Tips for Turning an Allergy Sufferer into a Morning Person! #EyesonVISINE

This post on tips for allergy relief has been written as part of a compensated campaign for The Motherhood.  We also received sample VISINE®-A® Multi-Action Eye Allergy Relief drops to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are our own.

In our household, 4 out of 5 members suffer from seasonal allergies.  As much as I think it's difficult to be a 40 year old suffering from such severe allergy symptoms, I think it may be even tougher on an active energetic child.  Our 10 year old son, for example, has suffered from allergies since a very early age.  Although he was never really a morning person, itchy, burning, and blurry eyes caused by a reaction to allergens throughout the night make it even more difficult for our son to rise and shine.

When I found out that VISINE-A eye drops were safe for children 6 years and older, I urged our son to try them.  We had tried regular lubricating eye drops on his eyes in the past and found that they didn't make enough of a difference to continue using them.  I have to say that he was so surprised at what a huge difference VISINE-A made the first day he used them that he mentioned it to me several times throughout the morning.  I think the difference is that VISINE-A Eye Allergy Relief Eye Drops combines an antihistamine with a redness reliever, making it far more effective than standard eye drops.  Our son only requires one drop in each eye to get relief from his allergy symptoms.  It's amazing what a difference that one tiny drop makes in his morning.

If you feel like your allergy symptoms are worse at bedtime or first thing in the morning, here are a few tips on things you can do to keep allergens from landing on and around your eyes throughout the night . . .

• Wash and change your bed linens frequently, especially your pillow cases.
• Keep windows shut to keep the allergens out of your bedroom.
• Run the air conditioner when it's hot or the air purifier when it's not to help filter allergens out of the air.
• Vacuum and dust often to stay on top of dust mites and pet allergens in your bedroom.
• If you are allergic to dust mites, put allergy-proof covers over your mattress and pillows.
• Try to keep pets out of the bed or the bedroom (we have yet to achieve this)

It's no fun to wake up in a cloud and it's scary to learn that 1 in 5 Americans suffer from allergies.  It's even scarier that allergies are the 3rd most common chronic disease among Americans who are 18 years old or younger. For more allergy season tips and tricks or to find special offers to save on Visine products, visit www.Visine.com.

Getting Ready for Spring Allergies with a Holmes HAP726-U True HEPA Allergen Remover

My wife and I have fairly acute seasonal allergies. All 4 seasons it seems sometimes! When we had the opportunity to try a new HEPA air purifier we were excited to try it as we are always looking to improve our home's air quality.

We received a Holmes HAP726-U True HEPA Allergen Remover for medium to large room to try.  The HAP726 (17-3/4" x 9-1/4" x 18-2/3") is much smaller than our previous air cleaner and its shape is easier to integrate into the room. The old machine is nearly half the size of a barrel of oil and round, not an easy shape to place.

The HAP726 is sleek and features a digital read out with a timer to help save electricity when you aren't home. Set the timer and, even if you forget, it will eventually turn itself off.

The fan inside the HAP726 is HUGE and so is the air intake, the surface area of the filter media is gigantic allowing for maximum filtration. The unit has 4 speeds, from quiet for sleeping to jet like force to clean a room fast. We comfortably have been running ours at the second level, which offers a decent balance between air flow and quiet.

The HEPA filter media is infused with Arm & Hammer to help with odors and the unit comes with additional carbon inserts as a bonus.

Overall the HEPA726 is a great unit, tons of air flow, easy to operate, and fits into a room easily. Although I always feel my allergies, I haven't felt the severe symptoms I usually feel this time of year. I am less congested and I haven't had an allergy induced headache since we have been running the unit. I would certainly recommend the HAP726 as a result.

The Holmes HAP726-U True HEPA Allergen Remover retails for $99.99.  To learn more about this and other Holmes air purifiers and filters, visit www.HolmesProducts.com.


Thank you to Jarden Consumer Solutions for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Tips For Reducing Allergens in the Home

Three out of five members of our household display clear symptoms of allergies all year round.  Of course, the allergy symptoms (i.e. sinus congestion, headaches, earaches, sneezing, post-nasal drip, soar throats, etc . . . ) are the worst during the warm weather seasons.  We do take some steps to reduce the amount of airborne allergens in our home, but I have recently learned that we can do much more.

