AllergyZone continues to make news as we apply the latest research towards helping patients relieve their allergy and asthma symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.

Keeping in the Heat
Global Warming 101 Expedition
May 6, 2007
Allergy Zone's BreathXchange mask keeps core temperatures warm even in the most extreme conditions.
Read more on how it works at:
http://www.globalwarming101.com/content/view/844/88889088/

Kimberly-Clark Inside the Box
August 13, 2008
Kimberly-Clark research reports shortcomings of outdated panel furnace filters and suggests switching to high efficiency pleated filters (such as AllergyZone).
Read More...

 

A Breath of Fresh Air for Allergy Suffers

Going green has never been more popular – or more important. There are benefits to leading a green life beyond conserving energy and the ozone layer. The more polluted our air becomes; the harder it is for the 50 million people in the U.S. suffering from allergies and asthma to breathe. If you’re looking for simple ideas to alleviate allergy symptoms, Dr. Sublett’s says to focus on:

Outdoor Air Quality. Do your part in lowering the amount of harmful emissions into the air from you car. By simply filling up your gas tank in the evening rather than the morning you can reduce the amount of evaporative emissions. Morning gasoline fill-ups contribute more to air pollution particularly during the summertime making it harder to breathe and contributing to the decay of the ozone layer.

A step above: If you’re in the market for a new car, consider a Hybrid car. If your errands will only take you a few miles down the road, ride a bicycle or walk.

Indoor Air Quality. Heating and cooling systems with central air conditioning use the blower located inside the furnace to circulate air around the house.  A furnace filter not only protects the components inside the furnace from dirt and debris, it also cleans the air that we breathe at home.  If the filter is dirty or clogged with debris, then less air from the blower makes its way into your home, which causes the air conditioner or heater to use more energy to adequately cool or heat your home. Maintaining your furnace filter also helps the environment. The lower our energy needs, the lower our fossil fuels consumption, which in turn reduces carbon monoxide emissions into the atmosphere. 

A step above: Insulate your home. Adding 10 inches of insulation saves money and our nation's limited energy resources. It can also make your house more comfortable by keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Green Cleaning. Vacuuming every two to three days with a HEPA filter or bagless vacuum is important as it removes the pollens and allergens that can settle into carpets. Dr. Sublett recommends leaving the vacuumed room for at least two hours as it takes that long for particles in the air to settle.

A step above: Replace one conventional cleaning product with a green one.

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Most people hear “furnace filter” and automatically think cold weather, winter. Unfortunately, that correlation might be hurting your pocketbook, your air quality, and most notably - the environment.  Changing your furnace filter at regular intervals is a must in order to maintain efficient heating and air conditioning performance, and that includes the summer months.

Heating and cooling systems with central air conditioning use the blower located inside the furnace to circulate air around the house.  A furnace filter not only protects the components inside the furnace from dirt and debris, it also cleans the air that we breathe at home.  If the filter is dirty or clogged with debris then less air from the blower is making it into your home, causing the air conditioner or heater to work harder so it can adequately cool or heat your home.  If your system is working harder than normal, the first place you’ll feel it is your pocketbook.

Maintaining your furnace filter also helps the environment.  The lower our energy needs, the lower our fossil fuels consumption, which in turn reduces carbon monoxide emissions into the atmosphere.  Your heating and cooling system is a key component in the fight against global warming.  Maximizing the efficiency of your HVAC system allows you to play a part in improving the quality of life of everyone on Earth.

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Here are some tips from Dr. Sublett on what can be done to decrease the amount of time cleaning inside.

Change your furnace filter! Even though it’s not a glamorous topic, a dirty filter could be contributing to the amount of dust build-up you’re experiencing. If you don’t clean your furnace filter at least every three months, you run the risk of increased amounts of dust being blown through your HVAC system. Make sure to change it every three months and when you do, install a high efficiency media filter with a MERV rating of 12 in the furnace and air-conditioning unit. Use a good four letter word, HEPA! By using a central vacuum or a vacuum with a HEPA filter you spread less dust into the air carpets will contain less dust and harmful particulates. Remember it takes over 2 hours for the dust to settle back down, so get out of the house for a little while during this time. Use a HEPA Air Cleaner in the bedroom with an adequate CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) for the size of the room. This will help keep    clean air circulating. Have your air ducts cleaned annually! What good is a clean furnace filter if the air duct if filled with dust? Plus, a clean air duct will result in greater airflow and better delivery of warm and/or cold air. Shut that closet door! Clothes are collectors of dust and particulates. Keep them behind closed doors to reduce dust in your bedroom.

