Dear Everyone

Welcome to another issue of the Allergy Consumer Review. Spring arrived early to the Northeast and I hope you’ve experienced equally pleasant weather in your area.

With warmer weather coming, the increase in humidity is not far behind. High humidity is not only uncomfortable for most people with asthma in particular, but can cause mold and mildew growth in a home and office. Dehumidifiers are very useful in mold prevention. In this issue we give high praise to a new line of Millennium dehumidifiers now available on our site.

Related to air quality, be sure to see our in-depth review of the new AirFree air sterilizer – it’s ideal for mold and dust mite control. You also might be interested in my revised Air Purifier Comparison Chart which we will be updating every Spring.
http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/compare-air.html.

Mercia

For those of you who called and asked us for our "best picks" of products for dealing with cat allergies and spring pollen/hayfever allergies, here are some handy charts listing our favorites and a brief explanation of why. In case, you missed them last month, we also completed mold and dust mites problem solution charts to help you with your shopping needs. For each problem we created a step-by-step guide so you would know what to do first. Our recommendation is to try a product in each step and keep going until you achieve symptom relief. Complete symptom relief seems to be very individual, idiosyncratic, and related to the severity of your symptoms.

CAT SOLUTIONS
http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/solution-cat.html

MOLD SOLUTIONS
http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/solution-mold.html

POLLEN SOLUTIONS
http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/solution-pollen.html

DUST MITE SOLUTIONS
http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/solution-dust-mite.html

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By Mercia Tapping

Naturally, if we were sane and rational about our allergies, we would stay away from anything that makes us sick. Many of us, however, are not sane and rational about pets and indeed one of my screening questions when I was single was "Are you allergic to cats?"

I never wanted to have to make the choice between my spouse and my cats. Besides, the cats would always win out. So by a cruel twist of fate, AFTER I got married and after a whole lifetime with cats, I found out I was allergic to them, with a 7 out of 9 scale rating.

I want to be honest at the outset of this article. If I did not have cats, I would probably always wake up in the morning with a completely clear head. I would never sneeze around the house or experience mild sinus pressure. My eyes would never itch after I bury my head in their fur. BUT I would miss out on an important part of my life. My cat allergy symptoms are never gone completely, but they are manageable. Very manageable.

If you are super allergic to cats consider immunization. See our article on the subject by Dr Spector.
http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/faqs/faq-immunotherapy.shtml

As yet there are no allergy-free cats or one-shot cat vaccines, although both are the subject of research.

Above all, be sensible. I get letters from people who have anywhere from 10-17 cats and land in the hospital several times a year with severe asthmatic attacks. With more cats, there is more allergen to handle. Less is better.

So here is an updated version of my original article.

1. No more cats sleeping on the bed. Sorry, this is a small price to pay for allergy relief. If you get your symptoms under control by all means invite them back, but give yourself a break while you are trying to abate your symptoms.

2. Close the bedroom door to try and keep the cat allergen down in the bedroom. Your bedroom should be a sanctuary from allergens. So tempt your cats to sleep elsewhere during the day.

3. Wash all bedding in 140°F hot water at least twice monthly. This eliminates both dust mites and cat allergen (because we know some of you will still let them sneak up on the bed).

4. Vacuum up cat allergen with a high grade HEPA vacuum cleaner twice weekly. Vacuum the walls, carpet, flooring, chairs, and furniture...everywhere. Use the hand tools on the vacuum. We use a Miele vacuum cleaner at home for quick pick-ups and a central vacuum for the rest. Cat allergen particles are very small and invasive so you really have to do a thorough job. Good hand tools on your vacuum cleaner are the answer here.
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/vacuumcleaners.html

5. Use high-end HEPA filters starting with the bedroom. Since cat allergen is so difficult to remove a good HEPA filter is essential. Personally, I have found that the liberal use of high grade HEPA filters running 24 hours a day is the key to my success. When we have tested our air at home with a particulate counter, the allergen levels was very low indeed. We do use a bit of extra electricity, but it is worth it.