What we usually do is leave an air purifier on 24/7 in our bedroom where our three cats most often convene.  We should really have one or two more throughout the house, but we do not have the extra space in our little shoe box of a townhouse.

We also leave a dehumidifier on in the basement year round.  Our basement has flooded more than once and I am always worried about the amount of mold that must be down there.  We also no longer use a warm-mist vaporizer for the children at night.

According to Dr. Alanna Levine, maintaining a healthier home is as easy as ABC . . .

Avoid products filled with down, excessive use of perfume, powder, hair spray, air fresheners, scented fabric softeners, or anything else that has a strong odor.

Balance the air quality in your home by closing the windows and using air conditioning to keep the pollen out.  Also buy only washable plush toys, so that they can be washed in hot water often.

Change your air filters every 3 months and use high quality allergen-reducing air filters like those from Filtrete.

Another point that Dr. Levine made is that we should fix any leaking faucets or pipes.  We actually have a leaky faucet we have been neglecting and it never occurred to me that it could cause the development of mold.

If you have any tips about ways to reduce allergens in the home, please do share them with us.  Sometimes I feel like I am fighting a losing battle when it comes to allergies.

To learn more about how to improve the air quality in your home and about the Filtrete Clear Advantages program, visit Filtrete.com.


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Filtrete and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Review: SmartSilk Asthma & Allergy Friendly Pillow Protectors

I have mentioned in the past that I suffer from different allergies all year round. A little over a year ago, I began experiencing asthma-like symptoms for 4 to 6 weeks at a time. I do not have asthma, but I do have an inhaler for when my allergies get to this stage. The worst symptom I experience is coughing. My throat closes up and is also irritated by post-nasal drip. The coughing is always worse when I lay down at night. Sometimes I will cough for one to two hours before it calms down and I can fall asleep. That is why I welcomed the chance to try out this allergy and asthma friendly pillow protector from SmartSilk.

I would be lying if I told you I was not a tiny bit skeptical about how much this SmartSilk pillow protector would help me, especially when my symptoms are severe. I have used it now for well over a month and it has reduced my symptoms quite a bit. My coughing has not completely disappeared when I first lay down, but it will last for only a few minutes. One of the things I try to do to stop my coughing is to breathe through my nose only because breathing through my mouth irritates my cough. This is difficult to do when I have nasal congestion, but I have noticed that I have had very little of this since I switched to the SmartSilk pillow protector. I am able to regulate my breathing much more easily and I have also noticed that my throat is not as constricted.

This pillow protector retails for $35 to $45 depending on the size you require. It can be used right under a regular pillowcase and is still effective at keeping away dust mites. I am extremely pleased that the protector is easy to care for and we can just throw it into the washing machine and dryer. It is also well-made and I like that the zipper is mostly hidden for a nicer appearance and for better comfort.

SmartSilk also offers asthma and allergy friendly pillows, mattress pads, duvets, and crib bedding. To learn more about the benefits of SmartSilk bedding or to view their full line of products, visit SmartSilk.com and the SmartSilk blog.

Thank you to SmartSilk for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Tips For a Healthier Cleaner Home

Three out of the five members of our household suffer from allergies caused by airborne allergens. My mother says we simply need to keep the house clean from top to bottom all the time. Easier said than done, right?

I find it helpful to use whatever tools technology offers to help keep the house free of mold, bacteria, dust mites, pollen, and more. We use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and I use a UV-C air purifier in our bedroom. Other tools you can use are filters, such as Filtrete air filtration products, for your forced-air heat or cooling systems. I have noticed an increase in allergy symptoms the few times we have had to use our air conditioner this spring, so I am going to look into replacing our air conditioner filters.

Here are some tips from Laura Dellutri, the author of The Overworked Mom’s Stress Free Home Keeping, to help you clean your home in an organized manner. This list is designed to help you to avoid overlooking some important areas.

