| Allergy
Consumer Review Issue #91 January, 2007 |
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Editor: Mercia
Tapping, President, Allergy Buyers Club PLEASE NOTE that references to prices or specials within this archive reflect prices and market conditions at the time of newsletter publication. Prices may have changed since publication.
Which Pillow is Right for You? Pillows are an individual choice, but I have tried to distinguish the individual characteristics of each type, so you can make more of an informed choice. Hypodown Pillows If you have feather allergies but are a fan of down as a fill for pillows, with Hypodown Pillows you can have your cake and eat it too. The infusion of a modest amount of Syriaca into the down causes it to become completely allergy free and the manufacturer guarantees it. We did a blind test in the office between the Hypodown 600, Hypodown 700 and Hypodown 800-fill pillows. Everyone got it right; there is a noticeable difference between them. The 800 fill is the most lofty and of course the most expensive. If you need to economize, do it on the covering of the pillow but not the inside. After all, you put a pillow case onto the pillow, so it is the fill which you will be noticing, not its cover. Latex Pillows
Alpaca Pillows
Wool Pillows Wool is inhospitable to dust mites and last a good long while. I see our wool pillows as virtually indestructible. However, wool does not produce much loft and what loft it does have disappears quite quickly, so wool pillows are great for those who like a rather firm pillow. Silk Pillows Silk is naturally dust mite resistant and silk pillows do have a wonderful feel underneath your head. I do not recommend these pillows for everyday use as they do not retain their loft for too long, but as a travel or extra boudoir pillow, or as a gift they are quite delectable. Primaloft Pillows
Royal Pedic Natural Latex Pillows
Hyperclean Pillows
Memory Foam Pillows
For the entire selection of pillows available on AllergyBuyersClub.com click here. Book Excerpt: Breathing Free by Jordan Josephson, MD - Director of the New York Nasal and Sinus Center An Excerpt from his book, "Sinus Relief Now" Miserable because your allergy or cold lingers? The nose is surrounded by four sets of sinuses, which are hollow cavities in the head. These are: the ethmoid, maxillary, frontal and sphenoid sinuses. Together, the sinuses and nose act to filter, heat, moisten and warm the air brought through the nose into the lungs. The sinuses themselves produce mucus to cleanse inhaled air of bacteria, viruses, fungus, pollutants and dirt. In Chronic Sinusitis, this filtering/moistenng mechanism may fail and be the reason why asthma is exacerbated. When the sinuses become inflamed, the membranes (sinus lining) also swell. The passageways draining the sinuses become blocked, no longer working properly. Mucus gets trapped in the sinus cavities and can become infected: hence, sinus symptoms prevail. These may include: nasal discharge, nasal stuffiness, headaches, cough, sore throat, swollen glands, hoarseness, bad breath, mouth breathing, chapped lips, decreased sense of smell or taste, facial and dental pain, general fatigue, ear pressure, hearing loss and/or dizziness. Your partner may complain that you snore, and a good night's sleep may seem a thing of the past. Also, if you're an asthma sufferer, asthma symptoms may flare up. Many sinus suffers have been living with the above symptoms for prolonged periods of time; they may even begin to recognize them as usual and normal. Others may have given up on treatment , mainly because they have used numerous over-the-counter and prescription preparations to no avail. Living with discomfort may have become an unhappy resolution-yet it doesn't have to be that way. Who Should Seek Medical Advice If a cold lingers for more than seven to 10 days, you should seek medical attention. Fever, nasal congestion, white, yellow or green nasal discharge, or worsening of any of the aforementioned symptoms, probably indicate infection and the need for antibiotics. Acute sinusitis will resolve with a 10-day course of antibiotics in 90 percent of patients. Chronic sufferers will need a longer medical therapy treatment, with antibiotics an steroid nasal spray. About Treatment Sinus disease is a medical condition, and can be successfully treated in about 90 percent of sufferers with medication alone. This may include a combination of nasal sprays, decongestants and antibiotics. For those who do not improve on medical therapy, a surgical procedure called Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery or FESS may be the answer for final relief. After a complete evaluation by a trained sinus specialist, patients suspected of having a chronic sinus condition should have a special X-ray called a CAT scan. This allows the physician to adequately determine the extent of sinus disease and prepare for appropriate surgical management. With tiny telescopes and cameras, sinus surgeons reestablish the normal draining patterns within the nose, allowing relief of symptoms. The procedure is performed in same day surgery with topical and local anesthesia. The surgery is done within the nose, leaving no incision lines or scars. Patients leave the hospital breathing more comfortably, and they may return to routine activities shortly thereafter. Above is an excerpt from Dr Josephson's book, "Sinus Relief Now" AllergyBuyersClub.com features the Sinus
Center, featuring
more articles, information and products, in particular the Grossan
Hydropulse Nasal Irrigator, (below).