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What You Should Know Before You
Bring Sparky or Fluffy Home This Spring

For Immediate Release

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 11, 2007) The Smith family had been talking about getting a dog for months before they found Rufus, a mangy mutt at the local shelter. Part spitz, part beagle he was kid friendly and the family loved him dearly. Weeks went by and Rufus was fitting in nicely, but their son started wheezing at night and having trouble breathing during recess and other activities. After a physical exam and a trip to an allergy specialist it was determined he was allergic to Rufus and they had to return the dog to the local shelter. It's a heartbreaking tale, but it happens to thousands of people every year. The good news is that it doesn't have to.

During National Pet Week (May 7 - 12, 2007), people around the country will adopt a new furry family member. Besides obvious things pet owners should know before buying or adopting a pet, there are also the things that effect your personal environment like external parasites and pet allergens to be aware of. When bringing a new living creature into your home you're not only bringing love and affection through your front door.

'Allergic reactions to pets occur in one out of every three patients we see,' says James L. Sublett, MD, FACAAI, FAAAAI, FAAP, clinical professor and the section chief of Pediatric Allergy at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. 'Ideally these people should not have pets, or keep pets outside but because we know this is unrealistic, we try to compromise by providing tips that will reduce their exposure to these allergens.'

For those who suffer from allergies or asthma, there are precautions that determined pet owners can take to minimize exposure to allergens and safeguard their health. Dr. Sublett suggests these as a few tips to keep in mind when bringing your newest family member home

• Wash Early and Often. Both your hands, and pets, should be cleaned often. By washing your hands after playing with, hugging or petting your pets, you decrease the amount of dander and particles that you expose yourself to through touching your face or rubbing your eyes. It's also necessary to keep your pets clean. Cats are responsible for the majority of animal allergies. To reduce dander and remove dried saliva, cats and dogs should be washed once a week with plain water or a mild veterinary shampoo. Wearing a N95 mask is the best thing to do when handling your pet in order to reduce the allergens you're breathing.
• Vacuum, A lot. Lugging your vacuum in and out of the closet everyday is annoying and excessive. But, vacuuming every two to three days with a HEPA filter or bagless vacuum will remove the pollens and allergens that your pets track in and then deposit on your floor, furniture and carpets. By removing those small and problematic particles, you can rest easy when you lie down on the couch or play on the floor. It's also a good idea to keep your kids and the members in your family suffering from allergies out of the house or vacuumed room for at least two hours in order to let the particulars that have been stirred up the time to settle.
• Change Your Furnace Filter. Keeping the air you breath day and night clear of particles is important for asthmatics and to those who suffer from allergies. Look for a filter that has a MERV rating of 11 or higher. And one that is free of chemical binders. The AllergyZone Furnace Filter is a good example of an eco-friendly filter that is manufactured to be people friendly and effective. If you have pets, changing your furnace filter every three months may not be enough. By checking your furnace filter every month, you'll get a good gauge of whether you need to change your filter more or less frequently. Every furnace filter should be changed every three months.
• Down Dog, down. Allergy and asthma sufferers should keep pets out of their bedrooms or at minimum, their beds. It's tough during those first few nights when your new pet needs to be comforted, but in the long run it will keep your sinuses, skin and lungs safer because it will severely decrease the number of particles you're exposed to at night.
• Keep Pets Inside, if you can. Outdoor cats and dogs have more time and opportunity to roll in things they shouldn't, eat things that aren't good and attract new (and small) friends. By keeping cats indoors and taking your dogs for long walks you keep your pet healthy and keep unwanted allergens, creatures and particles outside where they belong. Indoor/Outdoor pets transfer more allergens during their trips back and forth, so it's better to commit to having your pets in or out.

By implementing these easy tips, you can guarantee that your transition from pet-free to pet-friendly home will be an easier transition on your sinuses. Unfortunately we don't have any good tips for the potty training just be patient.

About AllergyZone

AllergyZone was founded by a physician in 2002 to develop, manufacture, and market high-quality, non-woven, disposable residential furnace filters. Today, AllergyZone offers a series of products and information that allow consumers to control their healthy air zone, whether personal or in the home. Currently, AllergyZone markets the following products: the residential furnace filter and personal respiratory heat exchanger ('BreathXchange'). AllergyZone Furnace Filters retail in grocery stores such as Kroger, Ingles, and Earth Fare.

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Investigation Finds Ionizers Don't Clean Air, Create Ozone

Live Christmas Trees Can Trigger Mold Allergies

Control Allergies in the Home: GOOD HEALTH, CLEAN AIR AND YOU

Home is Where the Allergies Are

Indoor Air Cleaners: Are They Good or Bad?