Start at the Top: Ceiling fans, tall mantles and bookshelves, and the tops of door frames tend to subscribe to the “out of sight, out of mind” motto. These areas often harbor dust, so it’s important to wipe them down regularly to help remove dust buildup. Start at the top and work your way down, collecting all of the dust and dirt that falls to the floor while you’re cleaning.

Wipe Down Windows and Walls: Don't clean windows the old fashioned way – newspaper can cause ink residue and paper towels leave lint behind. Your best bet is to use microfiber cleaning cloths and a professional window squeegee to get a streak-free, spotless shine. To prevent streaks on shower doors and walls, apply lemon oil to the door twice a month. This will help repel soap scum and shampoo, while also adding a nice shine.

Think Horizontally: Dust mites are nearly everywhere. In fact, the American Lung Association estimates that roughly four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at least one bed. Reduce dust mites by encasing your mattress and pillows, and wash your bedding in hot water about once a week. Also, since dust mites are microscopic, place strips of duct tape on the mattress case to prevent the dust mites from sneaking through.

Clean the In-between: While cleaning what you can see, don’t forget to clean what you can’t see – the air you breathe. Use a high performance air filter in the home, such as the Filtrete 1” Ultimate Allergen Reduction filter from 3M, to help capture particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mite debris and pet dander from the air that passes through the filter. Be sure to change your filter at the start of every season, or every three months.

Freeze the Fur: Stuffed animals can harbor dust mites so it’s important to pay special attention to them. Place stuffed animals in a large plastic bag and freeze them for four to five hours. Remove them from the freezer and plastic bag, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove any leftover dust particles.

Finish With Floors: To keep floors in tip-top shape, vacuum and clean them weekly. You can easily make your own floor cleaner by adding a few drops of mild liquid dish detergent to a gallon of water. Hot water can break down floor finishes after time so use water that is barely warm. Finally, don’t forget to clean the floor under large pieces of furniture, which may require you to temporarily move them elsewhere. Corners of rooms and the back of closets often are overlooked, so be sure to clean these areas as well.

Trashcans: Trashcans should be cleaned monthly using a chlorine bleach and water solution. Simply combine one cup of non-chlorine bleach for every three gallons of water and pour the solution into the trashcan. Swish the solution around in the trashcan, and wait about five minutes for the chlorine to kick in and kill the germs.

Refrigerators: Cleaning the refrigerator monthly will improve the safety and quality of your food. If you are tired of cleaning spills and food particles from your refrigerator, then cover shelves with washable shelf liners. They will catch most of the food spillage, and will make cleanup quicker and easier. Once a month, throw them in the dishwasher for a good cleaning, and then place them back in the refrigerator once they are dry.

Sinks: Since bacteria can accumulate in cracks and crevices, pay extra attention to these areas when disinfecting. Also, stainless steel sinks can be tough to clean and can look spotty due to water spots and lime build up. To keep the sink shiny, use a soft buffing wheel to restore the luster. Then, use a cloth to generously apply mineral oil to the sink. Water will bead up and roll off the sink, keeping it shiny and helping prevent spots.

You can sign-up for the Filtrete newsletter, which sends tips for keeping your house cleaner throughout the year right to your inbox. There is also a free service that sends you an email reminder to change your filters. Click on the following link to receive a printable mail-in-rebate good for $4 off Filtrete Air Cleaning Filters. You can find Filtrete products at major retailers, such as Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, Target, and Amazon.com .

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Filtrete and received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Giveaway & Review: HALLS Cough Drops For Allergy Symptom Relief [CLOSED]

Although there is nothing funny about suffering from allergies, I always joke that I should own stock in HALLS because I rely on them so much for allergy relief all year round. A little over a year ago, I began to experience asthma-like symptoms. I would have a chronic cough, which caused me to wheeze and have shortness of breath, several weeks at a time. I truly thought I had caught pneumonia, but the doctor said it was just allergies. Luckily I do not have asthma, but unluckily I do experience some of its symptoms.

