Allergy Bedding

Safe Bedding For One’s Home

admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:34:16 +0000

The home is the person’s castle. Among all the rooms in the house a recent study has revealed that a lot of activities happen in the bedroom than any other room. This is as people work or usually watch television in bed.

Should the person wake up in the morning and experience some itchiness, a cold or experience asthma, then the individual has a problem in the bed. A study done by experts has confirmed this because bed bugs and cockroaches are the leading causes of allergies and asthma to the person.

Since there is a high risk of getting sick if proper precautions are not taken, one should carefully choose the right bedding that is safe and comfortable for the person to sleep on.

When the bed has been tested to have more than 2 micrograms, it has been proven to develop allergies in the person. If tests have shown this be more than 10 micrograms, it has been proven to cause asthma.

The best way to handle the situation is to invest in bedding that is allergy proof. Another way that offers protection are those that are zippered and made of tightly woven dust mite covers.

Beddings are made of many things which start from the pillow and the sheets that are used. Getting the kind that is chemical free and from 100% organic cotton will surely help since it is untreated, unbleached and undyed that works well for people who are prone to allergies. The person should also buy pillow covers that offer the same protection.

Another form of organic sheets and pillow cases that is available in the market is the one that is made from 100% cotton that is organically grown. No herbicides or chemical fertilizers were used in making this which makes it perfectly safe for the person to buy and use.

People are sensitive to different materials which may also cause allergies if the person has sensitive skin. An individual can also get one made of silk. These are seamless and naturally hypoallergenic that will be great for the bedroom.

The last thing needed to protect the bedroom is getting the right mattress. This can come in 9″ or 15″ variants that can be covered using zippered covered bed sheets. The mattress can come with the plain design or have it changed with one that the person can choose from.

Protecting the people who live at home should not based on a certain budget. If the person chooses to do that, the individual will regret this since more money will have to be shelled out to buy medicine , to pay the doctor’s fee and the hospital bill if the situation gets worse.

There are many brands in the market that offer mattresses and accessories that offer this kind of protection. This can be purchased at the local furniture store or can be ordered online. These items range from $100 to $400.

Since bedding sets come in different sizes, the person will not have a hard time getting the right one suitable for the home. A queen size set works well for the people staying in the master’s bedroom. A single size set can also work for people who will come and visit and stay in the guest room.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides bedding resources on [http://www.bedding-land.info]

What Does the Term "Dander Allergies" Mean?

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:34:05 +0000

When you’re tested for allergies, there are some common pet allergies, where they tell you you’re allergic to cats, rabbits, dogs or so on. But what exactly does the term “dander allergies” mean, what should you avoid, and how do you prevent a reaction?

What Dander Is

When someone talks about dander allergies, what they’re actually talking about is an allergy to the protein left on the pet’s skin when they lick themselves. This protein, from the saliva, dries, and, like dust or dried skin cells, can become airborne, resulting in the allergic reaction.

What this really means is that when you have dander allergies, it’s not the pet itself, or even its hair, that makes you react to them, with hay fever, itching or other dander allergies symptoms, but rather that dried saliva.

How to Manage Dander Allergies

If you are an animal lover, being diagnosed with dander allergies can be a severe blow – does it mean that you cannot ever have pets?

Actually, the answer is that you could still have pets. Your dander allergies will make managing them a little trickier though, and you will need to take special precautions to minimize your allergic reaction. Here are a few helpful tips that will make coping a little easier.

* Make sure that you bathe your pets regularly. By removing the dander buildup, you’ll remove the likelihood of a negative reaction. You could do this yourself, or book them in to a grooming parlor – either way, removing the dander buildup will go a long way to removing your symptoms.

* Of course, if they are bathed regularly, and receive appropriate flea treatment, your pets are less likely to lick themselves, therefore meaningless dander to deal with!

* Regular brushing in between baths, outside of your house, should also help prevent hay fever and other reactions. Ask a family member or friend who is not allergic to dander to help out, as you may find yourself in the throes of an allergy attack if you do it yourself!

* Regularly wash bedding and so on, removing the microscopic flakes that cause dander allergies, and you should find you have less adverse effects.

* Make sure you vacuum your house regularly, as dander finds its way into ordinary house dust too, and if you are allergic to dander, you will find that you will suffer more otherwise!

