Allergies

I remember my mom and dad dumping buckets of water into the big humidifier in our living room each winter in Nebraska. I loved the warm moist mist that steamed from it, making the hot dry air pumped out by the furnace a little easier to breathe. I never really thought about it until I moved out of the house and started missing that "moist air feeling" in my own home. I've had a humidifier ever since.

April showers brings May flowers. For many people, a spring seasonal transition isn't a welcomed time. The allergy season starts for many when flowers start blooming. It is possible to survive this season with a few survival tips ¹.

True or False.  Cold weather makes you sick? If you were like me and said true, then you’re in the same boat as the majority of the population. This misconception has been repeated for so long that we all start to believe it is true. The magnificent thing about science is the ability to challenge and prove theories. So how come more people get sick in the winter than in the summer? It comes down to the simple fact that people are inside together for longer periods of time¹. With the days getting shorter and people staying inside for longer periods of time person to person contact increases.  The heightened contact of sick people talking, coughing, and sneezing are the top causes of cold and flu transmission ².

The winter season is in full force across much of the country. The blizzard cold weather along with the constant snow fall makes it tough on people with medical conditions. Don’t worry about the weather.  Allegro Medical has what you need to make your winter season less of a hassle and more of a small nuisance. Here are some helpful items that are both unique and will make your life easier this winter season.

Thinking about moving to Arizona to avoid nasal allergies? Think again, my friend. Allergens are everywhere.  Pollen, dust, animal dander, mold - all seemingly harmless until your body mistakes them for something sinister, like bacteria or a virus.  Next thing you know, bam!  You're a red-eyed sneeze monster. 

Changes in weather, back-to-school germs, commuter travel, jobs in health care, stress and allergies are just a few of the factors working against you in the cold- and flu-avoidance areas.  Bottom line, if your immune system is shaky and you hang around a lot of people, you're wide open for a virus.   And if you're a stressed out school nurse that takes the train to work, well, um . . . good luck.  :)

Sure, take your prescription antihistamines and over-the-counter allergy medications.  After all, it's a sneezy itchy mess out there.  But according to WebMD Health News, 60% of people with springtime allergies have limited success treating their symptoms, by any means.  There is "no single magic bullet" to eliminate allergy attacks.

Asthma is serious business.  According to the CDC there are approximately 16 million Americans who currently have asthma, 7 million of whom are children.  In fact, asthma is the most prevalent chronic illness in children affecting nearly 10% of the population.  

There are very few ways to avoid nasal allergies but hey, it's worth a try, right?  For example, I'm allergic to the yellow sneeze balls hanging from the allergy trees that line one side of my street.  (I'm sure they have a real name, but that will do for now).  So, what do I do?  I stay on the other side of the street on my walks, and I steer clear all together when it's windy.  It seems to help. 

Allergies are in full bloom here.  The sounds of sneezes and sniffles fill the air here at the Allegro HQ and everyone is asking themselves... "Do I have a cold?  Is it Allergies?  Do I have a cold?....