Allergy ALERT: Here Is How to Reduce Your Exposure to Allergens Plus 5 Natural Solutions

AHA Publisher — Fri, 14 May 2021 07:00:26 +0000

Sara Middleton via NaturalHealth365 – According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million Americans experience allergies of some sort every year. And with spring in full swing, millions of us are about to experience the hallmark sneezing, itchy throats, and watery eyes that signal hay fever in full effect. Want to find relief that doesn’t depend solely on the pharmacy? Let’s review some of the most effective natural allergy options we know about. HEPA Filters, Probiotics, and These Additional Allergy Solutions Might Give You Relief This Spring and Summer If you’re trying to stay away from prescription or over-the-counter antihistamines, consider adding a variety of natural allergy relief remedies into your daily routine. Some may work for you better than others, so experiment with a few. HEPA filters: It’s not clear if HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters always or significantly improve allergy symptoms, but we do have some studies that support their use. For instance, one 2018 study from the Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy and Immunology found that the use of HEPA filters improved clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis as well as reduced the amount of particulate matter in the air. Probiotics: In 2015, a systematic review of 23 studies concluded that “probiotics may be beneficial in improving symptoms and quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis,” but note that further research is needed to clarify recommendations. Currently recommended amounts for probiotic supplements range widely, from 1 billion to 10 billion or more colony-forming units (CFUs). The scientific plausibility of probiotics alleviating allergy symptoms is considerable, given that probiotics support gut and immune health. Acupuncture: Ever tried acupuncture? A 2015 review of 13 papers, including 2,365 participants, published in the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy, found that acupuncture appears to be a safe and valid natural remedy for allergy relief. Frankincense oil: Inhaling this fragrant essential oil (either by putting it in a diffuser or placing it in a carrier oil and dabbing it behind the ears) may reduce fatigue, ease symptoms, and improve quality of life in people who have seasonal allergies, according to a 2016 randomized controlled trial. Other essential oils touted for their allergy-relief benefits include peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil. Quercetin: Laboratory studies have found that this nutrient — found in foods like broccoli, cauliflower, onions, citrus fruits, grapes, and green tea — prevents the release of histamine, which is a key compound involved in the body’s allergic response. We don’t have strong human data to prove its effectiveness at reducing allergy symptoms, but anecdotal evidence suggests it offers benefits. Other nutrients and supplements said to promote allergy relief include vitamin C and the blue-green algae spirulina. Here Are 5 Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to Allergens Treating allergies, whether with medications or natural remedies, is important for improving your quality of life. But preventing an allergic response in the first place matters, too. Here are five simple ways to avoid your exposure to allergens in your home and community: Check the pollen forecast: Input your town and zip code at Pollen.com or a similar resource, so you’ll know how bad the pollen is in your area and will be prepared to take more preventive action. On high pollen count days, stay indoors and close the windows. When going outside, wear wraparound sunglasses to block allergens from your eyes, and try putting some Vaseline around your nose to trap pollen particles! Shower before going to bed to avoid bringing pollen and debris onto your pillowcase and bed linens. Vacuum and dust regularly. And, finally, as a “bonus tip,” many integrative healthcare providers will remind you to avoid conventionally-produced dairy products, sugar or flour-based food products because they tend to cause mucus buildup. Sources for this article include: Pollen.com AAFA.org NIH.gov APJAI-journal.org NHS.uk NIH.gov EPA.gov Harvard.edu Hindawi.com MountSinai.org NIH.gov To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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New Method Developed to Assess the Effectiveness of Facemasks in Obstructing Droplets

AHA Publisher — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 07:00:46 +0000

