With allergy season in full swing, many sufferers are headed to the drug store to get a little relief from itchy eyes, runny noses and sore throats. But while a dose of antihistamines can provide quick relief, you may also be able keep your symptoms at bay with a few allergy-zapping gadgets around the house.
Air Purifier
An air purifier with a high-quality HEPA filter is your first line of defense against allergies in the home. HEPA filters, commonly used in hospitals to prevent the spread of illness, are capable of filtering out 99 percent of allergens and pathogens.
Which model to get will depend on the size of your home. A basic unit, like Hamilton Beach’s True Air Ecoclean Air Purifier ($99.00), can handle rooms up to about 190 square feet, while a more expensive model, like the Rabbit Air MinusA2 ($460), will clean around 815 square feet.
Whichever one you get, there are a few things to consider. For real allergy relief, you’ll want a unit that uses real HEPA filters, not basic cloth filters found in some cheaper units. Second, consider the cost of replacement filters — you might think you’re getting a great deal, only to find that replacing a filter costs nearly as much as a new unit. And finally, HEPA filters alone won’t kill mold and bacteria, so for added defense, you might consider a unit that also uses UV rays alongside a filtration system.
Dehumidifier
Mold, dust mites and mildew thrive in humidity, so managing your home’s humidity level is an important way to limit the growth of these nasty allergens.
You want to keep your home’s humidity level between 30 and 50 percent, which you can check with a simple humidity monitor. If your humidity level regularly exceeds 50 percent, consider investing in a dehumidifier.Frigidaire sells units starting at $179.
Running your air conditioner regularly will also help keep the humidity down, as water condenses once it hits the cooling coils. So check to see what your humidity levels are with the A/C running before buying a separate dehumidifier.
Vacuums
A poorly constructed vacuum will end up kicking up as much dust as it collects, aggravating your allergies every time you clean. A vacuum with a HEPA filter, such as the ones made by Dyson, keeps dust and mites from recirculating through the air as you clean. Dyson also offers an allergy kit ($70), designed to scrub dust and debris from mattresses, blinds and hard-to-reach places.
Apps
Though you might be able to scrub your home of pollen and dust and seal it off from aggravating allergens, at some point you’re going to have to go outside. And when you do, it’s best to go armed with information. There are a number of free apps for smart phones, such as Zyrtec’s AllergyCast for the iPhone or Allergy Tracker for Android, both of which give you up-to-the-minute pollen forecasts, so that you can plan ahead and bring an extra dose of allergy medicine before leaving for work in the morning.
2011年6月1日星期三
2011年5月2日星期一
Hunter Fan Company Launches Revolutionary Air Filtration System
Addressing a growing worldwide concern over air safety and cleanliness, Hunter developed the Total Air Sanitizer in order to provide customers with a reliable alternative to UV or UV-C air purifiers, which often do not expose all germs and viruses to the concentration of light intended to kill them. The Total Air Sanitizer uses new technology patented exclusively by Hunter to add an electric current to the HEPA air filter that kills bacteria, viruses, molds and fungi while capturing and removing dust, pollen, pet dander and other allergens from the air during any season.
The Total Air Sanitizer captures more than 99.9 percent of airborne particles and applies a charge throughout its one-of-a-kind HEPA filter that "traps and zaps" germs and viruses on the spot. In some rooms or homes, the Total Air Sanitizer may provide a noticeable improvement in air quality in as little as one hour of use.
"Consumers are increasingly concerned with the quality of air that they breathe," said Jim Gallman, vice president at Hunter. "Families want to feel safe breathing the air in their own home. Hunter is meeting their needs by providing a portable sanitizer that not only purifies the air from common allergens that cause irritation and discomfort, but also kills harmful viruses that may lead to serious illness."
More than 60 million Americans suffer from severe allergies or asthma, and the number of individuals who suffer from seasonal allergies has nearly doubled over the past 15 years, according to industry research and published reports. Priced competitively at $249, the Total Air Sanitizer benefits individuals who are at a higher risk for allergy-related illnesses, as well as anyone else who wants cleaner air in the home or office.