There are only a handful of things that help open my airway and relieve my violent coughing almost immediately. One thing is Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia Ice Cream. I've tried other brands of ice cream and they did not work. Another thing is an inhaler prescribed by my doctor. I stopped using it because it only stopped my cough for a period of two seconds. After that brief moment of relief, I would start hacking and wheezing again. HALLS is something I've learned to keep on hand because it actually is an oral anesthetic. It helps my throat to stop feeling so closed up and allows me to catch my breath. The menthol really helps with that as well. I keep it in my desk drawer and in my purse at all times.

The most effective variety of HALLS for me is the Honey-Lemon. Unfortunately, I cannot find it in the large bags, so we always pick up the bag of Cherry HALLS, which contains 80 drops.

You are invited to visit HALLS on Facebook to sign up for savings on HALLS products. You can also visit GetHalls.com to see which HALLS product is the right one for your particular allergy symptoms.

Thank you to HALLS for sending us cough drop samples free of charge to base this review upon and for providing additional product for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive an assortment of HALLS cough drops.

Limitations:

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Leave a comment telling me what the worst allergy symptom it is that you or a family member or a friend suffers from. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

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Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, June 7th, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Review: Xlear Saline Nasal Spray with Xylitol

My husband, my 6yr old son, and I are people who suffer from allergies all year round. Spring is the time of year when we all have the most severe symptoms and it seems as if every year our springtime allergies are worse than the year prior. Out of the 3 of us, I am the only one who develops asthma-like symptoms as a result of my allergies. My husband's allergies trigger migraine headaches and our son's nose is constantly stuffy and he is prone to nosebleeds.

We have used regular saline drops for our son since he was an infant, but we never did start using them for ourselves. My husband is able to use a neti pot-style irrigation wash, but it is just too uncomfortable for me. I was much more willing to try the Xlear Nasal Mist. Starting off with just one pump in each nostril was not too traumatizing. It did feel like I got a little water up my nose from swimming, so there was that mildly uncomfortable feeling.

Although this product did moisturize my nasal passages and stopped that "strep" nose feeling, it did make me feel like I had constant postnasal drip for quite some time, which irritates my throat and causes an asthma-like cough. My husband, who does not having this issue with coughing, was able to use the mist without any problems. It did not even bother his sensitive gag reflex.

We also used the Kid's Xlear on our son, which is safe for children as young as infants. It is difficult to tell how well it worked. I can only say that it worked at least as well as the plain saline drops we have always used on him. This product was effective at washing out his nasal passages, helping any dried debris come out, and preventing nosebleeds.

The Xlear nasal products are all natural and only contain purified water, saline, grapefruit seed extract, and their unique ingredient Xylitol. This ingredient, in conjunction with the saline, helps nasal passages remain moisturized for a longer period of time than saline alone.

You can purchase these products right on Xlear.com or in stores, such as Whole Foods and the Vitamin Shoppe.

Thank you to Xlear for sending us product samples free of charge to base this review upon.

Giveaway & Review: EARDOC Ear Pain Remedy [CLOSED]

Aapproximately four years ago, I developed my first ear infection ever. At the time, I was undergoing treatment for something else, which prevented me from taking any medication for the pain. I never had any idea how painful and ear infection could be until I experienced it for myself. The pain shot from my ear all the way down the side of my neck. It hurt too much to even talk or chew food. I hope my children never have to experience such pain.

Since I came down with that ear infection years ago, I have become very susceptible to ear pain during cold and allergy seasons . . . in other words, all year round. Sometimes the pain is so intense that I wonder if I've come down with another infection, but usually the pain subsides eventually. "Eventually" can be a long time and can seem like forever when you're in pain, so I welcomed the chance to test out the EARDOC and to see if it can be an effective remedy for ear pain.

The EARDOC works by opening the Eustachian tube enough to relieve the pressure of any trapped fluid or gas caused by colds, allergies, swimming, diving, and flying. I invite you to watch the video at the bottom of my review, as it illustrates this concept nicely.



What I thought about the EARDOC:

1) As someone who gets nervous using cotton swabs in my children's ears, I like that the EARDOC is non-invasive. This is an important feature for those using the EARDOC on someone else.