We use several HEPA filters all over our house. A Blueair purifier in the bedroom because it is so quiet. A Whirlpool Whispure in the family room/home office. An IQAir HEPA filter in the rest of the house. When it comes time to change any of the pre-filters, it is clear they capture a lot of cat hair. My furnace filter is also visibly capturing large amounts of cat hair when we wash it. If we had a basement, we would use a Clarifier because of its ultra violet mold killing properties which would also kill cat proteins.

The important thing to remember about cat allergen, is the constant high rate of recontamination (because you have cats running around the house!). When my husband has an allergic patient come to the house, we use one of the HEPA filters on high, to clear the air within a one to two hour period. It works like a charm. No passive system without a fan, which relies on natural air convection in a room can clear the air really fast. HEPA filtration systems may be noisy and expensive to maintain, but when push comes to shove, when you are in need of fast relief, a good HEPA filter will do it for you.

Remember this basic fact about cat allergens. They need to be airborne and you need to breathe them in, for you to have an allergic reaction to them. Cat allergen is very small so it remains suspended in the air longer. That is why I personally have multiple air purifiers in my home.
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/airpurifiers.html

6. If you have sinus problems because of your cats, use a Grossan nasal irrigator and clean out the allergens in your nostrils on a daily basis. This alone will reduce your absorption of allergens by at least fifty percent. The Grossan irrigator has been the subject of a great deal of research, and has been found to be extremely effective assisting with sinusitis and allergen reduction. Irrigation is an harmless procedure and sounds much worse than it actually is. Information can be found at http://www.sinus-relief.com.

7. After you pet the cats, wash your hands afterwards to remove allergens. Do not rub your eyes afterwards. When I forget, my eyes can itch for hours.

8. Some people wash their cats to reduce the amount of cat allergen that is released from their cat in to the air, but the research seems to be conflicting research about its effectiveness. A well-known brand of a liquid, Allerpet, which you can be applied to your cats' coat, is available from your local veterinarian. Alternatively, you can get a micro fiber cloth (which you keep specially for this task) and just damp rub down the cats coats to rid of visible dander. I find this helpful. Never in a million years would my Siamese cats subject themselves to a bath, but a cloth wipe down is tolerated by them.

9. Using a vapor steam cleaner to clean your home in addition to vacuuming, is now proven by research to be extremely helpful in killing off the cat proteins/dander which are embedded in your carpets and upholstery. We are great fans of steam cleaners. They really do provide a chemical-free way of cleaning and killing dust mites, bacteria, mold spores, and cat allergen.
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/vapor-steam-cleaners.html

10. Even if you do all the above, you probably will not reduce the allergen even in your bedroom more than fifty to seventy five percent. The only way to get a better result than that is to over pressurize a room, such as a bedroom. Frank Hames from IQAir says if you do that, you could make your bedroom a real sanctuary and dramatically reduce all allergens in the bedroom. This is also the answer for people who want fresh air coming in from the outside during the allergy season.
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/iqair.html
Positive air pressure kits are at the bottom of that page.

In conclusion, as I have said before, keeping a cat when you have allergies takes a concerted effort, and is only for those people like myself who are nutty enough about their cats to go to all this trouble.

Good luck!

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Understanding and Controlling Rhinosinusitis. The relationship between Mold and Sinusitis.

One out of every seven Americans suffer from chronic sinusitis. Thousands have seen multiple physicians, attempted many treatment plans, tried varieties of prescription and non-prescription drugs, and even had one-to-five or more sinus-related operations to correct the condition. But, they are still sick! Why?

Because the actual culprit may not have been correctly identified, and certainly it has not been corrected. What is the cause?

Mold!

Mold is a fungus. Where people are found, mold usually is too.

The Mayo Clinic found 93% of all Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) is due to Allergic Fungal Sinusitis (AFS), a delayed immune reaction to mold.

INTRODUCTION

By identifying the relationship between mold and Chronic Rhinosinusitis, your doctor has been able to develop remedies that deal with both the cause and the illness itself.

To achieve wellness, and feel really well, you must also understand this relationship and carefully follow all of your doctor's orders.

