News, ideas, and musings from the allergy world and beyond.
Please scroll down to view past entries.
June 27, 2010
Here is a product that would be quite useful for parents and their kids with serious allergies. An online company called Namebubbles.com provides durable, vinyl, waterproof allergy alert labels that stay firmly affixed to backpacks, lunchboxes, sippy cups, or any food container. Each label has room for more information that could include types of allergy, emergency phone numbers and what to do when allergy attack occurs.
Michelle Brandriss, the founder of the site, says, “Name Bubbles Allergy Labels are specially designed to give peace of mind to the parents of kids with life-threatening allergies. Knowing what my son needed to stay safe while in the care of others, helped us design our labels to fulfill not only our family’s needs, but also the similar needs of millions of families worldwide.” To learn more, visit here.
source: prweb.com
June 23, 2010
Yep, I know how this baby bear feels... but gee, wonder what triggered his sneezing fit! The bear looked pretty calm afterwards though, right? It reminds me that someone else may have worse allergic reaction than I and to take a lighthearted approach that would make annoying symptoms more tolerable.
June 20, 2010
It's great when I learn about a simple, inexpensive product that can be used in many practical ways. In the past, I've mentioned amazing ways we can utilize vinegar. Here I share with you another common product you've seen but likely unaware of its 40 different multi-tasking roles. Yup, that's right, 40! So, what is this fantastic stuff? It's your humble baking soda. Below are few ways it can be used that would benefit folks with allergy related conditions:
- Treat insect bites and itchy skin: For insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply as a salve onto affected skin. To ease the itch, shake some baking soda into your hand and rub it into damp skin after bath or shower. - Clean floors: Remove dirt and grime (without unwanted scratch marks) from no-wax and tile floors using 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water — mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor. For scuff marks, use baking soda on a clean damp sponge, then rinse. - Freshen sponges: Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of the mess (4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water). - Use as an antacid: Baking soda is a safe and effective antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach, and/or acid indigestion. Refer to baking soda package for instructions. - Make a hand cleanser and softener: Skip harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water or 3 parts baking soda with gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean.
Find out the rest of the 40 wonderful uses of baking soda here.
June 16, 2010
Have you ever had that annoying condition where your eyelid twitch? I have. It happens occasionally but once twitching starts, it can last several hours or even days, albeit, intermittently. I had some vague notion that fatigue and stress were the triggers for me. Then recently I learned that allergy may play a part in its occurrence as well. Great, don't we have enough symptoms to deal with already?! On the other hand, it's generally good to be informed as much as possible. So, what makes the eyelid twitch? This annoyingly common condition is known as eyelid myokymia. Not a lot is known about eye twitches, which are more likely to occur in the lower eyelid than in the upper, though they're probably caused by the misfiring of a nerve. But experts know that fatigue, stress, and caffeine all increase the likelihood of the pesky twitching. So do eyestrain, poor nutrition, excessive alcohol intake, and allergies. Fortunately, eye twitching is almost always benign and usually goes away by itself. To put an end to a bout of the eye flutters, cut down on coffee and alcohol and give your eyes--and your whole body--a good night's rest.
Source: Prevention Magazine
June 13, 2010
Food allergy has been a hot topic news lately. Studies indicate increase in the number of people who have food allergy. And yet, there seems to be various misconceptions about what food allergy is and whether one has it or not. OneSpot Allergy founder, Elizabeth Goldenberg, has a child with severe food allergies. In this educational video, she shares tips for parents to live safely with food allergies and anaphylaxis.
June 09, 2010
What we are NOT supposed to do with nasal sprays! (haha) Please use them responsibly.
June 04, 2010
Medical studies support the mind-body connection, which posits that physical health and well-being are directly related to emotional health. How and what we think - especially repetitively - have clear impact on our mood, behavior, and physical health. We also know we are creatures of habit. What we repeatedly say and do become automatic for us after a while. It's said that if you do something relatively simple with consistent repetition for about 21 days (or more for some people), that 'something' has become a natural, conditioned part of your life. So be careful what you think and do!
Understanding the power of repetition, I receive daily positive affirmations at 7 a.m. via email. Reciting them creates a subtle but important shift in my mental outlook. I start the day with calm, optimistic, and grateful attitude. Below is my daily affirmations:
- Life is getting better - Today I will let go of all fear - Good things are going to happen to me today - Today my intentions will create my reality - I am calm and in charge of my life - Today I will let go of all expectations - I am completely positive - Today I will be mindful of my awareness - I am grateful for all that I have - Today I will oppose nothing that occurs - I am happy being me - Today I will find my soul in the here and now - I can accomplish anything - I am appreciated by others - Today I say yes to life - My life is improving in every possible way
Remember, positive, healthy thoughts!
June 02, 2010
Good news for those of us who may be unhappy about our larger-than-average nose. It seems that the bigger nose creates greater barrier that stops airborne pollutants from being breathed in. Really? How do we know this? And someone would actually do a study about this? Well, yes, the researchers at the University of Iowa did. They created two artificial noses, one of which was 2.3 times larger than the other. Each was placed on an artificial head, which then 'drew' in air containing a range of particles. The results revealed 6.5 per cent fewer particles were taken in with the large nose. The theory is that more prominent facial features reduce 'aspiration efficiency' - but the plus side is that fewer germs are inhaled. "The nose sticks out and gives better protection to the mouth," explained Dr Renee Anthony, who led the study. "A big nose might lower the risk of being infected. It may work for pollen, too."
Interesting… can anyone support this theory from one’s own experience? In any case, it is a reason to be thankful and even be proud of what was given to us naturally, don't you think? Source: Daily Mail
First-Person Stories (June 2010)
Here is a product that would be quite useful for parents and their kids with serious allergies. An online company called Namebubbles.com provides durable, vinyl, waterproof allergy alert labels that stay firmly affixed to backpacks, lunchboxes, sippy cups, or any food container. Each label has room for more information that could include types of allergy, emergency phone numbers and what to do when allergy attack occurs.
- Treat insect bites and itchy skin: For insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply as a salve onto affected skin. To ease the itch, shake some baking soda into your hand and rub it into damp skin after bath or shower.
Medical studies support the mind-body connection, which posits that physical health and well-being are directly related to emotional health. How and what we think - especially repetitively - have clear impact on our mood, behavior, and physical health. We also know we are creatures of habit. What we repeatedly say and do become automatic for us after a while. It's said that if you do something relatively simple with consistent repetition for about 21 days (or more for some people), that 'something' has become a natural, conditioned part of your life. So be careful what you think and do!
