Spring Allergies Got You Down?

April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers bring...sneezes?

For those allergy sufferers out there, May is often viewed with mixed emotions. While the end of cold weather and snow is certainly welcomed, it is often coupled with the inevitable bouts of sneezing, watery eyes and allergy medication haze. May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month and CleanBrands, creators of The World's Cleanest Pillow, believes that, with a few small changes, you can help alleviate allergy symptoms without swallowing a single pill.

"The inspiration for our products was really just a parent's concern for the health of their child," said Gary Goldberg, founder and Chief Innovation Officer of CleanBrands, the makers of CleanRest(R). "When we were told that the cause of my oldest child's breathing problems was most likely indoor allergens, I set out to build the proverbial 'better mousetrap.'"

Along with seasonal allergies, many people - about 20 million Americans - suffer from what is called "indoor allergies." The major trigger of indoor allergies is the common dust mite, a microscopic creature measuring one quarter of a millimeter. Dust mites have no developed respiratory system and no eyes, and spend their lives eating, reproducing and eliminating waste products. It is their waste products, not the mites themselves, which cause allergic reactions.

While having dust mites does not mean your house isn't clean, keeping your house as allergen-free as possible can improve your indoor air quality. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) believes that controlling the air quality in your home, office, school and car can reduce allergy and asthma triggers which includes controlling cockroaches, avoiding mold spores, preventing entry of pollen by keeping windows and doors closed, preventing animal dander, vacuuming one or twice a week, and controlling dust mites.