Is Your Cold Actually Allergies?
Autumn Allergy Season is Here and Biting
by www.SixWise.com
While most people know that spring is the prime time for allergies to flourish, many do not realize that sniffling, sneezing, congestion and wheezing in the fall may be due to allergies, not a cold.
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Allergy is the fifth leading chronic disease in the United States among all ages, and the third most common chronic disease among children under 18 years old, AAFA reports.
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"Unfortunately, seasonal allergies are not just about springtime. In some cities, the pollination of different plants, changing weather and other environmental factors can cause a greater impact for allergy sufferers during the fall than in the spring," said Derek Johnson, MD, an allergist at Temple University Medical Center and a medical advisor to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
Each year, AAFA conducts a research project to identify the 100 most challenging places to live with allergies in the United States in the spring and fall -- and their 2009 fall data is in. What did the survey say?
“There is no place safe from allergies in America, and some cities are more problematic than others,” AAFA says.
Their rankings are based on scientific analysis of three factors for the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S., including:
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Pollen scores (airborne grass/tree/weed pollen and mold spores)
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Number of allergy medications used per patient
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Number of allergy specialists per patient
They revealed the top 10 fall allergy capitals of 2009 to be:
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McAllen, TX
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Wichita, KS
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Louisville, KY
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Oklahoma City, OK
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Jackson, MS
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Dayton, OH
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Augusta, GA
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Tulsa, OK
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Knoxville, TN
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Little Rock, AR
Is it Allergies or a Cold?
It can be difficult to tell the difference between colds and allergies when temperatures fall, as common symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, post nasal drip and sneezing occur in both conditions.
So how can you determine which it is?
The only true way is to visit your physician for some allergy testing, but another fairly good indicator is itching. If you have itching in your eyes, nose, ears or throat it’s a sign of allergies … one that does not typically occur with a cold.
Likewise, body aches, fever and sore throat are common symptoms of a cold … but typically do not occur with allergies.
Also, while cold symptoms usually last only a few days to a week, allergy symptoms can last for an entire season!
A Simple Hygiene Solution to Ease Your Allergy Symptoms
We’ll list some preventive measures below that can help to keep your autumn allergies at bay, but we want to share a simple hygiene solution that can help ease your symptoms whether you’re suffering from allergies or a cold, and that is nasal cleansing using a neti pot.
Neti, has been a common wellness practice of Ayurveda, the ancient healing system from India, for thousands of years and is actually one of the six purification techniques done by many prior to doing yoga and many Muslims do it before going to prayer.
But this practice is quickly gaining many modern-day followers across the globe, simply because of how good it feels. Some even keep their neti pot next to their toothbrush and cleanse their sinuses twice a day, just like brushing their teeth.
Nasal cleansing, also known as nasal irrigation, involves using a neti pot to pour a lukewarm saline solution (pure water mixed with natural salt) inside one side of your nostril while tilting your head sideways so the water runs out of your other nostril. This cleansing helps to reduce dust, pollen and other allergens in your nasal passages.
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Clear Your Nasal Passages
and Breathe Freely!
Regular nasal irrigation cleansing can help keep your sinuses clear of irritants, and modern studies show they are as effective at drugs for preventing sinus infections.
Ancient Secrets Nasal Cleansing Pot:
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Regular neti pot users often report that nasal cleansing relieves nasal allergy and sinus symptoms even better than over-the-counter medications.
There are many neti pots on the market, however Sixwise.com highly recommends Ancient Secrets Nasal Cleansing Pot and nasal cleansing salts. It is made from sturdy, lead-free ceramic and coated with a food-grade sealant. Its unique design also makes it very easy and effective to use, plus it’s dishwasher safe.
Ancient Secrets Neti Pot has a truly advanced design with easy-grip handle and better nozzle seal. It’s also balanced for ease of use with a concave grip for more assured control, and a better water chamber for less mess and easier cleaning.
Ancient Secrets Neti Pot is also available in a plastic travel model crafted from sturdy food-grade HDPE lead-free plastic. We highly recommend using the ceramic Neti pot at home and taking the plastic version along with you when you travel.
Right now, for a very limited time, we’re able to offer Ancient Secrets Neti Pot and Cleansing Salts at a reduced price for start of the winter season.
"Very Reduced Prices" on Ancient Secrets Neti Pots and Cleansing Salts
10 Top Tips to Prevent Autumn Allergy Flare-Ups
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Keep your windows closed to keep pollen out (this is especially important from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. when plants release most of their pollen). This includes while you’re driving.
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Use your air conditioner instead of opening windows, and ideally use an air conditioner that has an allergy-reducing HEPA filter in it.