Founded in 1886 and headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Hunter Fan Co. is the world's original ceiling fan manufacturer. Today, the company also manufactures high-performance air purifiers, low-maintenance humidifiers, portable fans and energy-saving thermostats. Hunter fans and other product lines are available in retail showrooms, home centers and discount stores nationwide.
The Total Air Sanitizer captures more than 99.9 percent of airborne particles and applies a charge throughout its one-of-a-kind HEPA filter that "traps and zaps" germs and viruses on the spot. In some rooms or homes, the Total Air Sanitizer may provide a noticeable improvement in air quality in as little as one hour of use.
"Consumers are increasingly concerned with the quality of air that they breathe," said Jim Gallman, vice president at Hunter. "Families want to feel safe breathing the air in their own home. Hunter is meeting their needs by providing a portable sanitizer that not only purifies the air from common allergens that cause irritation and discomfort, but also kills harmful viruses that may lead to serious illness."
More than 60 million Americans suffer from severe allergies or asthma, and the number of individuals who suffer from seasonal allergies has nearly doubled over the past 15 years, according to industry research and published reports. Priced competitively at $249, the Total Air Sanitizer benefits individuals who are at a higher risk for allergy-related illnesses, as well as anyone else who wants cleaner air in the home or office.
Founded in 1886 and headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Hunter Fan Co. is the world's original ceiling fan manufacturer. Today, the company also manufactures high-performance air purifiers, low-maintenance humidifiers, portable fans and energy-saving thermostats. Hunter fans and other product lines are available in retail showrooms, home centers and discount stores nationwide.
2011年4月13日星期三
Daily Dose: Spring is in the Air... and So Are Allergies
Allergy season is here in the northeast, and it's making a lot of us uncomfortable. Medication and natural treatments (like doing a nasal saline rinse) can help a lot, but what about air purifiers? Can they really help to ease allergy symptoms—and does the type of air purifier make a difference?
I posed this question to WD health advisory board member Dr. Martha White, research director at the Institute for Asthma & Allergy in Wheaton, Maryland. Here's what I learned:
Yes, air purifiers can help by limiting your exposure to many allergens like pollen, mold and dander from pets. One allergen they won't fight: dust mites. "Dust mites are heavy and not airborne," explains Dr. White.
Which kind to buy: Dr. White recommends choosing one with a HEPA filter. Make sure you buy one that can handle the size of the room you plan to put it in (it should say ont he box). Avoid air purifiers with ionizers; Dr. White says these introduce ozone into the air and can actually trigger asthma symptoms.
Where to put it: In the bedroom, and possibly in the family room ("assuming the family room has a door that can be closed so that the machine isn't being asked to filter the whole house," says Dr. White).
How to get it function best: "Remember to close the windows!" says Dr. White. "A room purifier won't do much if you keep the doors and windows open and expect it to clean the whole house."
Do you use an air purifier? Has it helped ease your allergy symptoms?
I posed this question to WD health advisory board member Dr. Martha White, research director at the Institute for Asthma & Allergy in Wheaton, Maryland. Here's what I learned:
Yes, air purifiers can help by limiting your exposure to many allergens like pollen, mold and dander from pets. One allergen they won't fight: dust mites. "Dust mites are heavy and not airborne," explains Dr. White.
Which kind to buy: Dr. White recommends choosing one with a HEPA filter. Make sure you buy one that can handle the size of the room you plan to put it in (it should say ont he box). Avoid air purifiers with ionizers; Dr. White says these introduce ozone into the air and can actually trigger asthma symptoms.
Where to put it: In the bedroom, and possibly in the family room ("assuming the family room has a door that can be closed so that the machine isn't being asked to filter the whole house," says Dr. White).
How to get it function best: "Remember to close the windows!" says Dr. White. "A room purifier won't do much if you keep the doors and windows open and expect it to clean the whole house."
Do you use an air purifier? Has it helped ease your allergy symptoms?
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