* Speak to your doctor about an effective anti histamine, or another form of treatment for your dander allergies.

Pets enrich our lives immensely. They are a source of joy, and unconditional love, and if you’re an animal lover, the prospect of living without Fido or Moggie might be more than you can deal with. The good news is that you can live with pets while being allergic to dander, if you follow these tips, and make sure that you minimize the amount of dander that finds itself into your environment! So feel free to adopt a puppy or kitten, as long as you can commit to these guidelines.

Your dog’s health means a lot to you, as well as your own. Keep yourself informed and learn more about dog skin rashes at CureDogAllergies.com, where you’ll find everything you need to know to keep your dog, your home and of course yourself free of allergies, and in tip top shape!

Choose Hypoallergenic Bedding For Your Children

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:00:18 +0000

Plenty of options exist out there when it comes to bedding for children with allergies. Allergies are particularly bothersome at night because of dust mites; tiny insects that like to cling to our mattresses, sheets, blankets and pillows.

They, or more specifically, their feces; are what many allergy symptoms come from. But with some simple steps and a bit of shopping around you can help your child sleep through the night in comfort without irritation from allergens.

There are many certified hypoallergenic products out there for your child’s bed, available at almost any major retailer, and for reasonable prices. For starters, its good to purchase a vinyl box spring encasing. They are durable, easy to clean, waterproof, and most importantly create one less surface for dust mites to live in.

Next, a mattress cover that encases the entire mattress. Before selecting a cover, measure your child’s mattress (width, length and especially depth) to ensure you purchase the correct size.

Next lets talk pillows. You can find allergy friendly certified pillows which have tightly woven outer fabric that inhibits dust mites and even pet dander from entering. Many pillows are also available with hypoallergenic synthetic down and/or films that inhibit mold or bacterial growth that can also irritate an allergy. These pillows are durable, affordable, and comfortable. And remember that pillows should be replaced every two years.

Whatever bedding product you are looking at buying, be sure to find the asthma and allergy friendly certification mark. Not only are these products created with barriers to allergens, they are specifically made without chemicals that can irritate or cause allergic reactions. This goes for sheets and duvets as well.

And read each product’s washing instructions, as they may vary. But the general rules of thumb for washing bedding is at high temperatures for both washing and drying. Conveniently, Box spring and mattress casings only need to be cleaned 3-4 times a year.

Change the bed linens once or twice a week, and vacuum the mattress, blanket and pillows when you do. This will help to get rid of any dust mite feces that have accumulated.

A couple other tips for helping your child’s bed stay allergen free; when you make the bed, shake out all the bedding and fold back the blankets. This helps to stop humidity from building, which dust mites thrive in. Also be sure to keep headboards and bedside tables dust free.

When you vacuum your child’s room, wait 2 hours before replacing the bedding. Dust settles after vacuuming somewhere in that time, and you don’t want it settling on a fresh bed.

With a few changes, a child’s bed can be a much more comfortable place at night, relatively free of allergy symptoms. This will help yourself as a parent rest better too.

Dennis Kiefer and business partner Bobbi Nagle, own Felicity River. One of their online stores is http://www.ChildrensBedroomFurnitureToday.com

What is Corn Allergy?

admin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 19:34:13 +0000

Corn is a type of cereal grain that is made up of proteins. Research shows that very few people are actually allergic to corn. But those who are usually will suffer from sever allergic reactions. One of these most common and most deadly reactions is anaphylaxis. This is when your body goes into shock and will stop breathing.

People who have an allergy to corn are most often allergic to other cereal grains as well. Yet, even if they are there are times that they will not experience any symptoms at all like they do when they come into contact with corn. A person can have an allergic reaction when eating raw or cooked corn.

Research shows that they may even have reactions when exposed to corn pollen, cornstarch, or grass pollen. Because of this reaction it is important that they do what they can to avoid corn and corn related foods. This is the only way to prevent reactions from affecting them in the future.

The most common symptoms that someone with corn allergy will suffer from include; stomach pain, asthma, difficulty swallowing, anaphylaxis, decrease in blood pressure, stomach cramps, discomfort, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rashes, migraines, swelling in the face or tongue.

