apply to fall allergies as well.

Do you suffer from fall allergies, or have any allergy avoidance tips? Let us know in the comments.

Health News for the Week of 9/21/2008

It's time for another health news round-up.This week we have a few scary stories, but we also have some that are truly amazing.

• We'll start off talking again about energy drinks. I've brought you a lot of news about energy drinks. Well, here's some more news about them - but this sounds like more than just hype. Experts are calling for warning labels on energy drinks due to the amazingly high levels of caffeine they can contain and the lack of regulation. Caffeine pills are regulated, but not drinks, since they're considered food
  

• Here's something that's truly scary. I might have briefly mentioned prescription drugs in our series on water filtration, but I never realized that health facilities flush about 250 million pounds of drugs every year! The EPA and other agencies are looking for a better way to dispose of these drugs, which run the gamut from heart medications to antibiotics to anti-psychotics

• I could lose a few pounds, so I found it interesting to read about the rise of male anxiety about weigh-loss. It's not a new phenomenon - Charles Atlas peddled better bodies back in the 20's - but it has gotten more intense, with men more likely to lie about their weight. While we're on the subject of weight-loss: in an attempt to find a better method of appetite suppression, researchers have found a way to reduce the amount of the "hunger hormone" ghrelin. They did the procedure - which is less invasive than normal stomach surgery - on 10 pigs.

• Since I take medication every day, I rely on my pharmacist. He has run interference with my insurance company, advised me when I might be able to get a cheaper alternative to a medication, and warned me when I might take the wrong thing. This list of tips can help you get an edge when it comes to your prescriptions, and maybe keep you from yelling at your pharmacist when the insurance company insists you change to something cheaper.
  

• A new study says that children given acetaminophen during their first year are more likely to develop asthma. Since the study couldn’t definitely say that acetaminophen is the cause, they say you should still give it to your kids (it's still the best choice).
  

• This just blows me away. A doctor in 1878 published a book that said smoking is unhealthy. He even pointed out the dangers of second-hand smoke. But people continued to smoke with abandon until the Surgeon General reported that smoking caused cancer in 1964 - 86 years later!
  

• I'll close with the amazing story I mentioned. A surgeon in Sydney took a ping-pong ball and used it to help a girl getting a transplant. It’s really an interesting story - and it’s not the first time it’s been done.

That's all for this week. If you want more, check out our Friendfeed room.

What is HEPA?

Before I started working for Allergy Be Gone, I didn't really know what "HEPA" meant. While air purifiers and vacuum cleaners have made it a fairly common term in the last few years, I didn't really know what it meant and I certainly didn't know what it stood for. Since HEPA has become such an important concept in the allergy and asthma world, I thought I'd answer a few common questions about it.

What is HEPA and what does it mean?

HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. That signifies that HEPA filters are especially good at trapping particles (such as pollen, dander, and other allergens). All HEPA filters trap at least 99.97% of particles .3 microns in size. That's the standard for HEPA.

Why .3 microns?

.3 microns is the hardest size of particle for a filter to trap. That's why it's the benchmark. Any filter that can catch over 99% of these particles can take care of other particles with ease.

What is HEPA-type and how is it different from true HEPA?

A HEPA-type filter is made in the same way as a HEPA filter, but it doesn't meet the same exacting standards as actual HEPA filters. True (or absolute) HEPA filters are held to even higher standards than most HEPA filters.

What is sealed HEPA and what does it mean for my HEPA vacuum cleaner?

HEPA vacuums are great because they filter out more dust, dirt, and allergens. This means that you're not releasing dirty, allergen-laden air back into your home when you vacuum. But in order to really provide HEPA filtration, all the air that's sucked in the nozzle has to go through the filter . Sealed HEPA just signifies that the vacuum cleaner is a completely sealed system with no place for air (and particles) to leak out.

Why do I need HEPA?

The air around us is filled with dust, pollen, and other allergens. HEPA filters (be they in an air purifier or a vacuum cleaner) keep us from breathing in those particles. A HEPA filter could mean the difference between an allergy or asthma attack and breathing freely.

Having a HEPA vacuum and air purifier is just part of a complete allergy-fighting system; it shouldn't be the only defense against allergens. But it's a good start.

Related posts: 

• Breathe Free With an Air Purifier
  
• Canister Vacuum vs. Upright Vacuum - Does It Still Matter?
• 6 Reasons You Need a Central Vacuum Cleaner
• Do Robotic Vacuums Really Save You Time?

Health News for the Week of 9/07/2008

We're back again with another Health News Round-up. we're keeping it short and sweet today.

Red Bull takes another beating this week with a study that links energy drinks to teen violence and risk-taking. There is also a (more reasonable, in my opinion) danger when mixing energy drinks with alcohol. According to a different study (mentioned in the same article), the energy drinks keep you from feeling too drunk mean there's a bigger chance you'll do something stupid.

This one is strange but true: scientists have found a "commitment-phobia" gene. Men with two copies of this gene are more likely to have relationship problems because they can't bond with their mates as well. Is it time to break out the home DNA tests on the first date?

