When you think of “mattress covers” you likely picture a vinyl cover that has been traditionally used to protect mattresses from bed wetting and other liquid spills. This of course leaves you insecure and hesitant about turning your comfortable sleep haven into an allergy free environment.

The thought of sleeping on noisy plastic would scare anyone away. Not to mention how hot a vinyl cover can get in the summer time. This is where Allergy Armor Ultra comes into play.

Allergy Armor Ultra bedding is both breathable and luxurious to sleep on and was designed for those who demand the ultimate in comfort while getting protection from dust mites and other allergens. This fabric is uniquely finished using extreme heat to shrink the pore size to the smallest in the industry, giving you long lasting allergy relief from dust mites, pet dander, and mold without disrupting your sleep.

The next major concern new patients have is dealing with a mattress cover that slips around when they move. There is nothing more uncomfortable than sheets that bunch up at your feet or head. The allergy Armor mattress covers are made in a variety of sizes with an accurate measuring guide to ensure a snug fit so they won’t slip around under you. Plus, these covers zip closed around your mattress and pillows for a long lasting fit that won’t need “readjusted” on a nightly basis.

Go ahead and get your Allergy Armor Ultra mattress and pillow encasements today and stop those frustrating allergy symptoms right away. When you’re ready to lay down for a good night’s sleep in your comfortable, cozy be you won’t even notice the new mattress covers protecting you all night long.

Allergens, also known as allergy triggers, are found everywhere. In fact they are in the air we breathe, food we eat, and items we put on our skin or clothes. The trick is to recognize which allergens are the most offensive and minimize contact with foods, chemicals or locations where they are in abundance. To begin let’s take a closer look at the foods we eat, air we breathe and skin contact allergens.

Allergens We Ingest

Food allergies are perhaps one of the most common allergies that you’ll hear about. Though food allergies are common food isn’t the only place allergens hide. In fact there are allergens in prescription and over the counter medications, drinks and vitamins.

Even though allergens are found in so many consumable substances there are a few common foods and medications that lead to an allergic reaction. The usual foods and medicines that cause allergies include:

Drugs- These include Penicillin, Salicylates, Sulfonamides and local anesthesia.

Foods- Foods that have components which are oftentimes treated by the body as allergens are celery, corn, wheat, cow’s milk, legumes, eggs, pumpkin, soy, seafood, seashells, tree nuts, and sesame.

The substances we ingest often serve as the medium for the transference of allergens from outside the body into the bloodstream and internal organs. When the entry point of the allergens is the mouth the typical symptoms that arise are nausea, throat and tongue swelling, stomach cramps and diarrhea. Symptoms may also affect nasal breathing as well as the integrity of the skin.

Allergens We Breathe

There are four major allergens floating around in the air we breathe. Those include pollens, animal dander, mold spores, and dust mite particles. Common plant pollens that are suspect for causing hay fever, a type of allergy, can be categorized into three groups:

• grass pollens – timothy grass and ryegrass
• weed pollens – ragweed, nettle, plantago, sorrel and artemisia vulgaris
• tree pollens – birch, alder, wollow, poplar, olea and hornbeam

These allergens normally pass through the air conditioning and heating systems as well as through windows and doors while opened. Animal dander, mold, and dust mite particles already exist in your home as well as floating around in the air outside.

Skin Contact Allergens

Allergens that lead to a skin reaction are typically those that actually touch the skin. The allergen can be from rubbing a plant, insect bite or bee sting, chemicals, soaps, perfumes, and any other substance that touches the skin. Skin allergies could go possibly one of the longest lists of all allergens.

Though the list may be long common substances that induce allergic reactions are metals, latex, cosmetics, chemicals, substances from poisonous plants, insect bites and stings. An allergic reaction typically appears as a rash or hive on the skin that may itch.

If you effectively identify what your allergy triggers are and then effectively identify where they are most commonly found you’ll have more success in minimizing an allergic reaction.

When I first heard that the common allergy causing proteins in dogs originated in their mouth I had my doubts. For years I understood all animal allergies was caused by proteins produced in the animals skin that was later released in the air on dander. Though this is true for cats, dogs have a different way of producing allergy proteins that cause owners to develop dog allergies.