Florida Atlantic University via News-Medical Net – Currently, there are no specific guidelines on the most effective materials and designs for facemasks to minimize the spread of droplets from coughs or sneezes to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. While there have been prior studies on how medical-grade masks perform, data on cloth-based coverings used by the vast majority of the general public are sparse. Research from Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, just published in the journal Physics of Fluids, demonstrates through visualization of emulated coughs and sneezes, a method to assess the effectiveness of facemasks in obstructing droplets. The rationale behind the recommendation for using masks or other face coverings is to reduce the risk of cross-infection via the transmission of respiratory droplets from infected to healthy individuals. Researchers employed flow visualization in a laboratory setting using a laser light sheet and a mixture of distilled water and glycerin to generate the synthetic fog that made up the content of a cough-jet. They visualized droplets expelled from a mannequin’s mouth while simulating coughing and sneezing. They tested masks that are readily available to the general public, which do not draw away from the supply of medical-grade masks and respirators for healthcare workers. They tested a single-layer bandana-style covering, a homemade mask that was stitched using two-layers of cotton quilting fabric consisting of 70 threads per inch, and a non-sterile cone-style mask that is available in most pharmacies. By placing these various masks on the mannequin, they were able to map out the paths of droplets and demonstrate how differently they perform. Results showed that loosely folded facemasks and bandana-style coverings provide minimal stopping-capability for the smallest aerosolized respiratory droplets. Well-fitted homemade masks with multiple layers of quilting fabric, and off-the-shelf cone style masks, proved to be the most effective in reducing droplet dispersal. These masks were able to curtail the speed and range of the respiratory jets significantly, albeit with some leakage through the mask material and from small gaps along the edges. Importantly, uncovered emulated coughs were able to travel noticeably farther than the currently recommended 6-foot distancing guideline. Without a mask, droplets traveled more than 8 feet; with a bandana, they traveled 3 feet, 7 inches; with a folded cotton handkerchief, they traveled 1 foot, 3 inches; with the stitched quilted cotton mask, they traveled 2.5 inches; and with the cone-style mask, droplets traveled about 8 inches. “In addition to providing an initial indication of the effectiveness of protective equipment, the visuals used in our study can help convey to the general public the rationale behind social-distancing guidelines and recommendations for using facemasks,” said Siddhartha Verma, Ph.D., lead author and an assistant professor who co-authored the paper with Manhar Dhanak, Ph.D., department chair, professor, and director of SeaTech; and John Frakenfeld, technical paraprofessional, all within FAU’s Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering. “Promoting widespread awareness of effective preventive measures is crucial at this time as we are observing significant spikes in cases of COVID-19 infections in many states, especially Florida.” When the mannequin was not fitted with a mask, they projected droplets much farther than the 6-foot distancing guidelines currently recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The researchers observed droplets traveling up to 12 feet within approximately 50 seconds. Moreover, the tracer droplets remained suspended midair for up to three minutes in the quiescent environment. These observations, in combination with other recent studies, suggest that current social-distancing guidelines may need to be updated to account for aerosol-based transmission of pathogens. “We found that although the unobstructed turbulent jets were observed to travel up to 12 feet, a large majority of the ejected droplets fell to the ground by this point,” said Dhanak. “Importantly, both the number and concentration of the droplets will decrease with increasing distance, which is the fundamental rationale behind social-distancing.” The pathogen responsible for COVID-19 is found primarily in respiratory droplets that are expelled by infected individuals during coughing, sneezing, or even talking and breathing. Apart from COVID-19, respiratory droplets also are the primary means of transmission for various other viral and bacterial illnesses, such as the common cold, influenza, tuberculosis, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), to name a few. These pathogens are enveloped within respiratory droplets, which may land on healthy individuals and result in direct transmission, or on inanimate objects, which can lead to infection when a healthy individual comes in contact with them. “Our researchers have demonstrated how masks are able to significantly curtail the speed and range of the respiratory droplets and jets. Moreover, they have uncovered how emulated coughs can travel noticeably farther than the currently recommended six-foot distancing guideline,” Stella Batalama, Ph.D., Dean, Florida Atlantic University College of Engineering and Computer Science “Their research outlines the procedure for setting up simple visualization experiments using easily available materials, which may help healthcare professionals, medical researchers, and manufacturers in assessing the effectiveness of face masks and other personal protective equipment qualitatively.” To read the original article click here.

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Allergy ALERT: Here Is How to Reduce Your Exposure to Allergens Plus 5 Natural Solutions

New Method Developed to Assess the Effectiveness of Facemasks in Obstructing Droplets