SOME BASIC FACTS ABOUT SINUSITIS

• Sinusitis is the most common healthcare complaint
• Sinusitis affects 37 million people in USA (about 1 out of every 7 Americans)
• 26.7 million out patient doctor, hospital office, and emergency department visits were attributed to sinusitis in 1996
• Many sufferers never go to a doctor
• 46.9 million prescription and non-prescription medications were ordered in 1996 for sinusitis
• There were $5.78 billion in expenditures attributed to sinusitis in 1996
• 66% of cold products contain an antihistamine, yet histamine levels do not increase in sinus infection
• Chronic Sinusitis lasting longer than 8-12 weeks, can significantly affect worker productivity and school performance
• There is a strong relationship between asthma and sinusitis, with some studies showing that up to 75% of asthma patients develop sinusitis

TREATMENT STRATEGY

In order to achieve and maintain wellness, it is necessary for you to understand why you have sinusitis. In September 1999, the Mayo Clinic published an article demonstrating why 93% of all chronic sinusitis is caused by mold.

HOW DOES CHRONIC SINUSITIS HAPPEN?

You breathe airborne mold particles in the air. Then you have an allergic reaction to these mold fragments. This reaction causes small pits to form in the membranes that line the sinuses. These pits trap mucous so that it cannot drain. The stagnant mucous gets infected which causes nasal polyps and thickening of the lining which obstructs the outflow of mucous.

The polyps then cause more infection and the infection causes more polyps. Thus, there is a vicious cycle which perpetuates itself.

If you get rid of the Mold in the nose and in the air you breathe and establish drainage in blocked sinuses you can get long-term relief.

HOW DO YOU GET LONG-TERM RELIEF?

The answer is two-fold. Clean your sinuses and clean your environment. Unless you do both nothing will work long term. To establish and maintain drainage in blocked sinuses you must:

• Remove the mold in the nose, and;
• Remove the mold in the air you breathe

The principles of treatment are simple. You must breathe clean air in order to get well and to stay well long term.

In Allergic Fungal Sinusitis, to get well, you must achieve a mold plate count of 0-4 colonies per plate with a 1 hr plate exposure.

HOW TO REMOVE THE MOLD IN YOUR NOSE

• Irrigate your nose with normal saline (0.9% salt water) at least 2 times per day. This rinses the mold and other particles out of the nose. Use a water pick with special adapter or ear bulb syringe. Do this long term.
• Use a facial steamer when infected or congested to breathe steam into the nose.
• Take medications as prescribed by your doctor.
• If you have a sinus blockage that does not clear with medication, follow your doctor's advice to have good sinus drainage established via endoscopic sinus technique. It will make a difference.
• Use your antibiotic and antifungal nasal sprays as directed. If you have 2 bottles, use both sprays at the same time one right after the other. Use them in alphabetical order for maximum effectiveness.
• Take allergy shots if prescribed by your doctor.

FUNGUS - THE CAUSE OF CHRONIC SINUSITIS

MAYO CLINIC BREAKTHROUGH

In 1999, Mayo Clinic researchers found that the cause of most chronic sinus infections was an immune system response to fungus. An estimated 37 million people in the United States suffer from chronic sinusitis, an inflammation of the membranes of the nose and sinus cavity. Its incidence has been increasing steadily over the last decade. Common symptoms are runny nose, nasal congestion, loss of smell and headaches. Frequently the chronic inflammation leads to polyps, small growths in the nasal passages, which hinder breathing.

TREAT THE CAUSE NOT THE SYMPTOMS

"This is a potential breakthrough that offers great hope for the millions of people who suffer from this problem," says Dr. Eugene Kern. "We can now begin to treat the cause of the problem instead of the symptoms"

"Up to now, the cause of chronic sinusitis has not been known," say Mayo researchers. "Fungus allergy was thought to be involved in less than ten percent of cases," says Dr. David Sherris. "Our studies indicate that, in fact, fungus is likely the cause of nearly all of these problems. And it is not an allergic reaction, but an immune reaction."

The researchers studied 210 patients with chronic sinusitis. They discovered fungus in 96 percent of the patients. They identified a total of 40 different varieties of fungi in these patients, with an average of 2.7 kinds per patient.

