Those who suffer from indoor allergens (dust mites, mold, pet dander) or irritants (smoke, perfume) may want to consider using a home air purifier to clear surrounding air of indoor allergens and other nasty impurities.

So how do you know what kind of home air purifier to purchase? There’s a gazillion models to choose from! First of all, you need to know that there’s two types available.

1. HEPA Home Air Purifiers
HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. Basically what this means is that the purifier contains a HEPA filter which removes particles of a certain size from the air. In order to be classified as HEPA, a filter must capture a minimum of 99.97% of pollutants at 0.3 microns or larger. In other words, the smaller the size of the pollutant the filter can capture, the better. This translates into less pollutants in the air.

2. Electrostatic and Charged Media Purifiers
These purifiers are known as less effective and place an electrical charge on dust particles as they pass through the filter although they can have some benefits when compared to HEPA. However, some of these purifiers emit ozone which can be cause for concern, especially to those who suffer from asthma.

No matter what type of home air purifier you choose, there’s a few factors to keep in mind when choosing which model to buy. On a piece of paper write down answers to the following questions. This will help narrow down the choices.

1. What kind of pollutant are you trying to eliminate?
Some models focus on fumes while others focus on eliminating allergens.

2. What size area are you trying to cover?
Make sure to select a model that will cover the square footage of the room where you intend to use it.

3. ACH Rating (Air Changes Per Hour) and CADR Rating (Clean Air Delivery Rate)
These numbers let you know how frequently the home air purifier can exhange all the air in a given room and  much of that air is actually purified.

4. Filter Information
How often will you need to change the filter? How much do new filters cost?

5. Other Important Issues
Don’t forget about other important issues like cost, reputation of the manufacturer, warrantly information, energy usage, ozone emission, noise levels, and extra features.

To view a large selection of home air purifiers please CLICK HERE. If you purchase a home air purifier using this link you’ll receive FREE SHIPPING and a $20 Gift Certificate which you can later use when it’s time to buy more filters for your new purifier!

© 2007 Amanda K. Jones

The real problem is proteins contained in the pet’s saliva, dander, and urine. And despite what many breeders and pet stores try to tell you, some dog breeds are NOT better for people with asthma and allergies. There is no such thing as a “hypoallergenic” pet. This is simply a marketing gimmick and nothing else.

All dog breeds have dander, saliva, and urine. So one particular breed is not better than another. Allergies are as unique as the individuals that suffer from them.

Here’s some tips to help minimize the amount of pet allergens in your home. Remember, it’s not the hair, it’s the proteins.

• Don’t groom your pet indoors. If possible, brush and bathe your pet outdoors. When your pet is bathed or groomed, dander spreads like wildfire. Keep it out of your house altogether and you’ll be much happier. Obviously, the person doing the bathing and grooming should not be the one allergic to the pet! But this shouldn’t be used as an excuse for not properly taking care of your pet’s hygiene. Studies find a significant reduction in the amount of pet allergens when dogs are bathed weekly but there’s little evidence yet that bathing works as well for cats.
• Wash your hands every time you touch your pet.
• Feed a high-quality diet. The definition of “high-quality” varies among pet experts but whatever you feed make sure your pet has a nice healthy coat. The right diet can minimize hair loss, reducing dander indoors. Talk to your vet about possibly supplementing your pet’s diet with something like DermCaps or 3V Caps.
• Try Allerpet. This is a solution applied to your pet. The Allerpet website is very useful and contains a brochure if you’d to learn more about this product.
• Make sure your dog is housebroken and clean litterboxes often. Urine contains allergy-causing proteins that when dry, float into the air and into your nose.

With a little effort, it’s possible to KEEP YOUR PET and GET RID OF YOUR ALLERGIES. Giving your pet up for adoption should be your last option–even though it will be your doctor’s first.

© Amanda K. Jones 2007

Before we get on with exploring available allergy relief, it becomes important to know the types of allergies that commonly affect us.

Types of Allergies

Broadly speaking, there are only three types of allergies, which affect us commonly. These include:

· Food allergies – Adults are mainly vulnerable to shellfish including crayfish, shrimp, and lobster; sometimes eating peanuts which manifest in the form of severe anaphylaxis (sudden drop of blood pressure,) which if not taken care off, could lead to loss of life. Adults can’t get rid of allergies. Children are differently affected by food and eggs, milk and chocolates are the common allergens that affect them.

· Inhalant allergies – Pets, dust mites, outdoor air pollutants like pollens are the chief allergens. Formaldehydes, molds, occupational allergies etc fall under this category. The most common manifestation is bronchitis and asthma. Symptoms include inflammation, sputum secretion and contraction of respiratory system resulting in loss of breath.

· Contact allergies – Chemicals and fumes, insect bites, allergic contact eczema, leather are the triggers. Symptoms include redness, itchy, deep blisters, scaly patches and weepy skin.

Allergy Relief

Allergy relief is both by preventive and medication methods. Of course one finds resorting to medication provides fast relief but preventive relief is always a preferred choice.

Preventive Allergy Relief

Parents of allergic children and adult allergic patients must find out the allergens that trigger the symptoms. Physicians can guide you locate them exactly. Preventing the allergens like foods for which you have a fetish can be too tough in comparison to avoiding dust which is to bronchitis.

