Here are just a couple of the stories from last week. All I can say is... "No comment!"

Is it okay to smoke?
Caller (sounds 20-something): "You guys know about mold right?"
Customer Service: "Yes, we do."
Caller: "Is it okay to smoke it? Will it harm you?"
Customer Service, (astonished): "You mean as in roll it up and smoke it mold?"
Caller: "That is exactly what I mean."
Customer Service, (slowly): "Well, we don't recommend it. And if you have been doing it, we suggest you see a doctor"... as an afterthought, added, "do not snort it either!"

Military Intelligence?
Caller: "I am calling from a military base in the South. Do you sell large air cleaners?"
Customer Service: "Yes we do".
Caller: "How about 5 acres?"
Customer service: "Inside or out?"
Caller: "Outside".
Customer Service: "Well, I think you might have to leave that one to the big guy upstairs!".

Top

Top

Mineral Dust: That's an easy one. None of our humidifiers, cool or warm disperse mineral dust.

What's the difference between Warm and Cool Mist? At the risk of being facetious, one gives out a warm mist, the other gives out a cool mist. One is cool, the other is warm. Need more explanation? Well, imagine being in a greenhouse that is how a warm mist feels. People who like warm mists generally live in colder parts of the USA or like to put a warm mist humidifier into a baby's room.

Conversely, people who like cool mists live in warmer climates, the last thing they want is to warm the place up a few degrees. If you live in a colder climate the cool mist could feel a trifle clammy if you over-humidify the room. To avoid over-humidification we recommend a built-in humidistat or a standalone humidistat.

The BEST humidifier? There really is no cookie cutter answer for you. Our humidifier comparison chart does try and rank order them for you, and we have currently completed annual edits to this chart, but it all depends what features are most important to you, apart from the geographical considerations mentioned above.

Ease of Cleaning: Here the Hunter cool mist line wins hands down with their Permawick filters and patented system. No changing of filters ever, and only cleaning once a season. Definitely, the choice for people on the run or who hate extra cleaning chores. The most tedious of our humidifiers to clean is the Slant Fin warm mist, but if you want a good warm mist humidifier, it is really the only choice worth talking about. The Hamilton Beach line is somewhere in between as you can wash it in the dishwasher, and filters need changing every three months.

Built-in Humidistat. I think this is a great feature to have on a humidifier. Why? Because the tendency is to over-humidify a room and then cause mold and dust mite problems. I used the Hamilton Beach all last season, and was amazed when I set my humidity level at 35%-45%, well below mold or dust mite causing levels, how often the machine turned itself off, and the water tank lasted anywhere from 2 to 3 times as long as my previous machine. In fact, the water lasted about 6 days in our very dry condo. We tested the accuracy of the Hamilton Beach humidifier's humidistat. Impressive, within two degrees of accuracy at all times.

Noise level. This is a matter of personal choice, but everyone dislikes very noisy appliances. Be very clear about one thing, all appliances of this kind have SOME degree of noise attached to them. Some people are very noise sensitive. For those people I recommend a Slant Fin warm mist. The least noisy of the cool mists are the Hamilton Beach. My noise sensitive husband has a hard time hearing this one and has not complained about noise. Hunter have made huge improvements to the noise level of their line, and their machines are much less noisy this year, but I am leery of recommending them to people who say that any noise whatsoever at night in their bedroom is a problem for them.

Automatic Shut Off. when empty or humidity level reached. The top of the line Hunter models have an automatic shut off when the unit is empty which appeals to me from a safety perspective.

Combination Air Cleaner and Humidifiers; Generally speaking this when you get the worst of both worlds, and yes we have tried out all the new combo models. Most are over priced, and poor quality. I could froth at the mouth about this trend. I have seen NO appliance of this type I want to rave about. However, if you twist my arm, the Bemis Two-in-One is not over priced, the filter is not a true HEPA, but we tested it at 92% efficiency. Only good for a small room but a nice buy. At least with this machine, I do not feel the consumer is being taken for a ride. In my opinion, avoid anything that talks about "air washing". There are several of them out there. I could give you chapter and verse as to why I do not like them but try and keep my most scathing comments about particular appliances to a private format for legal liability reasons.