Experts warn that Global Warming  means that allergies will get worse. Warmer temps lead to more pollen-producing weeds and a longer season, which means more suffering for us. Luckily we know some ways to avoid pollen (as outlined in a previous post).

This article was posted by one of the people in our FriendFeed room. It seems like some kind of cold or flue is always being passed around the office here. We probably pick things up from our families, circulate it around the office, and then bring it back home. There are some easy ways to avoid getting sick when that bug goes around, though.

Health News for the Week of 8/24/2008

It's time for another Health news round-up.

German researchers have identified a major gene for allergic diseases. Their research is based on the genetic scans of 10,000 adults and children in Germany.

A reporter goes on an interesting journey as she explores the top 3 home DNA tests and sees what they can tell her about herself.

Know how some people can eat a lot and not gain a pound? That's all due to metabolism. well, there are some easy ways to speed up your own metabolism.

Measles are coming back. More and more parents are refusing to vaccinate their children, resulting in the return of a disease once thought wiped out in the US.

If your child has food allergies, don't send him or her back to school without a Food Action Plan. The AAAAI has the information you need to put one together.

North Korean scientists have developed a special noodle with a higher protein and fat content to keep the feeling of hunger away. They’re being developed to help those who are in urgent need of food.

Japanese scientists have grown stem cells from discarded wisdom teeth. This could be a real breakthrough.

Here are some really important things to know about the most common emergency situations, and what to do (and not to do) about them.

Questions? Comments? Want more? Check out our FriendFeed Room.

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend.

Health News for the Week of 8/17/2008

This week's health news round-up is a mixed bag.

A new study getting a lot of press this week says that drinking Red Bull is bad for your heart. A lot of inveterate Red Bull drinkers say the study is...well, bull, but some people are concerned.

An important announcement for anyone who takes medication on a regular basis is that fruit juice may stop medication from working. It applies to grapefruit and orange juice, and they're looking into apple juice as well. I almost never take pills with plain water, even though I know that's the recommended way to go.

A 61-year-old woman gave birth in Japan, as a surrogate for her own grandchild. She's not the only woman to do this, but she is the oldest. Also interesting is that surrogate births are banned in Japan by the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (like the AMA, I suppose) but some clinics do them anyway.

Some Restaurants in Sweden Will Soon Bear 'Allergy-Free' Certificates. These certificates will be awarded based on staff trained to help customers make better choices. That doesn't make as much sense to me as basing it on the food, but I suppose it all comes down to helping the customer.

You might like to have a night out now and then, but be careful. A Danish study followed almost 6,000 women and found that those who drank had a higher chance of developing perennial allergies, even if they didn't have allergies before. That last part seems kind of scary.

But don't let that scare you out of taking a break. Another study shows that stress can make your allergies worse. Mild stress results in a 75% increase in allergies (as shown by a skin test), while extreme stress doubled the allergies.

Not getting enough sleep? A lot of people aren't, and that's a bad thing. If you aren't a morning person, this article will teach you how to become a late riser, so you can catch up on your Z's.

Here's an interesting list of famous names, past and present, who have been diagnosed with mental illnesses. Some of them worked through their illness, but many of them died because of it.

I found this piece on sleep eating absolutely fascinating. I’d heard about it as a side effect of Ambien, but not as an isolated phenomenon.

If you want to see the links that didn't make it in, discuss what you've read here, or post new links, check out our FriendFeed room.

Health News for the Week of 8/10/2008

Time for another round-up of health links. Grab yourself a snack and sit back, but you may want to be careful what you eat.

A new study says that the popular energy drink Red Bull, may be bad for your heart.  The manufacturer says that it's no worse for you than coffee, you just shouldn't drink more than two cans a day. Caffeine has a lot of bad press, but most of it isn't true. In fact, coffee has several benefits, and there's a chance that green tea might protect against breast cancer.

Scientists are also saying that farm-raised tilapia and catfish are as unhealthy as bacon. These fish have none of the good fats of other fish - they're just plain fatty. They're especially bad for people with heart disease, arthritis, asthma and other allergic and auto-immune diseases.

If you're looking to lose a few pounds, here's not how to do it! This list of the worst exercise inventions of all time will amuse you, and probably scare you too. The "prostate warmer" is bad enough (it's a light bulb that you stick...never mind), but actually swallowing tapeworms to get thin? That seems a little extreme.

Want to stop snoring, or better yet, stop someone else from snoring? Rest easy, because there are new treatments available.

Worried that your granite countertop may be radioactive? Don’t panic. Here’s some advice on what to do about it, as well as some alternatives.

Scientists have known for a while that light deprivation causes depression, but a new study has given them more insight into why that happens. The study might shed light on both Seasonal Affective Disorder and depression in general.

Yet another study has found a gene that seems to control anxiety and fear. Different expressions of the gene determine who jumps if you sneak up behind them and yell "Boo," and who takes it in stride.

There are more links that didn't make it into the round-up. If you'd like to see and talk about them, visit our FriendFeed room.