(ARA) – What does a cartoon nose with red sneakers and year-round sniffles have to do with learning about nasal allergies? Well this nose, Ronnie Nose, is the star of “Don’t Blow It,” a new online health game that uses humor and animation to help teach people about nasal allergies.

The objective of “Don’t Blow It” is to help Ronnie Nose stack various objects while avoiding allergy triggers and seeking treatment. Encounter one too many allergens and Ronnie Nose will sneeze, blowing away the items and points the player has earned.

“The ‘Don’t Blow It’ game is fun, but it also provides useful health information, like the importance of visiting a doctor for diagnosis and treatment,” says Eric Schenkel, MD, director of the Valley Allergy & Asthma Treatment Center in Bethlehem Township, Pa. “Health games are being used more and more to help motivate healthy behavior.”

Don’t Sneeze, Plant Trees
Just by playing “Don’t Blow It,” users will also help do something good for the environment. For every new player, a low-allergenic tree will be planted through American Forests, a national tree planting organization. Why? Because studies suggest that higher levels of carbon dioxide and a warmer atmosphere may increase pollen production, in turn triggering nasal allergy symptoms. And tree planting is one of the most effective means of drawing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.  In fact, one mature tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year, according to the Human Environmental Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois.

“The ‘Don’t Blow It’ game reinforces American Forests’ commitment to a healthier world through tree planting,” says Deborah Gangloff, executive director for American Forests. “Our goal is to plant 20,000 low-allergenic trees through this campaign, which, once those trees mature, would absorb nearly 1 million pounds of carbon dioxide every year.”

Low-allergenic trees rank five or below on the Ogren Plant-Allergy Scale (OPALS). This scale evaluates a number of factors, including how much pollen a tree produces and the potency of that pollen, to determine how likely it is for that tree to cause allergy symptoms.

Good Stuff for the Stuffy
Nasal allergy symptoms, including sneezing, itchy nose, runny nose and nasal congestion, can occur all year, and they are triggered by both indoor and outdoor allergens, like pollen, dust mites, pet dander and mold. Because you can’t completely avoid nasal allergy triggers, it’s important to visit a doctor to discuss treatment options.

“For patients suffering from nasal allergy symptoms, a prescription nasal allergy spray is a recommended first-line treatment when congestion is present,” says Schenkel. “And remember to take your prescribed medicine as directed by your doctor, even when you’re not experiencing symptoms, to keep them under control.”

Prescription nasal allergy sprays, which are available for adults and children, include NASONEX (mometasone furoate monohydrate) Nasal Spray, 50 mcg (calculated on the anhydrous basis).

Visit DontBlowIt.com to play this entertaining and educational game, and to help reach the goal of planting 20,000 low-allergenic trees. You also can download the awe-inspiring “Don’t Blow It” Badge for your Facebook page. Show your friends you’ve done good stuff for yourself — learning about nasal allergies — and good stuff for the environment — helping plant a tree. For more information about treating nasal allergy symptoms, visit nasal-allergies.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – It’s one thing to live in a well-kept home, but is it also a healthy place to live? While your home may look sparkling clean to the eye, there are a number of invisible factors that can seriously affect the health of your entire family, and even contribute to a heart attack or stroke. Chief among them is the quality of the air your family breathes while indoors.

Up to 72 trillion microscopic irritants, or allergens, find their way into your home every day. They include dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites, mildew, lint, fungus, tobacco smoke, cooking grease and bacteria. Many of these particles are so small that your nose and throat can’t filter them out and they can get deep into your lungs.

The Environmental Protection Agency, American Lung Association and American Heart Association all agree that exposure to airborne particles impairs breathing and increases the risk of asthma attack, stroke, heart attack and other serious illnesses. These fine particles enter your home through doors, windows or small openings in frames, walls and roofs. They stem from various sources outside including fossil fuel burning in vehicles and manufacturing plants, and from activities inside such as smoking or cooking.

No matter how hard you scrub and dust, your family can still breathe in tiny little particles that can aggravate allergies and asthma, and even affect the heart. However, it is possible to have a cleaner, healthier and comfier home. American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning has compiled a list of simple steps to help your family breathe easier.

1. Clean your home’s air.

Start with the basics by installing an effective and proven whole-home air cleaner. For example, studies show that the American Standard AccuClean(TM) whole-home air filtration system may help prevent an asthma attack, heart attack or stroke. With the highest clean air delivery rate in the industry, its patented air cleaning technology eliminates allergens and particles you don’t want in your home, such as dust, pollen, bacteria, pet dander, mold spores, smoke and the common flu virus.

2. Control humidity.

Keep a relative humidity of 30 to 50 percent for optimal comfort and to control irritants like mildew. Controlling your household humidity can also kill dust mites, one of the most common allergens. Having a humidifier or variable-speed fan technology as part of your HVAC system can help you take control of your humidity.

3. Repair damages.

Have your HVAC system components, including furnaces, flues and chimneys, inspected before each heating and cooling season to repair any damages, holes or cracks. In addition to repairing your equipment, a certified HVAC dealer can inspect and clean your system’s parts and pieces, ensuring they perform at optimal efficiency. It’s not just your HVAC system — it is equally important to maintain the other components of your home that impact indoor air quality including the roof, foundation and insulation.

By taking these simple steps you can ensure that you and your family won’t be breathing indoor air full of contaminants and, ultimately, you’ll all breathe easier. For more information on how to breathe easier at home or to locate an American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning dealer near you, visit www.americanstandardair.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent