Home Tips: Dealing with dust mite allergies

 

House dust mites are very tiny almost invisible to the naked eye. Dust mites are not parasitic, but they have powerful allergens contained in the mites, their cast skins, fecal material and secretions that can cause allergic reactions in asthmatics and others who are allergic to their feces. Their primary food is skin scales (dander) contained in house dust. Since the greatest fallout occurs in areas of human and pet activity, the mites tend to be most numerous in beds, sofas, chairs, and carpeted areas.

Studies show that dust mites may be a factor in 50 to 80 percent of asthmatics, as well as in countless cases of eczema, hay fever and other allergic ailments. In the United Kingdom, one in 10 children and one in 12 adults suffer from asthma (source www.asthma.org.uk) while everyone either knows or is related to someone who suffers from an allergy or eczema.

According to Mayo Clinic, dust mite allergy symptoms caused by inflammation of nasal passages include: sneezing, runny nose, itchy red watery eyes, nasal congestion, itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat, postnatal drip, cough, facial pressure and pain, frequent awakening, swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes, in a child, frequent upward rubbing of the nose.

Here then are some tips shared by Mayo Clinic to combat this household problem.

a. Use allergen-proof bed covers. Cover your mattress and pillows in dust-proof or allergen-blocking covers.

b. Wash bedding weekly. Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens.

c. Keep humidity low. Maintain a relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent in your home.

d. Choose bedding wisely. Avoid bedcovers that trap dust easily and are difficult to clean
frequently.

e. Buy washable stuffed toys. Wash them often in hot water and dry thoroughly. Also, keep stuffed toys off beds.

f. Remove dust. Use a damp or oiled mop or rag rather than dry materials to clean up dust. This prevents dust from becoming airborne and resettling.

g. Cut clutter. If it collects dust, it also collects dust mites. Remove knickknacks, tabletop ornaments, books, magazines and newspapers from your bedroom.

h. Remove carpeting and other dust mite habitats. Carpeting provides a comfortable habitat for dust mites. If possible, replace wall-to-wall bedroom carpeting with tile, wood, linoleum or vinyl flooring.         

i. Use Air purifiers
Air purifiers collect airborne dust in your home and can help with controlling dust if you also maintain vigorous cleaning practices.

j. Vacuum regularly. This is where RAYCOP, the first UVC anti-allergy vacuum plays a big role.

Raycop is the first UVC anti-allergy vacuum cleaner that kills 99 percent of bacteria and eliminates almost 94 percent of dust mites. It is especially designed to clean bed linens and other fabrics helping to create a healthier home by cleaning deep into the household fabrics, mattresses, sofas, chairs, futons, crib, pads, bed sheets, pillows and curtains.

The process of eliminating bacteria and other allergens employed by the vacuum cleaner is through its patented 3-step allergy care system. First, the vibrating pad shakes particles and dust mites away from mattresses at a whopping 3,600 times per minute (twice that in some models), making sure that even the most stubborn dust mites are removed.

This is followed by the UVC sterilization lamp that kills bacteria to leave surfaces germ-free. The lamp uses a highly efficient and effective 253.7 nanometer wavelength, the same germicidal ultraviolet wavelength used in hospitals, clinics and laboratories for almost seven decades now.
Finally, the device uses a cartridge filter that captures the larger particles and traps them so they cannot go back to the room.
           
Distributed by Zinven Int’l Corp., the Raycop UVC anti-allergy vacuum cleaner is available at Rustan’s department stores, S & R, Landmark, Wilcon Builders Libis, and Abenson’s department stores. For more information about Raycop product lines and its outstanding features, visit their Web site www.raycop.com.

All-weather protection the family

Spring brings forth new life. Suddenly, buds appear and new branches sprout; bathing the landscape with fresh colors. Spring beckons the onslaught of new beginnings. Holding the promise of optimism, the season brings a lot of new meanings for future undertakings.

However, to the faint of smell, and those with olfactory and respiratory conditions, spring sends radar signs for the afflicted to take precautions.