Some people in our office with both sinus and allergy problems use the Bemis Two in One machine in their office cubes to both purify and humidify the immediate area. It is also a good baby's room machine.

Whole House Humidifiers. We have been leery of the ones you build into the furnace. Too many potential mold problems can occur if you forget, and do not clean them religiously. I would rather you bought a larger area humidifier and used an auxiliary digital humidistat to monitor your home's humidity. We now have some reasonably priced whole-house sized ones from the Bemis line. They do not have much in the way of bells and whistles, but they can humidify a large space.

Personally, my first choice would buy one of this season's brand new Hunter Humidifiers. There is a separate lengthier review of their machines in our next newsletter issue. Hunter has completely revamped their line up, cleaned up their act after a product recall last winter, and I now feel comfortable giving them a top rating again.

Here is my reasoning. I am too busy to clean these darn things. It is not because I am lazy, I just work an incredible number of hours per week and I have very little time left for other things. In addition, I am firmly in favor of built-in digital adjustable humidistats. The new Hunter line has both these important features. However, in our alternate night test in our bedroom between the two brands, my husband was back to maligning the Hunter (which we used to use) as more noise than he wants to sleep with. So in our house, we are sticking with the Hamilton Beach. However, if noise is not a critical issue, I predict that Hunter have come out with a winner, now combining ease of cleaning with ease of regulating the humidity.

For a quick updated comparison guide.
http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/compare-humid.html

New Offer! Hamilton Beach Humidifier 3.5 gallon with digital humidistat. Save $20. $69.95 until November 30th, 2002. Do not forget to see the fast streaming video of the Hamilton Beach humidifiers
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/hb-hu-hamiltonbeach-humidifiers.html

Top

Q & A. How to visit relatives when they have cats and you have allergies.

If you invest in a powerful but small air cleaner - say the Hamilton Beach on site (largest size) and put it on high for 2 hours before you came into the room, you would find that there should be a massive diminution of symptoms (I have done this with my own guests- not perfect, but huge improvement). These two approaches together should get you through!

http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/hb-ap-hamiltonbeach-air-purifiers.html

I hope your friends could bring themselves to thoroughly vacuum and keep the cats out of the room while you visit. That is the least they can do. Good luck!

Top

President's Pick for Holiday Gifts

1. Last year, I gave my elderly father a lambswool mattress pad. $139.95 He loved it.

2. Sheets the all around favorite gift this year: In our office, Shani and Heather would recommend the silk sheets; I personally think the DIVA 400 TC sheets are wonderful especially at the 2 for one special $279.95 good till Nov 30,2002. I am giving DIVA sheets to my sister and Father. My husband is giving DIVA sheets to his family too. My husband, who has feet and hands like ice-blocks, is also a fan of our Luxor jersey sheets as they feel warmer to the touch when you slide into bed here up North.

3. Shower filters. I had great success with my husband with this massage shower-head filter. It also has a huge amount of high quality filtration media in it. Shower filters make a good guy gift. $59.95.

4. Those on my staff who have been craving a Miele vacuum cleaner are choosing the Aluminium at $899.95. Miele's best value right now in top of the line vacuum cleaners. The value conscious folks are going for the EIO family vacuum because they know how well it is made and what a deal it is for the price at $499.95.

5. Steamax steam cleaner. What a great little steam cleaner for the price. We had a special price from the manufacturer on them and have a few left. Put Steam300 in the coupon field at check out while supplies last of specially-priced inventory left. $300 off the regular price of $699.95, now $399.95. An incredible deal at well below our usual wholesale cost.