In order to make sure that people will avoid corn in their diet means that they need to pay close attention to what foods are made with it. We have provided a list of foods that can contain corn. (Please keep in mind that this is a small list and there may be other foods that you need to research and watch out for.)

Corn tortillas

Corn syrup

Corn oil

Corn meal

Cornstarch

Vegetable oil

Popcorn

Grits

Corn sugars

Margarine

Corn chips (Tortilla chips, Fritos)

Corn fritters

Breakfast cereals (such as corn flakes)

Food is not the only thing that you will need to watch out for. There are different paper containers that may contain corn as well as the inner surface of plastic food wrappers that could be coated with cornstarch. These include cups plates, boxes, and milk cartons.

Symptoms Of Allergies is a resource guide that works to provide people with information on different allergies and the symptoms that go with them.

Are You Allergic to Dust Mites?

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:17:18 +0000

Dust mites produce allergens that usually aggravate asthma. According to studies, about a tenth of Americans show allergic reactions to them. This can worsen during the winter when houses are usually kept closed and dust mites, along with their feces, accumulate inside.

How Do You Know You’re Allergic?

You’ll know you’re allergic to mites when you get asthma attacks or experience a difficulty in breathing. Your lungs may also feel clogged. In addition, you may feel some facial pressure and pain. Other symptoms would include inflame eczema, itchiness, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. Your eyes may also water or redden, or the skin under them may become swollen and blue-colored. When you’re sleeping, dust mite allergies can cause you to frequently awaken.

These symptoms can be further aggravated by poor ventilation and indoor air pollution such as cigar smoke and car fumes.

What are Dust Mites?

They are microorganisms that live on flakes of shed pet skin or human skin. An adult usually sheds about 1.5 grams of skin every day. This gives these microorganisms a whole lot to feed on. In this regard, they are most highly concentrated in kitchens and bedrooms. A used mattress, for instance, would have anywhere from 10,000 to 1 million mites inside.

They usually live on the bedding, especially if you’re using feather pillows. They can also be found in your mattresses, carpets, upholstered furniture, and even on your clothing.

Aside from feeding on shed skin, another reason why they like staying in your bedroom and kitchen is because they thrive in temperatures of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels of 75% to 80%.

Know the symptoms of dust mite allergies so that you can treat them correctly and prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Want to get rid of those dust mite allergies? Read about how latex foam pillows can help you do that. Find out more on Beds & Pillows.

Toddlers and Pink Eye

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:51:08 +0000

Pink Eye is an eye infection where the white part of the eye and the inner eyelids become red, causing itching, swelling, eye discharge, and irritation. The scientific name for Pink Eye is ‘conjunctivitis’. This condition is also referred to as ‘red eye.’

Some of the typical reasons for toddlers to get affected with Pink Eye are:

o Bacterial infection of the eye

o Viral infection of the eye

o Eye allergy

o Dust and smoke

Nearly all of these infections affect both the eyes. Moreover, the infection does not last too long. It is usually cured within 24 hours of treatment.

Note: In some cases, the infection may be contagious. You need to consult your doctor to find out if it is contagious.

General Treatment for Pink Eye:

o For Bacterial/Viral Conjunctivitis: Antibiotics such as topical drops or ointments are useful in curing this type of Pink Eye

o For Allergic Conjunctivitis: Allergy medications such as Alocril, Patanol etc. can help in quick recovery

Some Do’s:

o Whenever there is any eye discharge, take a warm moist cloth and wipe the discharge immediately-this will help reduce the irritation your toddler may be undergoing.

o If the infection is contagious, make sure you wash your hands after having touched the eye or its discharge.

o Discourage your toddler from rubbing the infected eye frequently.

Care for your Baby’s Eyes

o Ensure that your baby has a well-balanced diet.

o Have your child’s eyes regularly checked by your pediatrician or eye doctor.

o Protect your child’s eyes from the sun. You may opt for getting your baby to wear special protective lenses while in the sun.

o Always have a mobile or other interesting moving objects near your baby’s crib.

o While speaking to your baby encourage your child to look at you. Make gestures with your hands and walk around to motivate your baby to keep looking at you.

o Encourage crawling as it helps the child to master coordinate the eyes and the movement of hands.

o Hold out toys at varying lengths and motivate your child to reach out and grasp them.