Healthy Indoor Environment First Step in Managing Allergic Diseases

WHAT IS ALLERGYZONE? AllergyZone is a unique company founded by allergy and asthma physician Dr. James Sublett. AllergyZone brings products to the market that will enhance your quality of life.

ALLERGYZONE'S FURNACE FILTER: The air in some homes can be up to five times more polluted than the air outside according to the EPA. This air is filled with allergens waiting to wreak havoc on those who suffer with allergies. AllergyZone's Furnace Filter lets allergy sufferers breathe easier by utilizing what they call the Filter Quality Triangle, the filter's balance of airflow, particulate capture, and holding capacity. The filter traps even the smallest allergens at a great volume, allowing the cleaner air to proceed into your home while lengthening the time between filter replacements. AllergyZone's furnace filter will help your household breathe easy.

• Exclusively designed and recommended by leading allergy and asthma physicians.
• Removes 95% of harmful allergy-causing particulates from the air.
• Received the highest available residential MERV efficiency rating - MERV 12.
• 500% more effective than fiberglass filters.
• Filter media is an energy star partner
• Made in the USA

SIZES: AllergyZone's Furnace Filters are available in:

• 14 x 25 x 1
• 16 x 20 x 1
• 16 x 25 x 1
• 20 x 20 x 1
• 20 x 25 x 1

WHERE TO BUY: AllergyZone Furnace Filters are available at select groceries, pharmacies, and retail outlets in the above sizes.

TESTED AND APPROVED: AllergyZone filters have earned the highest residential Minimum Efficiency Rating Value (MERV) of 12 by independent testing using standards by ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

INFORMATION: To learn more about AllergyZone visit www.allergyzone.com

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MERV RATING: Received the highest available residential MERV efficiency rating - MERV 12

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Made of continuous hydrophobic polyolefin fibers which are thermally bonded together, the AllergyZone Furnace Filters provides higher initial efficiencies and better overall performance than standard pleated filters.

TECHNOLOGY: The Furnace Filter's media has a unique structure density gradient featuring an electric charge for higher initial and sustained efficiency compared to the traditional cotton/poly pleat filter media. This media construction, coupled with electrostatic treating technology allows the AllergyZone Furnace Filter to achieve high initial and sustainable filtration efficiencies with low pressure drop.The process allows for a controlled gradient structure which has increasing fiber density from the upstream to the downstream which allows enhanced performance, as demonstrated consistently in ASHRAE Standard 52.2 test results.

FEATURES: Engineered gradient density structure for sustained efficiency

• Electrostatically treated for high initial efficiency
• Low pressure drop for maximum energy efficiency
• High dirt holding capacity long life
• Durable high wet-strength beverage board farm
• Rust resident galvanized-dipped expanded metal support grid
• Available in a wide range of standard and custom sizes

BENEFITS: The AllergyZone Furnace Filter withstands over 60% greater particulate load than the leading competitors in an independent ASHRAE standard (52.1*) test allowing for less dust, particulates and allergens in the home.

WHERE TO BUY: AllergyZone Furnace Filters retail in grocery stores such as Kroger, Ingles, and Earth Fare.

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James L. Sublett, MD, FACAAI, FAAAAI, FAAP
Section Chief of Pediatric Allergy, Clinical Professor, University of Louisville School of Medicine

James L. Sublett, MD, FACAAI, FAAAAI, FAAP, is a clinical professor and the section chief of Pediatric Allergy at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Ky. He is the Managing Partner of Family Allergy and Asthma, a private practice with 14 sites in Louisville and Indiana. Dr. Sublett is a Clinical Investigator with Family Allergy & Asthma Research Institute and Founder and Chairman of Allergy Zone, LLC, a company which focuses on the development and marketing of novel products that provide relief for people with allergies and asthma.

In addition to serving on numerous committees, Dr. Sublett serves on the Board of Regents for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (JCAAAI), the ACAAI/AAAAI Joint Task Force for Asthma Quality Assurance and the editorial board for the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. He was recently honored as the Gratis Faculty of the year (2005-2006) by the University of Louisville Medical School.

Dr. Sublett is a diplomat for the National Board of Medical Examiners, the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. He has delivered nearly 200 abstracts, lectures and presentations, is the author of 15 articles published in peer-reviewed journals and editor of more than 20 special articles. In the past three years, he has been involved with 27 clinical trials.

Dr. Sublett received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Louisville and his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He completed a residency in Pediatrics and a Fellowship in Allergy and Immunology in the Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, and University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Dr. Sublett has a special interest in environmental avoidance, indoor air quality, and building science.

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