6. The DirtTamer HEPA cordless vacuum. My husband rushes to clean up with it every time I grumble about the crumbs he leaves behind or autumn leaves he is trampling in from outside. Because of arthritis in my hands, I personally find it a little too heavy, but this vacuum is selling well among my staff for presents. My husband has this one to give to a family member on his list. Great for the car as well and comes with some useful attachments. $74.95.

7. What do I want myself? (besides my new cat) I have ordered an Arts and Crafts bed from $625.00 to complement my existing Royal Pedic mattress from $849.00. After it comes, I will give you a full review. An Eiderdown comforter $5,999.95 would be simply divine, but the Siberian Down Venus at $1,199.95 would be a heck of a great and luxurious comforter. Need to order early here.

Top

Comparing IQAir and Clarifier Air Purifiers Our Two Best
By David Barnaby. AllergyBuyersClub.com Staff

Both the IQAir and the Clarifier are excellent air cleaners. Both units are for serious allergies and rate the two highest on our websites. There are some differences however, that will explain why it may appear the Clarifier at first glance is a more efficient, valuable machine but on closer inspection, it is a tougher call to make between them.

The IQAir does not have as many air changes as the Clarifier, but it makes up for it based on the fact that the machine efficiency is at least 99.99% down to 0.3 of a micron and larger and 99.5% efficient on the remaining particulates including particulates as small as 0.01 of a micron. Therefore, the IQAir HealthPro Plus should in reality clean as much air in a 600 to 900 square foot area as the Clarifier.

Regarding the gas filters, the Clarifier's filter consists of fifteen pounds of carbon. That is one of its chief strengths. However, the life of a gas filter is directly proportional to how much it is exposed to particulates. The pre-filter on the Clarifier will filter out particulates 5 to 10 microns and larger which means a large number of smaller particulates will fill the pores of the carbon in the gas filter. Once the pores of the carbon become clogged they are not able to adsorb any gases and odors. Contrary to this, the V-5 gas filter in the IQAir should be able to perform as long as the Clarifier because of the fact its pre-filter will remove 90% of all the particulates entering the air cleaner. However we have not done any specific comparative testing of this difference, this is just my opinion. (Editor's note: Our experience in our office is the Clarifier unit is outlasting the IQAir in duration)

The Clarifier has the UV light which will continually bathe the viruses, germs, bacteria, mold and any micro-organisms trapped in the HEPA filter and on the surface level of the hepa filter they will be sterilized. Also, the particulates that make it through the HEPA filter will be exposed to the UV light so their DNA and RNA will be broken down so they can't reproduce. The IQAir does not have this feature.

Many of our customers are concerned with mold right now, which is why we particularly like the Clarifier unit for areas such as moldy and musty basements. However, the IQAir makes up for this shortcoming by removing almost everything on first pass, that goes into the unit from the air (known as its "Efficiency"). This near 100% efficiency should in theory, attain approximately the same result as the Clarifier by not allowing the particulates from circulating in the air to be inhaled. In addition, in the case of mold, whether it is dead or alive, is not as important as removing it from the air, because it is the inhalation of particulates that provokes the allergic reaction.

In conclusion, I want you to understand that both units are excellent air cleaners and achieve very good results through the use of differing but similar technologies. In my opinion, the IQAir has by far the superior pre-filter of any air cleaner in the industry and is among the easiest when it comes to changing filters. The efficiency of its filter system in my personal testing of all the machines is second to none. The Clarifier unit is however a very powerful unit with a substantial amount of carbon fill, and because it does not have the extra heavy duty pre-filter of the IQAir, covers more square footage.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

(Editor's note. We debate the pros and cons of these two machines here in the office constantly. Both are very effective as per our ratings on our site. Personally, I like the Clarifier unit for strong odors, smoke and musty smells. I prefer the IQAir as an all around unit because of design and ease of use features.)

http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/airpurifiers.html

Top

The major advantage of our best quality steam cleaners line have over their competition, is their continuous fill feature. This means that when you run out of water to produce the steam, you do not have to wait for the pressure and temperature to decrease sufficiently to allow you to remove the filling cap, nor do you have to reheat an entire boiler full of water. With the continuous fill line you remove the filler cap, pour in water, replace the cap, and continue your work. With practice this can be done in less than 30 seconds.