2) I like that it only takes 2 AA batteries, so the cost of operating the EARDOC is not very high.


3) The EARDOC provides me with some immediate relief when experiencing ear pain, even when used on a low setting. (Please keep in mind that it can be different for everybody.) How much relief depends on the level of the congestion and varies for each application.

4) When the EARDOC is on, it does vibrate and makes a vibrating noise just slightly louder than a vibrating mobile phone. It does not bother me as an adult and I think that small children could become accustomed to it. It would take time getting used to since it is placed right against the back of the ear on the bone.

If you suffer from chronic ear pain as I do, I think it is worth trying the EARDOC. It can be used up to six times per day for people age 2 up to adulthood. This is a good alternative for people who are not fans of using medication for their ear pain and can act as a supplement for relief to those who are.


Thank you to EARDOC for providing us with both a review product and a contest prize free of charge.



What you can win:
One lucky reader will win an EARDOC of their own to try.

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.


How to Gain Entries:
Take a look at the different types of ear conditions the EARDOC can safely treat (as listed on the EARDOC homepage along the right side). Then leave a comment telling me which ear condition would you most likely treat with the EARDOC. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For an extra entry, follow EARDOC on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so and under what username. Add to Technorati Favorites

4) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post and to Eardoc.info . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

5) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

6) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

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Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Monday, August 10th, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Review: Chloraseptic & Little Allergies Allergen Block

When the pollen count hits a record-breaking high and actually makes it as a top news story, it's about time to call in reinforcements. That is why I did not turn down the opportunity for my family to try the new Allergen Block by Chloraseptic and Little Allergies. When my allergies are starting to give me asthma-like symptoms, then even I have to admit I need help.


After I explain to you how this nasal allergy reducer works, you are going wonder exactly what my husband wondered, which was . . . Why didn't anyone think of this sooner? Simply put, the gel contains positively charged ions, which attracts and traps the negatively charged airborne allergens. You just apply the gel all around your nose, including your top lip.

The Allergen Block Gel contains no medication and is safe for all ages. The Little Allergies formula made by Little Noses is especially formulated for children 0-12yrs old.

What I thought about both allergen blockers:

1) I have always worried about giving my 5yr old son medications like children's Claretin and Benadryl. I have no worries about using the Little Allergies Allergen Block since it contains no medication.

2) A little bit goes a long way. Each little tube can provide up to 150 applications. You only need to put a tiny bit every 4 to 6 hours for continued protection.

3) I don't think that this product can give you 100% protection against airborne allergens because it only protects your nose and not your eyes. I do think it is effective when teamed up with another allergy symptom reliever.

4) When I have a sinus headache, I can experience some noticeable relief by applying the allergen block gel to my nose after about 30 minutes. (Please keep in mind that everybody's results will be different.)

5) The gel has a slight scent which disappears within 1 or 2 seconds after applying it to your nose.

6) It was difficult to gauge how effective the Little Allergies formula was with my son's allergy symptoms. He is not as aware of them as an adult is, therefore it was difficult for him to report back to me the results. Also, his symptoms are not so severe that they cause him to complain about them constantly (unlike mine).

The bottom line is I found that the allergen block gel does make a difference in lessening my allergy symptoms. It just does not eliminate them completely, so I will continue to use it in conjunction with another remedy, which also does not relieve all my symptoms on its own.

You can find Chloraseptic and Little Allergies Allergen Block wherever allergy relievers are sold.

The Side-Splitting Sneeze Contest:

Enter to win a Weekend Spa Getaway sponsored by Chloraseptic Allergen Block and Little Allergies Allergen Block by capturing the silliest sneeze you've ever seen and heard on video. Then submit the video to the Side-Splitting Sneeze Contest by August 20th, 2009. You have all summer to be on the look out for the silliest sneeze, but the first 100 entrants and the first 100 voters will be rewarded with a package of Chloraseptic and Little Allergies allergen block. Voting begins on September 30th, 2009 and will run through October 15th, 2009. You can read the official contest rules here.

Thank you to Chloraseptic and Little Allergies for providing us with review products free of charge.