Here are some useful quick tips

Food allergies

· Medical examination is critical for pinpointing the exact allergen
· Maintain a diary of eating habits and your symptoms
· Get clarified what food intolerances and poisoning are to avoid problems
· Scrutinize food ingredients’ labels before using

Inhalant allergies

· Avoid or minimize carpets and upholstered furnitures
· Keep home neat and tidy to avoid dust; a vacuum cleaner helps best
· Woolen blankets, pets, window grills, slots and cluttered corners are dust attractants take good care of them
· Using damp mops to floor cleaning prevents dust from flying
· Use air purifiers like HEPA filters, germicidal UV lights, activated carbon or electrostatic air filters which remove allergens to a finest degree.

Medication for allergy relief must be administered by doctors depending on the severity of symptoms.

By: NamSing Then -

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NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Allergy Treatment, Diet and One Stop Information

For this reason, the typical allergy symptom will be akin to that which occurs when the body attempts to fight off a cold or flu, such as watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing. Common substances that elicit this overreaction include pet dander, tree and grass pollen, cigarette smoke, insect stings, certain foods, and just about any other item that the human body can come into contact with. However, some allergic responses can go far beyond what normally occurs when the body is fighting a pathogenic invader. Many food allergies, with the peanut allergy being one of the most common, can cause a massive immune system response in certain individuals that can cause such severe swelling that the individual may not be able to breathe.

These massive allergic reactions can even be fatal. Fortunately for allergy sufferers, there are a number of allergy relief medicine options that can be used to treat the disorder with varying degrees of success.

Most allergies are caused by the chemical histamine, which works to expel particles from the body via increased nasal and eye secretions as well as through sneezing and coughing. That is why the most common class of allergy medications are known as antihistamines, since they serve to block or inhibit the activity of histamine. Many sufferers of mild allergies can find relief over the counter since many antihistamine drugs are available without a prescription.

For those who can not find allergy relief through over the counter medication, a trip to the doctor is necessary. There are a number of things that a physician can do to help. A number of powerful prescription based medications based on antihistamines can help. Others may require the use of more powerful drugs such as steroids. Steroid allergy treatments are typically administered via an injection or through a nasal spray or mist.

For those who do not find relief from any of the allergy medication that their physician described, the next step is usually to visit an allergy specialist. An allergist usually would put the patient through a number of tests to try to localize the substance that is causing the allergic reactions to occur.

Once isolated, it may be possible to either treat the allergies more effectively by tailoring the medications that are used or by simply having the patient avoid all contact with the substance. Another option is to use gradual exposures to the allergen in order to gradually decrease the degree to which the patient is allergic to the substance.

About the Author

Dustin Cannon is owner of JustArticlesVIP.com and writes on a variety of subjects. To learn more about this topic Dustin recommends you visit: Good Medicine RX

Research and surveys have shown that the number of allergy sufferers world wide is on the increase. In a recent U.S. survey it was found that fifty-four percent of Americans are allergic to at least one pathogen. That’s over half of all Americans surveyed! Consumer demand has demanded better products and the industry has responded. Air purifiers were once expensive to buy, cumbersome and difficult to operate and maintain. Now though, a wide variety of less expensive and easy to maintain air purifiers are available and most importantly, they actually perform quite well.

Dust mites, human hair and shedding skin can all contribute to allergies. Many people have suffered for years not even knowing that the bed they slept in was the source of their misery. Now though allergy resistant sheets covers and pillow cases can bring relief and peaceful sleep to those who suffer from those allergies. allergy resistant fabrics also bring relief inside the home. Drapes and bed covers and carpeting are all available made entirely of allergy resistant fabrics. For allergy sufferers the fabrics that are so necessary to every day living can also bring misery. allergy resistant fabrics end the suffering.

Allergy sufferers who are chemically sensitive life can be pure hell. We live in a world of chemicals. For them the adage (better living through chemistry) is truly a farce. For many chemically sensitive people their home has become a torture chamber. Allergy resistant paint and chemicals of all sorts are now available that can free them from their misery. These products actually work very well and the money spent on these products is money invested well. The price has come down as quality has gone up on allergy resistant products. Now chemically sensitive people have the option of living a free and normal life.

If you are an allergy sufferer. No matter what you are allergic to there now is help. There is a wide range of products available and chances are there is something there you can use. Some allergy resistant products operate by helping your body cope with whatever it is you are allergic to while others effectively limit or eliminate all together whatever it is you are alergic to from your immediate environment. Many people have found it difficult to completely eliminate allergens from their whole home but have been very successful in creating an allergy safe room in their house. An allergy free zone to retreat to find relief if it is needed.

On the medical front great strides have been made in allergy relief products. A broader understanding of allergies and how pathogens effect the allergy sufferers has paved the way for new and better products. There are natural products available that for many people who have tried them appear to work. The medical establishment for years collectively scoffed at herbal remedies and now the facts speak for themselves. Herbal remedies for some people do work. It is up to each individual allergy sufferer to seek out what is best for them as there is no cure all. What works for one may not work for another but their is help out there.