And while you may have to fill more frequently than other models, the convenience of not having to stop your work for about 15 minutes might have you using them more frequently.

The TidyVap Steam Cleaner at $799.95 starts the line. The Tidyvap is on sale for $699.00 until December 31st 2002. It would be fine for a home of about 1000 -1500 square feet, and being used for an hour or so each week. It features a stainless steel boiler and produces both a "dry" mist and a sufficiently hot temperature for excellent cleaning. It does have some minuses, however. The boiler is the smallest of the line and needs more frequent filling; there is no pressure gauge to let you know that you are running out of steam so that you might stop spraying for about a minute to let the pressure rebuild; and it lacks both the triangular brush and the window squeegee; but both of which can be ordered separately for about $50 each. All of the tools for the TidyVap are the same excellent quality as their more expensive siblings.

The LadyBug Steam Cleaner at $1099 is our bestseller and is ideal for most households. It would be a good choice for a home between 1000 and 2500 square feet and for use of about 2 to 3 hours a few times a week. It has a complete selection of excellent quality tools and a pressure gauge that allows you to be aware of any pressure drop and adjust your use. It's heavier wiring and larger boiler would give it a longer useful life than the TidyVap.

Next in our line of Steam Cleaners at $1299 is the LadyBug XL that is sufficiently well made to be rated for light commercial use. It would also be the choice for homes over 2000 square feet or for use around 3 - 4 hours every day. It is slightly larger than the regular LadyBug and has an on-board tool caddy to allow you to keep all of the tools with you. And while it is convenient to have all of the tools on board, it does add to the weight and also to the width. The boiler temperature is about 10 degrees more than the LadyBug and will produce steam for a longer time period. The main feature of this machine is its ability to protect the wiring joints from overheating, which allows the XL to be used continuously for much longer periods of time.

Our premium Steam Cleaner is the Vapor Jet 2400 (with a cart) at $1999 and would be an excellent choice for very large areas or for commercial or industrial use. It's larger boiler and internal design allows it to be used for long periods of time without the temperature or pressure dropping too much. A possible minus to this unit would be the steam volume controls are on the body and not on the handle, were it not for the fact that once you set the control, you rarely have to change it. On low steam this unit will function for up to 4 hours making it ideal for areas where a water source is not conveniently available. An ideal use for this unit would be for commercial residential cleaning, restaurants, hospitals, used car dealerships, and situations needing a long steaming time.

For our complete line of vapor steam cleaners including those listed above, click here.
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/vapor-steam-cleaners.html

Top

Problems While Flying And How to Avoid Them
By Murray Grossan MD http://www.sinus-relief.com/

The planes are DRY. As the planes lower their cabin pressure, less moisture is contained in the air. Dryness means that thick mucus just sits there to allow bacteria to multiply. The antihistamine that the allergic person takes may add to the nasal dryness. To add to the insult, the cortisone nasal sprays also dry the nose. The preservatives in some of the nasal moisturizers may irritate the poor nose. This is even worse if you have had recent nasal surgery! No wonder allergic persons are worried about flying!

However, there are a few simple steps that can make the trip less of a problem for the allergic individual. Indeed, if the air is fresh, there is little or no pollen at 30,00 feet. This can be an advantage, as long as we don't allow the nose to dry out.

Steps to take:

* Avoid ice drinks. These may slow the nasal cilia and therefore promote infection.

* Avoid alcohol and coffee. Any caffeine can dry you out.

* Use a nasal moisturizer spray without preservative. One such is Breathe. ease XL Or, you can make it yourself. About every two hours is often the best plan.