It is in the springtime that pollens abound from the flurry of bee activity. It is also the time when dust loosens up from its hibernation in the cold, wet months. And with these come all the wheezing and the sneezing, plus all the noses running in every direction.

Allergic diseases are among the most common chronic disorders, affecting up to a third of the world’s population; and the incidence is increasing. They occur because of an abnormal sensitivity to substances normally harmless to most people. These substances are called allergens.

Symptoms of allergy develop when one is exposed to allergens. Attacks and/or surges can be triggered through exposure to house dust mites, animal dander, molds, pollens, grass, certain foods and drugs and even insects such as cockroaches, mosquitoes and bees – which, in a tropical country like ours – abound in droves.

Allergy can affect different parts of our body and can manifest in the form of allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis, asthma, skin allergy (eczema), anaphylaxis, food allergy and allergy to insects.
Avoidance is perhaps the strongest antidote to any surge. As an adage aptly puts it, “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” So knowing what triggers allergic conditions empowers those with allergies to be in constant guard. And one of the weapons they can use to eradicate indoor allergens is the revolutionary UVC device - the anti-allergy cleaner from Raycop.

Raycop’s UVC anti-allergy vacuum cleaners are able to kill 99 per cent of bacteria and kills almost 94 per cent of dust mites, and even the fearsome H1N1 influenza A virus that threatened the country a few years back.

The process of eliminating bacteria and other allergens employed by the vacuum cleaner is through its patented 3-step allergy care system. First, the vibrating pad shakes particles and dust mites away from mattresses. Pillows as well as other fabrics and linens are cleaned by vibrating a whopping 3,600 times per minute (twice that in some models), making sure that even the most stubborn dust mites are removed.
This is followed by the UVC sterilization lamp that kills bacteria to leave surfaces germ-free. Based on lamp technology courtesy of Philips and Sankyo, the lamp uses a highly efficient and effective 253.7 nanometer wavelength, the same germicidal ultraviolet wavelength used in hospitals, clinics and laboratories for almost seven decades now.

Finally, the device uses a cartridge filter that captures the larger particles and traps them so they cannot go back to the room. This contraption also helps extend the life of the micro allergy filter which is the one that traps the smaller particles to make sure they do not escape as well.
“We have the product that can help Filipinos clean the air, especially in their homes or even their offices. It has been our goal to make lives of people around the world become better through our award-winning appliances, and we want Filipinos to benefit from our products as well,” declared inventor Sung Jin Lee, president of Bukang Sems Co. Ltd.’s health and home appliances division.

This cleaning device is designed for use in homes, offices, hotels, lodges, or just about any structure where there are beds, linens, sofas, curtains, futons, cribs, beddings, pillows and other types of furnishings that use fabric.. These are where microscopic allergens, bacteria and the dreaded dust mites that attack both adults and children usually stay deep beneath the fabric surface, and cannot be removed by mere shaking, airing or sun drying.

The threat to the health and well-being to Filipino families and homes brought about by various allergens, including deadly dust mites, can create a host of respiratory illnesses if not given attention and care. Oftentimes, when allergic attacks occur, doctors don’t easily pinpoint dust mites as primary cause when, in most cases, they are.

“We know that dust mites, allergens and other types of bacteria are common problems in Filipino homes that affect family members with respiratory ailments. We get sick because the mites fecal waste are stuck in our beddings and furnishings and which the bacteria love; that in turn have droppings of their own. However, through Raycop’s UVC anti-allergy cleaner, they can now eliminate these bacteria faster, safer and more effectively so you won’t have to take your beddings out into the sun as you’ve done in the past,” explained Catherine Dy, who added that her company Zinven brings health and wellness devices into the country..
“Having the device in our homes reminds us to clean our indoors as often especially if you have asthmatic family members like me. It minimizes the cost of medication and/or hospitalization as well as the incidence of allergic attacks. Just vacuum over fabrics for 5 minutes to protect your loved ones from allergies now and in the future,” intimated the very amiable GM.