Right from a tender age , good eye care practices are essential to ensure that your child grows up with healthy eyes. Always keep safety aspects in mind while buying any kids toys. Avoid toys with sharp or pointed projections that could injure your child’s eyes.

Natural Way to Cure Eczema in Babies

admin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:51:03 +0000

It is surprising that as common as eczema is in babies, most literature for nursing mothers rarely address it. An NIH estimate says that 65 percent of patients develop eczema when they are still less than a year old. Most of these babies will continue to have symptoms of eczema as they grow into adulthood.There are natural ways to cure baby eczema.

Your baby can develop eczema in different parts of the body. The most common areas are on the face, behind elbows and knees, neck and abdomen. It makes the baby’s skin to be dry and itchy. The skin looks irritated and the baby will start to scratch thereby leading to secondary infections. There are effective natural cures for baby eczema. Most of them are easy, simple steps that you can learn to get rid of your baby’s eczema.

The first important thing to do to in natural baby eczema cure is to keep your baby’s skin moisturized constantly. Eczema causes the skin to lose moisture and dry up. Use very mild soaps for your baby’s bath. Use a very soft towel to dab the skin, don’t rub. Get an organic non-perfumed moisturizer and rub it on 3 to 4 times daily. Effective eczema cure is about re-hydrating and healing the skin of your baby.

Unrefined olive oil, coconut oil, chamomile tea and calendula cream are some of the natural topical applications that you can use to cure your baby’s eczema. These are some of the best natural remedies that you can use to cure baby eczema.

If you can afford it, get your baby an allergy test. Allergies to food and other substances aggravate eczema in babies. Ordinary materials like carpets and pollen can cause eczema to flare up. Once you know what your baby is allergic to, you can take measures to avoid them.

Eczema prone skin is easily irritated by synthetic fabrics. Change your baby’s clothes and bedding to natural fabrics like 100% cotton. Also, wash bedding regularly to avoid bacteria build up. Consider also using perfume-free liquid soap instead of powder detergents.

Part of the natural way to cure baby eczema is to keep your baby’s finger nails short to reduce bruises from scratching. You can wear socks or mittens for a baby that is prone to vigorous scratching.

If any area of the baby’s skin is opened or weeping, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to stop the infection.You can get a simple, easy to understand step-by-step guide to be permanently cure your baby’s eczema forever. For more free Details on how to cure baby eczema forever visit www.naturaleczematreatmentbay.blogspot.com

What is the Difference Between Down & Feather Pillows?

admin — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:59:57 +0000

Many consumers think down and feathers are the same thing and reference them as the same. In fact nothing could be more different as the cost, feature set, and firmness are all impacted by the fillings.

Down filling comes from the underbelly of ducks and geese and is very soft and airy. Down costs approximately five to ten times as much as feathers. Down filling is used for comfort and is used in down pillows, down comforters, down blankets and on the top of down top feather beds.

Feathers on the other hand come from the other parts of a duck or goose. Feathers are rigid and provide support for items like feather pillows, feather pillow forms, feather beds and more.

Both Down & Feathers are processed the same way and are usually equal in their hypoallergenic standards based on what manufacturer you are buying from. Higher amounts of feathers are useful for items that need to be firmer and durable.

The biggest difference between down and feathers is in their usage. Down and feathers can both be machine washed and dried and can provide years of comfort for the home user. Down usually can be washed and dried faster than feathers due to the moisture trapping of the quills on feathers.

Many 3, 4 and 5 star hotels like to use a 50/50 pillow on their beds (This is a pillow comprised of half down and half feathers). Hotels will also use a down comforter on the bed and in the best and most luxurious properties a feather bed on top of the mattress.

While down provides soft luxurious comfort, feathers can provide support. Both down and feathers can last several years thus providing comfort for night after night. Down and feather bedding are equal in their ability to be allergy friendly due to the higher thread count cotton fabric typically used. In fact some British research has shown that down and feather bedding actually saw an improvement in home related allergies for their users.

Any product labeled Down in the United States must contain by law a minimum of 75% down clusters in the filled bedding item. The other 25% consist of more down, small feathers and/or fiber (which is the broken off pieces of down clusters). There are only several down bedding manufacturers in the United States and many of the biggest ship their filling to other users of down including outerwear, sleeping bag makers and fine furniture companies.