There are two common proteins that lead to an allergic reaction to dogs, Canis familiaris 1 (Can f 1) and Canis Familiaris 2 (Can f 2). Both allergens originate in the mouth where Can f 1 (major dog allergen) is produced by the tongue epithelial tissue and Can f 2 (minor dog allergen) is produced by the tongue and parotid gland. When Can f 1 and Can f 2 were produced and tested for immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivity in dog allergic subjects 45% had IgE exclusively to Can f 1 and 25% had IgE to both Can f 1 and Can f 2.
[Cited from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1364166/pdf/immunology00052-0167.pdf]

Now you might ask, if dog allergens are produced in the mouth why do all recommendations revolve around reducing allergens from their fur? Simple; when a dog naturally bathes themselves they transfer the saliva to their fur and skin. The saliva dries on the skin and is released into the air catching a ride on the animal dander right into the nasal passages of their unsuspecting owners. As a result, bathing, brushing, and wiping your dogs fur will help reduce dog allergens.

Though bathing is effective, there are other precautions you may want to consider to help reduce allergens in your home. Allergic persons in the home should not allow their dog to lick their hands or faces. If you’re one of those pet owners that adore those affectionate kisses when you get home limit how many kisses your dog is allowed to give and then wash your hands and face right away.

Recognizing that dog allergens originate in the mouth and not the skin can set you leaps and bounds ahead of fighting allergies. You can take necessary measures to limit saliva on your skin as well as reducing animal dander in your home, giving you double protection from dog allergies in your home.

Additionally, children are far less likely to describe their symptoms accurately, leaving parents and doctors guessing at the source of their complaints. To help you discern between your child’s symptoms and other possible ailments there are five common symptoms related to allergies in children; sinus infection, itching nose, chronic cough, allergic eczema, and dark circles under the eyes.

Itching Nose

This is one of the most common allergy symptoms in children. When your child is exposed to an allergen it is inhaled through the mouth and nose. On contact the nose triggers a reaction from the foreign substance causing an “itching” sensation in the nasal passage. The itchy nose is often accompanied with thin, excessive mucus, resulting in a runny nose. This excessive mucus can lead to a more serious complication, a sinus infection.

Sinus Infections

When your body overreacts to a certain allergen, it produces more body fluids, which in turn cause the sinus passages to be blocked. This blockage can then lead to an inflammation of the sinus passages known as a sinus infection. Germs and bacteria are still able to pass through the inflamed passages and potentially invade the tissues lining your sinus cavity. This causes an infection.

People suffering from allergies are more susceptible to sinus infections as a result of their body’s immune systems being weakened from attempting to ward off foreign elements; and thus, causing the body to be less effective in fighting infection.

Chronic Cough

A child’s cough is considered a chronic cough when it is dry (does not produce mucus) and persists for days. Sometimes, there is phlegm, in which case can be an indication that there is an increased fluid present in their sinus cavity.

Keep in mind however that a chronic cough is not a condition but rather an allergy symptom. To help relieve your child’s coughing attempt to identify the trigger and remove it from the home rather than suppressing the cough. Should your child’s cough persist after removing the allergen or produce excessive mucus it is advisable to visit your doctor as this could be a symptom of other conditions as well.

Dark-Eye Circles

Dark-eye circles are often referred to as Denni-Morgan lines since it was taken after two physicians’ names who first established a connection between allergies and dark eye circles. Though the dark circles may appear to be a result of sleep deprivation this isn’t the case for allergy suffers. Rather, the circles form as a result of increased blood flow to the sinuses.

Contact Dermatitis

As the skin is exposed to irritants allergic patients can develop a condition called contact dermatitis. This is where the skin develops a mild itchy rash at the point of contact. The appearance of the rash is usually dry skin or redness.

Persistent exposure to the irritant can lead to a full blown allergic reaction on the skin that may require medication to clear up. Typically contact dermatitis shows up on hands since the hands come in contact with the majority of offenders on a daily basis.

You don’t have to decide between your pet and breathing easy any longer. With environmental controls at your disposal you can knock animal dander down to manageable levels, allowing you to enjoy your pet and breathe easy at the same time.

At the top of the list is protecting your mattress with an allergen barrier like Allergy Armor Ultra. This encasement is designed to block out animal dander so that it won’t build up where you sleep. Group that with pillow encasements and frequently washing your sheets you’ll near eliminate dander in your bed.

Next on the list would be to invest in a pet machine air purifier. This air purifier was developed by Austin Air Systems and uses a filter guaranteed to trap 99.97% of all airborne particles 0.3 microns or smaller. Not only will this air purifier reduce dander in the air you breathe but it contains a customized carbon blend filter that will eliminate ammonia-based pet odors for cleaner smelling air.

As a final touch to help ensure minimal dander levels in your home consider investing in a high quality vacuum for trapping dander that has settled on your carpet and upholstered furniture. While any quality HEPA filter will do a sufficient job you may want to offer yourself a sense of security by purchasing a vacuum designed specifically to tackle animal dander like the Dyson DC17.