EOSINOPHILS SHOWN TO ATTACK FUNGI BUT IRRITATE SINUS MEMBRANES

In a subset of 101 patients who had surgery to remove nasal polyps, the researchers found eosinophils (a type of white blood cell activated by the body's immune system) in the nasal tissue and mucous of 96 percent of the patients.

The results, the researchers say, clearly portray a disease process in which, in sensitive individuals, the body's immune system sends eosinophils to attack fungi and the eosinophils irritate the membranes in the nose. As long as fungi remain, so will the irritation.

WHY ANTIBIOTICS DO NOT WORK

The researchers distinguish chronic sinusitis -- sinusitis that lasts three months or longer -- from acute sinusitis, which lasts a month or less. They say that the cause of the acute condition is usually a bacterial infection.

Antibiotics and over-the-counter decongestants are widely used to treat chronic sinusitis. In most cases, antibiotics are not effective for chronic sinusitis because they target bacteria, not fungi. The over-the-counter drugs may offer some relief of symptoms, but they have no effect on the inflammation. "Medications haven't worked for chronic sinusitis because we didn't know what the cause of the problem was," says Dr. Jens Ponikau. "Finally we are on the trail of a treatment that may actually work."

Thousands of kinds of single-cell fungi (molds and yeasts) are found everywhere in the world. Fungal spores (the reproductive part of the organism) become airborne like pollen. Some people develop allergies to fungi. The new evidence from the Mayo study suggests that many people also develop a different kind of immune system response.

MOLD BASICS

WHAT DOES MOLD NEED TO LIVE?

As noted earlier, thousands of kinds of single-cell fungi (molds and yeasts) are found everywhere in the world. Mold reproduces by sending out spores (seeds - the reproductive part of the organism). Mold spores become airborne like pollen and are found naturally in the air in most parts of the United States.

Mold needs only four things to live:

• Moisture
• Air
• A food source
• A surface on which to live and grow
• Mold also prefers unlighted areas with little air movement.

Mold spores in search of a home can find what they need in almost any home, school, or work place. For food, all they need is a little dust, paper, cardboard, or wood. Once a mold spore lands in dust or on cardboard, it has all the nutrients it needs. All that is lacking is moisture.

Moisture can come from water leaks, overflows, or faulty humidifiers. Moisture can also come from condensation produced by an air-conditioning system.

But, perhaps of greatest concern, when the humidity is above 55%, mold has all the moisture it needs to thrive.

WHERE DOES MOLD LIVE?

Mold is one of the most common organisms on earth. Mold is found in most homes. You have probably come across various forms of mold at home:

• White or green spots on old bread, cheese, or fruit.
• Black slimy splotches your shower door or ceiling
• Greenish growth on that tomato you left in the back of the refrigerator
• Black blemishes or circles where water leaked
• Airborne mold spores settle on most any available organic, matter and will grow into new mold colonies given the right conditions. Airborne mold spores are more numerous than pollen grains.

WHEN DOES MOLD LIVE?

Unlike pollen, mold does not have a limited season. In most humid parts of the United States, mold spores are present outside until the first frost. But inside is another matter. Outdoor mold spores that enter your home can grow year-round.

When conditions are right indoors, mold spores will thrive all winter in dark, humid areas of the home, such as basements and bathrooms. Mold will also grow under carpets, in drapes and furniture, on clothing and shoes, in pillows and mattresses, and air conditioner ducts, garbage containers, and refrigerators.

Excerpted from
http://www.fungalsinusitis.com

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Reviewed by Gary McEldowney: Allergy Buyers Club Staff

We were eager to test this low temperature dehumidifier because there are very few residential low temperature dehumidifiers available. We are pleased to announce that this low temperature dehumidifier does the job and does it well! We loved the LCD electronic control panel and the ability to set your own desired humidity level.