* Carry your own tea bags, preferably a mint type, decaffeinated. You can always get hot water, but getting tea can be difficult. Besides, you need to drink lots of it to keep the nose moist, so having your own tea bags with you makes that easy.

* You can use Breath.ease XL Nasal Moisturizing Gel. This has the advantage of covering the nasal tissue to help prevent the virus from entering. The cold virus needs to contact the ICAM 1 on the nose, which is the portal of entry. If the ICAM 1 of the nose is covered and protected by the gel, this makes it hard for the virus to enter the body. Breathe. ease gel moisturizes at two levels: the nasal level and the cell level. The cell level being moisturized allows natural body defense elements to get to the invading organisms. The gel should be applied before boarding and about every four hours during flight. I usually recommend using it twice a day for two days after arrival. More information on this nasal gel is at www.sinus-relief.com . This gel is also useful for nosebleed due to dryness.

* Once you arrive, after your flight, you can resume your prior allergy medications.

* There is an added benefit to drinking huge amounts of hot tea. The exercise you get when you need to go to the bathroom is helpful to prevent blood clots from sitting cramped and inactive. Other suggestions for avoiding blood clots are at http://www.thrombosisonline.com/economy_class_syndrome

Asthmatics must, must, must carry their medications with them at all times. The more you need the medication, the more probable that you may lose it if it is in your luggage. Especially if you are going overseas, it's a good idea to have the medications in prescription containers. (my son had all his medication taken away because it was in miscellaneous doctor sample containers).

Speaking of overseas, I generally give my allergic patients two 3 cc disposable syringes to take with them. You can get most medications any place you travel, but the syringes may be boiled and reused. Having your own disposable syringes could be lifesaving.

Airlines try to follow diet restrictions but if your food allergy is severe, bring your own food with you as a backup after you have checked your special tray. Also you can't always expect the servers to know what a gluten free diet is. Check out what the kosher meal is like; usually that is plain and simple without mystery sauces.

Do have a pleasant trip!

BreatheEase can be obtained from http://www.sinus-relief.com/

References:
Aircraft Cabin Air Recirculation and Symptoms of the Common Cold
Jessica Nutik Zitter; Peter D. Mazonson; Dave P. Miller; Stephen B. Hulley; John R. Balmes
Journal American Medical Association. 2002;288:483-486

Top

Three Methods for Nasal Saline Irrigation compared. Interest to Sinusitis sufferers.

Objective: To compare intranasal distribution of saline solution delivered by three popular methods for nasal saline irrigation.

Study Design: Prospective, controlled comparison.

Methods: Eight healthy adult volunteers received nasal irrigation with 40 mL of isotonic, nonionic contrast material immediately before having coronal computed tomography to visualize distribution of solution in the paranasal sinuses. For each study subject, three methods of irrigation were used: irrigation using positive-pressure irrigation, irrigation using negative-pressure irrigation, and irrigation using a nebulizer. For each subject, three-dimensional computer reconstructions of the irrigated paranasal sinus airspaces were used to compare contrast solution volume and distribution achieved by the three methods.

Results: Of the three methods used, two methods, positive-pressure and negative-pressure irrigation, distributed contrast solution widely to ethmoid and maxillary sinuses, but distribution of contrast solution was more uniform using positive-pressure irrigation than using negative-pressure irrigation. The nebulization method distributed contrast solution poorly and resulted in a significantly lower volume of retained contrast solution (P <.05).

Conclusion: Judged solely on the basis of solution distribution in the nasal sinuses, nasal irrigation is effective when either positive-pressure or negative-pressure irrigation is used but is ineffective when a nebulizer is used.

Laryngoscope 2002 August;112(8):1394-1398
Copyright (c) 2002 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

All rights reserved Published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins . Republished with permission.

A nasal irrigator can be obtained from http://www.sinus-relief.com

Top