Distributed by Zinven Int’l Corp., the Raycop UVC anti-allergy vacuum cleaner is available at Rustan’s department stores, S & R, Landmark, Wilcon Builders Libis, and Abenson’s department stores. For more information about Raycop product lines and its outstanding features, visit their Web site www.raycop.com.

Raycop: Eradicating even the invisible

DJ George of Wave 89.1 FM with son Jacob

If it’s difficult enough to confront an enemy that’s clearly visible, then it is more challenging if it is unseen.

Take, for example, dust mites, those invisible creatures too-small to see with the naked eye without the aid of a microscope or magnifying lens and belongs to the arthropod family (spiders, scorpions and ticks). They usually feed on human dead skin and leftover food from all those boob-tube marathons that leave behind bits of popcorn and chips on the sofa, on bedcovers and atop other furniture.

However, it’s not the dust mites that actually wreak havoc to our health but their excreta (feces). Most people develop severe allergies like itchy red lumps when they come in contact with dust mite droppings, or even severe difficulty breathing and asthma attacks once dust laden with dust mite droppings is inhaled.

The great news, however, is that a new home device was invented to ward off these dangerous parasites through the use of UVC. UVC is a type of ultraviolet ray from the sun that’s germicidal in nature and kills various bacteria upon exposure in just a few seconds. And this is the type of technology used by a pioneering home appliance: the Raycop UVC anti-allergy cleaner.

“Me and my two boys, 5-year-old Jacob and 14-year-old Jason, are all asthmatic. Now that I’m using Raycop’s revolutionary cleaner, the attacks became less and less. I don’t get stressed out that much but what’s good is that I have lesser expenses on medications,” shared popular radio deejay DJ George.

She said that while they don’t scrimp on their health budget, the Raycop has made it even more affordable for them, budget-wise and as long as it does its job, they’ll have peace of mind. “It’s so easy to use. You need not make pagpag (repeated beatings), bilad (tedious sun drying), and with its powerful features, the dust mites are shaken and sucked out,” she continued.

Raycop’s process of eliminating bacteria and other allergens is through its 3-step allergy care system of vibrating, sterilizing and double-filtering. “A regular vacuum cleaner does not work the same way as Raycop’s Smart or Hera anti-allergy cleaners because dust particles are still blown into the air. And most models are not specific for mattresses, so you still feel the itch after cleaning them. With Raycop, you feel the cleanliness. It makes your bed linens smooth like those on a hotel bed because of the UVC component that thoroughly cleans them. You’ll realize the sniffles are gone and you don’t sneeze as much, especially in the mornings,” attested Raycop’s new brand ambassador.

Georgia Cotaoco, more popularly known as DJ George, is heard daily over at Wave 89.1 FM. “I’m now more relaxed. I have more quality time with the family without feeling anxious that my brood would have impending asthma attacks. The Raycop UVC anti-allergy cleaner is truly a wise investment, easy to use and light on the family budget,” she concluded.

Raycop’s UVC anti-allergy cleaner is the first anti-allergy home device with the Seal of Approval from the prestigious British Allergy Foundation, the Trophee de la Maison from the French Consumers’ Union, and the LOHAS Seal of Approval from the Korea Standards Association.

Manufactured by the Health and Home appliances division of Bukang Sems Co., Ltd., the global and award-winning Korean-based company headquartered in Incheon, the brand is sold in around 30 countries worldwide including the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Raycop’s aim is to help people live healthier and create a better home environment for their loved ones.

The Raycop UVC ‘Smart’ and ‘Hera’ vacuum cleaners are available at all Rustan’s department stores, S & R outlets, Landmark, Wilcon Builders (Libis branch) and all Abenson’s department stores. For more information about the Raycop product line and its outstanding features, simply call Zinven International Corp., the exclusive distributor of Raycop UVC anti-allergy cleaner, at 926-7782 or 926-7786 or visit their Web site at www.raycop.com.