Pluses:

• This dehumidifier works down to 50°F while most similarly priced units sold in retail stores operate only down to 65°F
• This is the only unit we have seen in the residential market with a programmable humidistat and temperature display
• In addition to removing moisture from the air, these dehumidifiers filter the air, and offer an easy to remove washable filter. Indicator lights will tell you when to clean the filter, and this feature is not available on other competitor models such as DeLonghi.
• There are 3 drainage options - either use the bucket, garden hose or the direct drain. The drainage bucket is in the front of the unit and the drainage hose access is under the front of the bucket.
• Slightly lighter in weight than other units in the market and rolls easily on 4 casters

Minuses:

• The units are somewhat heavy to bring up and down stairs
• The plastic dehumidifier unit housing is a bit thinner than we would have liked but will not rust
• The bucket needs to be carried with two hands when carrying to empty it.
• It does not come with a condensate pump. We did find an auxiliary pump that works well with this dehumidifier that we offer as an accessory.
• No duct kit is available so you have to run the dehumidifier in the room you wish to dehumidify.

Summary:

These Millennium Low Temp dehumidifiers offer easy to use, lower temperature operation at an affordable price! The electronic control display with a humidistat you can set to your desired humidity level set these dehumidifiers apart from the crowd. We tested them in New England during the winter and found the low temperature operation to be accurate. We were hoping for more humidity, but this winter it was hard to find. We had to add our own water to the basement room and the unit performed up to our expectations.

http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/wo-de-millennium-low-temp.html

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By Mercia Tapping After the Hunter 3.5 gallon manufacturer's recall, we have been testing various humidifier brands. No manufacturer has come up with the perfect humidifier in my opinion. They all have their drawbacks. This one is no exception. It is very good but does a few minor flaws in my opinion.

Pluses

1. These humidifiers are extremely quiet on the low setting known as "QuietMist". In fact, the noise is barely detectable and satisfies even the most noise sensitive person, such as my husband who hates the noise of appliances in the bedroom.

2. The fine mist emitted from the humidifiers doesn't over soak everything, and it doesn't even leave a mist on the windows either.

3. This humidifier has a unique built in humidistat, you can set your own desired humidity level between 20%-90% humidification. The manufacturer recommends 50% humidity. I was surprised at how often the desired humidity level was reached, especially because the outside conditions of rain and snow had caused the humidity level to rise in the room naturally without my noticing. If it wasn't for the humidifier's automatic humidistat, it would have continued to pump mist into the air, and the room would have been over humidified. Over humidification in a room can lead to mold growth. I love this feature on this humidifier.

4. The parts on these humidifiers that need to be cleaned are dishwasher safe, and easily disassembled for washing in the dishwasher.

5. The water tank sizes are a comfortable size and weight to carry and place back into the humidifier upon each refill. However I need to add that my husband who is the proverbial clutz, managed to not turn the cap back on tightly and spilt water all over the bedroom floor.

6. When I used the automatic humidistat setting, the humidifier turned on and off automatically and used less water and therefore didn't need to be refilled often. The humidifier actually lasted 6 days without needing a refill, which was unexpected.

Minuses

1. The biggest minus in my opinion was the humidifier filter needs replacing about every 3 months depending on use, unlike some competitors which have filters that don't need replacing. For this reason, it's a good idea to have spare humidifier filters on hand for convenience.

2. When the water tank needs replacing, it's no problem to remove the container and fill it, but when the tank is full of water, I did feel that it is a bit heavy and awkward to turn it and place it back into the humidifier.

3. When the humidifier needs refilling, it has no warning light, although there wasn't evidence of overheating after the water ran out. I found the lack of a warning light irritating but I then disciplined myself to look at the actual humidity level on a regular basis and when there was a discrepancy, then it was likely the machine needed refilling. I also began to get an idea of how many days the water was likely to last and got into a routine. Because the water tank is smoke color, it's a bit difficult to see if the water reservoir is in fact empty.

4. I hate adding another chore to my routine and having to wash the machine out, although easy to do, is a minus in my book.

Summary

The easy to use electronic auto humidistat panel on the Hamilton Beach humidifiers is a feature that gives it an edge over the competition, and the fine mist that is emitted will not oversoak a small space. If you want a very silent machine, Hamilton Beach's trademarked QuietMist low humidifier setting is just right for the noise sensitive. For people who want a no-brainer, dishwasher safe humidifier that is easy to use and clean, for all my pickiness, I recommend these models highly

http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/hb-hu-hamiltonbeach-humidifiers.html