Submitted by hareyan on Jun 27th, 2007
Pet Allergies
Pet owners can conquer their allergies with new environmental control technologies like Allergy Armor Ultra bedding, the Pet Machine air purifier, and the Dyson DC17 Animal vacuum cleaner.
Pet dander consists of microscopic flakes of dead skin that cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive. Cat dander in particular is a notorious allergy trigger (allergen) because it is so lightweight and sticky.
"I have two long-haired cats, and my boyfriend actually had to move out and get another apartment because his allergies were so bad every morning," says Erin Primavera of Atlanta, GA. "Now that I have Allergy Armor Ultra on my bed, he can stay at my place with no problems."
Featured in the June 2007 issue of Women's Health magazine, Allergy Armor Ultra zips up to entirely encase mattresses and pillows, forming a barrier that is impenetrable to allergens. Allergens are microscopic, but the pores in the fabric are even smaller.
Medical literature recommends allergy relief bedding with an average pore size of less than 10 microns to effectively block out dust mite allergen. (For comparison, a strand of hair measures about 70 microns in diameter.) Pet dander, however, is often much smaller than 10 microns.
Allergy Armor Ultra was developed with allergic pet owners in mind and has the smallest average pore size in the industry at 2.8 microns. A special finishing process known as calendaring shrinks the fabric's pores using heat and pressure.
"As someone who's allergic to pets and dust mites, I'm proud to offer our customers the best allergy relief bedding available," says P. Cade McDonald, founder and CEO of achoo! ALLERGY & AIR Products, Inc., the company that developed Allergy Armor.
"But even with Allergy Armor Ultra on the bed, allergy sufferers should make bedrooms off-limits to pets," advises McDonald.
Pet dander can float in the air for hours at a time. That's where the Pet Machine air purifier comes into play.
Developed by Austin Air Systems, the Pet Machine has a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter that's guaranteed to trap 99.97% of all airborne particles 0.3 microns or smaller. The air purifier also contains a customized carbon blend filter geared toward the elimination of ammonia-based pet odors.
The Dyson DC17 Animal vacuum cleaner also features a HEPA filter. Vacuum cleaners without HEPA filtration simply stir up microscopic allergens and pollute the air. The DC17 employs Level 3 Root Cyclone technology to spin pet dander, hair, dust, and other allergens out of carpet.
"I don't know what I'd do without my Dyson Animal," says Primavera. "I've been through several vacuum cleaners since I got my cats, and I think the Dyson Animal is the best for pet owners -- especially if they're allergic to pet dander or live with somebody who is."
"All pet owners, not just allergic pet owners, should consider investing in Allergy Armor Ultra, an air purifier, and a HEPA vacuum cleaner," says Scott Smith, director of marketing at achoo! ALLERGY. "Adult-onset allergies often develop after prolonged exposure to a specific allergen, even if the person has never had allergies before, so it's important to take preventative measures.
"And a recent study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology shows that cat dander in the home clearly increases the risk of allergic sensitization for young children."
Source:
achooallergy.com