Who says you can’t have the best of both worlds? With a little extra effort you can have your home dander free and breathe easier with your pets by your side.

Lurking in our mattresses and pillows these creatures thrive in the dark warm environment our beds provide. Since we spend roughly 1/3 of our day in bed their food source is always in abundance. So what can you do to protect yourself from allergic symptoms?

Now you can test for dust mite levels using a simple 10 minute test created by IAQ Singapore. The test is a simple as rubbing an area on your mattress for 60 seconds before applying the test solution. Wait 10 minutes and examine the area to see the semi-quantitative results.

Knowing the level of dust mites can assist you in your efforts for naturally controlling allergens in your home. If the levels are higher than usual you can do a detailed vacuum with a HEPA filter to reduce the amount of allergens lurking where you sleep.

This test can also come in handy when determining if you need to adjust the humidity levels in your home to discourage population growth. If the test results come in high there is a possibility that the humidity levels need to be reduced to help neutralize dust mite reproduction. If the results are low you can rest assured that your humidity levels are in a safe zone.

Regardless of what method you use to reduce dust mite allergens in your home the IAQ Singapore’s dust mite detection kit is an excellent companion to help monitor the population growth and prepare a plan of action to reduce allergens in the home.

Dust mites breathe, live and die inside your mattress and box springs. The waste they leave behind is so light weight that it becomes airborne every time you move in your bed. You inhale the waste and symptoms begin.

To enjoy symptom free nights try trapping the dust mites, and everything that comes with them, behind an allergy barrier. Allergy Armor Advanced bedding sets let you do just that.

Woven with a pore size of 6 microns, Allergy Armor Advanced is highly effective at blocking dust mite particles while you sleep since they measure an average size of 10 microns in diameter.

Allergy Armor fabric was specially designed by Achoo Allergy after four years of research and testing to provide the best allergy relief available on the market. Allergy Armor Advanced debuted in 2006 as the original Allergy Armor fabric. This fabric was scientifically designed to offer a soft luxurious comfort while it protects you from harmful allergens.

It is finished to provide a durable long-lasting protection against allergens in the same manner as laminated fabric without the unwanted heat and noise you would commonly expect. For additional protection they are complete with an antimicrobial finish to ensure long-term protection against mold, mildew, deterioration, stains and soiling agents.

The Allergy Armor Advanced bedding set comes complete with everything you need protect your bed from dust mite allergens and relieve your allergy symptoms. The set includes:

• 2 Allergy Armor Advanced standard pillow cases
• 1 Allergy Armor Advanced mattress cover
• 1 Vinyl box spring cover
• Durable & long-lasting allergy relief with a lifetime warranty

So what are you waiting for? To start enjoying allergy free nights head over to AchooAllergy.com and order your complete bedding set today.

Although asthma can be hereditary, the prevalence of allergic asthma has made this chronic lung disease very closely associated with common allergies such as rhinitis and sinus infections. So, don’t be surprised why some professionals will bundle asthma and allergy relief measures together.

In this sheet, you will uncover some measures that can ease the symptoms of both asthma attacks and allergy attacks. Get ready to “hit two birds with one stone” with the following remedies:

• Avoid potential triggers. Not all allergies lead to asthma, but the allergens are the very same culprits. Dust mites, pet dander, pollens, mold spores and smoke – The list can go on and on. Do your best to reduce exposure to these triggers.
• Maintain the cleanliness of your home. Take action to make your indoor air more breathable and your home indeed livable. Inadequate sanitation invites indoor allergens, roaches, rodents and molds to feast on your residence. They can aggravate the symptoms of an asthma or allergy attack.
• Reposition your furniture and change sheets and curtains every 2 weeks or so. Movement dislodges dust mites from being collected by idle furniture. Regular washing and changing discourages arachnids from declaring your linens as home sweet home.
• Get air filters and use them in the room where you mostly frequent. These filters are your defense line against difficult-to-see airborne triggers. When you use air filters, the air that you breathe in is much cleaner.
• Practice deep breathing exercises. It unclogs your airways of mucus and helps you to inhale and exhale better. To spice up your day, try the yoga variations and repetitions recommended by the gurus.
• Stay extra watchful at night. Experts warn that 10:00 p.m. and onwards are the worst hours for asthma and allergy attacks. Before going to bed, shut the windows tight. Check if the air conditioning unit is on. Double check if the filter is attached. Have your first aid remedies – sprays, inhalers and all – on your bedside table. Make them accessible in case you need them. Include emergency numbers and access to the nearest person who can run to your aid the fastest.