What's New from the Allergy Academy? A recent, nationwide survey found that more than half (54.6%) of all US citizens test positive to 1 or more allergens, and allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease that is responsible for an estimated $18 billion in annual healthcare costs. Dust mite control measures in patients who are allergic to the dust mite allergen include encasing the mattress and pillows of their bed with dust mite-impermeable covers, washing the bedding in hot water, and removing dust-collecting items, especially if they are near the bed. This is also recommended for seasonal type allergies. Look for mold where moisture accumulates - including bathrooms, basements, garages, windowsills, and windowpanes. See if outdoor sprinklers are wetting under the house. An important allergen is pet dander. This may persist in the bedroom long after the pet is gone. Having the pet in the bedroom during the day and removing him at night is of no benefit. 9 months after the cat has left the house, and the house has been thoroughly cleaned, you can still get an asthmatic attack from the cat dander. Today, the National Institute of Health and the professional allergy organizations recommend that we maximize the therapeutic dose at the onset of illness, in order to gain control of symptoms. Then we reduce the dose to the least dose that controls the symptoms. This approach of relieving symptoms first is appreciated by the patient and gives the patient confidence in the physician and he is more likely to follow the doctor's recommendations. For asthma, objective measurements such as Spirometry and Peak Flow Expiratory Rates measures are a must. The Peak Flow Meter is epecially valuable as a tool to measure lung function outside the doctor's office – at home with the dog or in the workplace. When peak expiratory flow rate is highly variable, this variability reflects the degree of bronchial hyper reactivity. Symptoms at night are very important. Someone who wakens from sleep due to asthma is more seriously ill than someone who has asthma during the day. Spirometry measures lung capacity. If someone has a FEV1 – forced expiratory volume in one second less than 60% of predicted value, that person requires significant treatment. Without these numbers the clinician may not appreciate the patient's true state of health. When spirometry findings are highly variable, this person has a higher risk of asthma exacerbation with more ER visits and hospitalization. Steroids in children: Inhaled corticosteroids in children have been studied extensively and the conclusion is that these inhaled products are the most effective and are at low risk. It is important to identify allergy triggers. Management of these triggers will reduce the need for medications. Beta agonists in combination with inhaled steroids are often effective. Beta agonists include Albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil), formoterol (Foradil), levalbuterol (Xopenex), metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel), pirbuterol (Maxair), and salmeterol (Serevent) and are used to decrease bronchospasm. Leukotriene Inhibitors: Montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (Accolate), and zileuton (Zyflo) are used to control asthma symptoms. They are often used in addition to inhaled corticosteroids to avoid the use of oral corticosteroid. Singular and Accolate are not recommended as a single treatment of allergy/ asthma. Although primarily developed for asthma, doctors have used them for nasal allergy as well. How Leukotrienes work Leukotrienes are powerful chemical substances produced by the body. They promote the inflammatory response caused by exposure to allergens. Leukotriene inhibitors block the action or production of these chemicals, thereby reducing inflammation. Originally planned to be used as a substitute for inhaled corticosteroids, they now are used in conjunction with other medications. They are inferior to inhaled corticosteroids for asthma control. . Anticholinergic Inhalers Ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) is used with beta-agonists for severe symptoms. How anticholinergic inhalers work These drugs decrease bronchospasm and secretion of mucus in airways and are often used with albuterol to enhance effectiveness. In general, they are not as effective as the beta-agonists in treating asthma. Mast Cell Inhibitors Cromolyn sodium (Intal) and nedocromil (Tilade) are used to prevent allergic symptoms like runny nose, itchy eyes, and asthma. The response is not as potent as that of corticosteroid inhalers. How mast cell inhibitors work These drugs prevent the release of histamine and other chemicals from mast cells that cause asthma symptoms when you come into contact with an allergen (for example, pollen). The drug is not effective until 4-7 days after you begin taking it. Nasocrom is the nasal spray that is OTC and can be used in pregnancy. For allergic rhinitis, the cortisone sprays are felt to be best rather than the allergy pills, both the OTC and the Rx kinds. Immunotherapy has been shown to decrease the risk of developing asthma when used in children who have allergic rhinitis. It has been shown to decrease the risk of developing new (i.e., additional) sensitization to aeroallergens over time. Allergy and Pregnancy Inhaled glucocorticosteroids (eg, beclomethasone or budesonide) have not been incriminated as teratogens in humans and are used by pregnant women who have asthma. Chlortimeton and Benadryl have been used in pregnancy for decades and have not been reported unsafe. Among the newer antihistamines, Claritin and Zyrtec have been used but do not have long term studies. In theory, Astelin nasal spray, which is a topical antihistamine, should be safe. Sudafed is contraindicated during pregnancy and should not be used. No drug should be taken in pregnancy, including non – prescription ones, without first consulting your doctor. Pregnancy is not considered to be a contraindication for the continuation of immunotherapy. If you are planning to become pregnant, and have allergy that is not well controlled, and has not responded to dust proofing measures, allergists recommend starting immunotherapy and continuing it during pregnancy. Many persons with allergy control their symptoms by pulsatile irrigation such as the Hydro Pulse Nasal/Sinus Irrigator. This removes the pollen/allergen as well as the nasal IgE that reacts with the pollen. Particularly safe to use during pregnancy. A discussion of asthma and sinusitis for the medical profession is at www.emedicine.com/ent/topic516.htm Asthma and Sinusitis The Grossan Hydropulse Nasal Irrigator, is available through AllergyBuyersClub.com, and is featured above this article. |
Alpaca
pillows
Primaloft
Pillows
Lyocell
pillows
Royal
Pedic latex pillows
Hyperclean
Pillows
Well, you're not alone. You may be suffering from the nation's
number one chronic health problem: sinusitis. The good news
for sinus sufferers is that treatment exists. Comfort and cure
may be a doctor's visit away.
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