AAFA’s 2010 Fall Allergy Capitals
Number one: Dayton, Ohio. Who knew? When I think “high pollen,” my brain doesn’t automatically go to “Ohio,” but then I’ve never lived there. Full list of 100 metro areas at the pdf here.
Do Paint Fumes Make Asthma Worse?
We’ve known volatile organic compounds in things like synthetic air fresheners and paint can trigger flares, but this new research on kids’ bedroom paint suggests they also worsen asthma and allergies overall and possibly even play a role in causing them.
Cost-Benefit Question About Hypoallergenic Hotel Rooms
You’ve heard of asthma/allergy friendly hotel rooms, yes? I’ve long wondered if they’re worth the extra cost because so far, we protect our daughter’s health while traveling by keeping her meds up to date and bringing along her own pillow. This San Antonio resort apparently just started offering hypoallergenic rooms for an extra $25 per night, and if you read the article at the header link, you’ll find this explanation of the amenity:
That process includes putting special coverings on mattresses and pillow cases. All hard and soft surfaces will be coated with a special barrier. Each room has an air purifier, a class two medical device that recirculates the air four times an hour.
What do you think? Would you pay an extra 25 bucks per night for this? Have you?
Asthma Tutorial Videos
More resources to help you understand and manage your favorite lung condition and mine – particularly if you’re new to the diagnosis.
The hypoallergenic room thing is interesting. If it were me, I’d have a few questions of what kind of air purifiers they use. If they’re ionizing air purifiers, I don’t think it would be worth it (since there’s some evidence that some ionizing air purifiers can increase ozone).
With the barriers, it depends on whether they have carpet or not. If they have carpet, is the barrier on the carpet air-tight? If not… in my experience with carpet, it doesn’t matter how much you clean it; it will still make me flare up. And if the barrier on it isn’t airtight, it may as well not be there.
For me it would depend on 1, do I have the money to afford it? 2, if the hotel has smoking rooms, are the smoking rooms above or below the room I intend to stay in? I find that staying in a room immediately above a smoking room can at times cause me to flare as if I’m staying in a smoking room. And 3, has the room ever been a smoking room? If yes, have they completely renovated the room since it was a smoking room?
To be honest, if it didn’t meet my (admittedly ridiculously high) standards, I probably wouldn’t pay extra for it. But I’m curious what others would think.
Honestly, it depends on a lot of factors.
1. I try to pretty much categorically avoid any place that allows smoking at all. Converted smoking to non-smoking rooms are also a no-no.
2. Down is also a no-no. It’s warm and wonderful and fluffy, however, sinus headaches and twitchy lungs aren’t on my list of fun morning things.
3. I already travel with my dust mite proofed pillows in tow. Decreases the level of congestion immensely. As well as all my own safe toiletries/bath products.
If the room had tile/linoleum/wood floors, no miniblinds/heavy drapes, dust mite encasing, no harsh cleansers, no air freshner sprays, and a air purifier that didn’t output ozone i’d consider the upgrade. It would also depend on the duration of my stay. If it was just one night I’d be less likely to upgrade. Some of it seems like overkill and more towards the germ-o-phobes.
Right. I always make sure to specify it has to be a room that’s never been smoked in, not previously smoked in and then cleaned. When I mention a persistent asthmatic child, they’re pretty good about accommodating me.
I’ve never paid for a hypoallergenic room, though, because traveling with kids is expensive, anyway, and an extra charge of $25 every night just isn’t doable, especially since what we do for prevention has been working so far.