Note: Don’t take asthma and allergies lightly. Their onset can be fatal. Put asthma and allergy relief on your top-priority list. In addition to the above-mentioned remedies, do not fail to consult your doctor for correct diagnosis, a prescription and qualified medical advice that you can trust.

Whenever pollen counts reach a high, millions of noses begin to run, eyes begin to water and throats begin to itch. Symptoms like these surface when pollen triggers histamine production in sensitive individuals. This sheet enumerates ways that you can seek allergy relief from pollens.

The task is never easy, but it can be done. Pollens are notorious for their prevalence and persistence. You can’t avoid them as easily as you could food, animals or other allergens. Pollens are simply omnipresent. They continue to elude capture and total elimination. It’s amazing how these tiny agents of cross-pollination can turn out to be a formidable menace to people’s health.

• Always keep a face mask or a handkerchief with you. Cover your nostrils on your way out. It’s a small step that can significantly reduce the number of pollens that enter your airways and trigger allergic reactions.
• Control the symptoms with medications. Non-prescription drugs that are popular in this respect include decongestants and antihistamines. You may also see your doctor to get a prescription for cromolyn sodium, corticosteroids and NASONEX nasal spray.
• Get allergy shots. Counter a pervasive threat with a long-term remedial measure. Try immunotherapy. By desensitizing your body to pollens, you can experience greater relief from the symptoms of a pollen allergy attack.
• Know the daily pollen count forecast. Some websites offer free projections. Sign up to receive free information. Refer to the forecasts as you plan your activities. You may decide to stay indoors on days with unusually high pollen counts.
• Secure good filtering devices. Select air conditioner and air purifier models that have high-quality filters. Experts say that the effectiveness of a filtering device correlates with the size of the room being serviced. Remember to clean the filters every now and then.
• Steer clear from other allergens as much as possible. Dust, pet fur, smoke, paint and other allergens can compound your pollen allergy. Do your best to avoid them.
• Turn on your air conditioner. Whether inside your house or in your car, switch on your air conditioning unit. This step keeps you from opening your windows. It cools you down and helps keep pollens at bay.

Pollens remain the most pervasive of all airborne allergens. Fortunately, you can do something to find allergy relief from pollens. The bulk of your battle is not really on getting rid of the small particles but is geared towards tempering your body’s sensitivity to histamine triggers.

The causal agents of either a seasonal allergy or a sinus infection range from airborne allergens to dietary choices such as nuts and seafood which can trigger allergic reactions. If both are so similar, where then do you draw the line?

Simply put, where seasonal allergies come and go, sinus infections are a tad more tenacious. They can afflict you for months. Medical attention is highly recommended. Before then, there are generic allergy relief measures to help you take control of the situation.

• Don’t leave your room window open. Every now and then, it’s advisable to air your room a bit but don’t leave the windows open for too long. Don’t even think of leaving them open at night. (According to experts, allergen count reaches a peak from 10:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.) You’re giving outdoor allergens an open invitation to your home.
• Enjoy a hot shower. The routine not only improves your hygiene, it also serves as a makeshift therapeutic treatment. Inhale the steam, breathe deeply, and allow the hot air to ease your swollen sinuses. The moment you step out of the bathroom, you’ll notice that your circulation has improved.
• Exercise. The onset of sinus infections can be quite draining, but exert some effort to keep an active lifestyle. Exercise routines help regulate your breathing and facilitate better circulation. Lifts and yoga are excellent choices to begin with.
• Keep your sinuses from drying out. Dry sinuses are more irritable and sensitive to allergens. To retain moisture, you may want to irrigate your nose. But if you think this is too messy, invest in a nasal spray. Avoid cold drinks if you can.
• Make sure your home is spic and span. Several allergens can irritate your sinuses, but those that top the list are the usual dust mites, molds and pollens. A regular dose of cleaning keeps most of these allergens at bay.
• Relax. Stress and tension can lower your immunity against allergens. Get enough sleep, and find time to rest in between hectic schedules. If you have the week off and wish to take medications, you don’t really need to get the no-drowse variety.
• Self-medicate with caution. Some drugs that ease sinusitis are available over the counter. While you are free to purchase them without a prescription and while the local pharmacist can offer some guidance, do not self-medicate longer than 3 days without informing your doctor.

Sinus infections are notorious for their long-staying symptoms. But don’t let them discourage you from living life as you should. See your doctor today and find out how you can make allergy relief and sinus infection relief possible.