Sometimes consumers have a negative perception of feather bedding due to the nature of feather pillows and feather beds having poking feathers. In truth even the best feather bedding item can poke once in a while due to the nature of the pointy feather quills. Therefore for items like feather pillows and feather beds it is recommended to use quilted protectors to add comfort. It is also important to consider buying a more luxurious blend of feather filling such as a 10/90 versus the more common 5/95 feather/down blends.

To learn more about down pillows you can buy direct from the manufacturer please visit ShopDownLite.com.

Choosing Kids Bedroom Decorating Ideas – Keeping Safety In Mind

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:34:05 +0000

Decorating your child’s room is actually more challenging compared to decorating an adult’s room. In fact, the main challenge does not lie in looking for kids bedroom decorating ideas but on decorating with safety in mind. The reason behind this is that children are prone to danger if they are unattended and a room full of hazards can be prevented with good child-safety standards.

For the flooring for example, you should use materials that are not slippery and should have more friction to them (but not necessarily a hard material). Wood flooring as well as carpet are both ideal for children’s bedrooms. Moreover, the furniture used in their room should be tailor fit to their sizes and hard edges in the said furniture should be prevented.

Finally, take note that kids are more sensitive to dust and allergies and so the use of fine materials specifically those that are allergy-proof are good precautionary methods in ensuring the comfort and safely of your beloved children.

After you have made sure that the room is hazard-free, then a few kids bedroom decorating ideas will definitely come in handy in making sure that their room is visually appealing.

Cartoon characters have long been popular themes and included in the long list of kids bedroom decorating ideas. Deciding to use such a theme will actually make it easy for you in purchasing children furniture and furnishings because of its abundance in the market. Not to mention, this design concept has been tried and tested and has been used in a good number of children’s bedrooms.

In addition, you may also use images and graphics that children are fond of such as animals and stuff toys for boys or dolls and flowers for girls. Make sure that you decorate the room with the use of either bright primary colors or pastel colors. Remember that children respond to a colorful environment and it has also been said to stimulate creativity in them.

To learn more bedroom decorating ideas, visit http://www.bedroomdecoratingideas101.com

The Smartest Ways to Use a Dog Flea Treatment in Your Home

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:00:07 +0000

Whenever you come home after a long day at work and you find your dog with a flea or two, you can almost bet there are more. Fleas typically start on your pets and drink their blood. If it is a female adult flea, it will soon lay eggs. After a short while, some of the eggs will fall off of your pet and land in your carpets, furniture, curtains, and bedding. That’s right, in your bed where you sleep every night. A lot of pet owners don’t even realize that they are sleeping with flea eggs!

After the fleas hatch and become larvae, the larvae will burrow into your carpet to find a dark, safe place to stay. This allows them time to mature before becoming adult fleas and repeating the process. An adult female flea can lay 2,000 eggs over the course of her lifetime.

Once this process starts, it is important to make sure your dog is on a good flea preventative. These typically come in the form of a spot-on treatment or a tablet. If your dog does not currently have a dog flea treatment, then please see your vet, they will be more than happy to recommend one.

Once you have your dog on a proper flea treatment, the next step is to get the fleas out of your home. I would love to tell you that this is a one-time practice, but frequently it can require more than one treatment to get the job done. Before your start the process, it is a good idea to thoroughly vacuum your carpet in order to get rid of the flea larvae and eggs. Once you have done this, I typically use flea bombs throughout the house to kill the existing fleas. A good flea bomb also contains chemicals to stop the fleas from reproducing for up to 180 days.

Once you have treated your carpets, it is a good idea to take care of your dog’s bedding. The bedding should be washed first (if it has a washable cover) and then dusted or sprayed with an insecticide to help reduce the likelihood of future infestations.

There are several insecticides that can be used on your lawn. Personally, I like the ones that attach to the end of a garden hose because they are easy to disperse.

Lets face it folks, this process is a pain but it is very important that you take the time to properly remove the dog fleas from your pet, your house, and your yard. If the proper dog flea treatment is not followed, the fleas will continue to reproduce out of control.