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The Largely Unknown Key to Keeping Allergens Out of Your Indoor Air? Waterhog Grand Premier Mats and Rugs
Every step you take into your home presents an opportunity for allergens to get in, and those allergens are circulated in the air you breathe. That's why The Waterhog Grand Premier Mats and Rugs, placed strategically around your home at entranceways and highly trafficked areas, are essential to keeping your home air clean!
These premier decorative mats and rugs:
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Keep Dirt and Liquids Beneath Shoe Level
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Dry Very Fast and Resist Corrosion
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Won't Slip
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Last Much Longer Than Other Mats
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Are Simple to Clean
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Are Attractive and Affordable
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Can be used Indoors or Outdoors
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Come in a Variety of Colors & Sizes
Learn Why You Should Avoid Other Mats, Why The Waterhog Grand Premier Mats are Superior!
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Check the daily pollen and mold counts (AAAAI's National Allergy Bureau has daily pollen counts for locations across the country, as does Pollen.com. If counts are high, stay indoors as much as possible. Also stay indoors if it's windy, as dust and pollen will be blown about.
When pollen and mold counts are high, spend more time indoors.
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Wash your bedding once a week in hot water to help get rid of dust mites and other allergy triggers. Even better, throw in a 100% Hypoallergenic Static Eliminator Reusable Dryer Sheet with your dryer load to take static cling out and soften fabric -- without any toxic and potentially allergenic chemicals
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Clean your home frequently to reduce pollen, mold, dust and other allergens. Hospital-Grade Microfiber Mops, Dusters, Towels and more, which are used by leading hospitals and other health care organizations, is ideal for this. Rather than just pushing dust around, or worse, stirring it up into the air, Hospital-Grade Microfiber EasyGrip Mop and Flexible Duster are made with positively charged ultramicrofibers that pick up everything in their path -- including dust and all of its microscopic attachments.
And now for a limited time you can get phenomenal pricing on our line of Hospital-Grade Ultramicrofiber Cleaning Tools. Prices have been slashed significantly -- but only until November 1!
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If you spend time outside, change your clothes and wash your hair when you come inside to remove pollen and other allergens. Be sure you are washing your hair and body with a non-irritating natural product like Enviro-Rite Hair-Body Wash, which is designed by and for people with allergies, asthma and chemical sensitivities. Also resist the temptation to hang your clothes out in the sun to dry. When you bring them inside, they'll be covered in pollen and mold.
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Filter your home's air -- many allergic reactions are triggered by airborne particles. Sixwise highly recommends the PIONAIR Air Treatment System, as unlike most air purifiers, the PIONAIR™ Air Treatment System doesn't wait for pollutants to contact a filter or plate. Instead, the PIONAIR generates air-purifying technology that migrates through the area and neutralizes organic odors, microbes, & molds at their source. As a result, the PIONAIR produces fresh clean air throughout your home uniformly, by addressing the pollutant source -- without the use of fans, filters, or plates!
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Have someone else mow your lawn. Cutting the grass will expose you to a host of pollens and molds (the same goes for raking leaves in the fall).
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Wipe off surfaces you touch often. Surfaces such as computer keyboards, countertops, furniture, door handles and appliances can be loaded with allergens. When you touch these areas, the allergens are transferred to your hands and then likely to your eyes, nose and mouth, potentially worsening your symptoms. Giving these areas a quick wipe with Hospital-Grade Microfiber Terry Cloths will keep all types of allergens to a minimum with a limited time offer of over 66% OFF.
For extra convenience try the Hosptial-Grade Microfiber Scrub & Clean Reversible Glove. Was $34.74 Now Only $22.50. This glove fits almost all hand sizes and has a reversible Scrub & Clean glove attached to the palm that provides a larger, more efficient cleaning surface. Cleaning professionals in hospitals, schools and other commercial organizations have raved about this innovative design because it is so remarkably fast and efficient.
Regularly vacuuming your home is also important.
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An astounding 85 percent of household "dirt" is carried into your house from the outside, so strategically placing high-quality mats in highly trafficked areas like entrances can dramatically reduce the amount of dirt, dust and allergens that are tracked into your home (and spread via your indoor air).
It is key to use the right type of mats -- AVOID cotton, coir and other fibers, and wood and metal mats, as they can increase versus help the problem. The Waterhog Grand Premier mats are our top-recommended choice for a "healthy" mat (that also looks great!).
Recommended Reading
The Four Most Dangerous Allergies and How to Prevent Them
How to Overcome America’s Most Overlooked Disease: Allergies
Sources
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Fall Allergy Capitals 2009
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Allergy Facts and Figures
About.com Allergies