A piece recently came out about picking the best pillow for you, precautions to take and when to get rid of your old pillows.  We put our faces on them every night so this article is a must-read! Read it here!

We are always taking whatever measures we can to ensure our children's health from the moment they are born, but could standard procedure be putting kids at risk for asthma? A recent Canadian study states that giving antibiotics to children before the age of one can increase the likelihood of asthma.  Antibiotics are administered to kill the bad bacteria in our bodies, but inevitably kills the good bacteria that our bodies need to develop strong immune systems as children.  Read more about the study below: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007707240304

It's only a few more weeks until the kids are back in school.  Can you believe it?  With the new school year just around the corner, it's not just school supplies and clothes you need to prepare.  There also needs to be ample preparation for students with allergies and asthma to stay safe and healthy while they are away at school each day.  Stocking up on appropriate medications and foods can be a big part of the battle, but for those with severe allergies and asthma, it can be very helpful to discuss your child's conditions with the school administration and medical staff as well. The following article explains how parents can go about discussing these topics with their child's school.    http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/46/11541/back-school-parents/?ic=6038

I read a great article about preventative measures you can take to help yourself or the other allergy and asthma sufferers in your home.  Eliminating or limiting chemicals and dust mites are great idea as well as different nutritional ideas. Read more here.

Over the last several years, with concerns with using foreign resources, homes have been being made out of different materials than before, leaving the inside of our homes dirtier than the outsides.  It is said that the insides of our homes can foster two to five times the bacteria than outside!  However, with the development of "green" resources, homes being built now are turning that trend around.  Building green, coupled with using your Halo on a regular basis can keep your family healthier. Read about building green here.

There is always a concern and drive for asthma sufferers to find various methods of treatment to reduce their dependence on their inhalers.  An article came out recently outlining some natural ideas to help asthmatics help themselves. Read about it here.

A new study recently came out regarding the possible link of obesity and asthma.  Overweight people are twice as likely to develop asthma and doctors feel that they might have found the common thread.  It turns out that the hormone in our bodies that causes asthma is quite possibly the same hormone that has been previously found to govern one's appetite.  Read more about the interesting study here.

To Our Dallas/Ft. Worth Halo Family Members: Were you able to catch us on Good Morning, Texas this morning?  If so, what did you think?  What questions did you have about Halo Ultraviolet Vacuums that you would like answered?  Let us know! If you didn't get to see the show, you can visit the GMT website here.

A great blog came out this week about how to make a great bed.  There are lots of suggestions about making it soft and welcoming, but also reminders to take care of the once-elusive dust mites as well.  Check it out and...don't let the bed bugs bite! http://www.keepingthecastle.com/how-to-make-a-heavenly-bed/

A study recently came out about the affects of laughter on mother's breast milk that was actually quite surprising to me.  Turns out that when mothers laugh, they actually produce more melatonin in their breast milk, which prevents against dust mite and latex allergies, among other illnesses.  Read the details of the study here.

A new study, published in the journal, Nature, tested 2,000 kids to see if there was any relation to having asthma and having certain genetic predispositions.  It was found that a certain gene can actually make inheriting the gene up to 70 percent more likely to cause asthma in children.  Of course, environmental factors can aggravate and even cause asthma and allergies in children and adults, but a development like this can explain more of the hereditary causes of the disease.  Read about it more below: http://news.independent.co.uk/sci_tech/article2737124.ece

This week, the Halo UVX was mentioned by BrideandGroom.com as a great idea for brides and grooms to be!  BrideandGroom is a Texas-based publication created as a resource for local fiancés and fiancées to coordinate the wedding of their dreams.  The Halo UVX isn't just great for Texas newlyweds though.  Help your family and friends walk down the aisle and begin a happy and healthy marriage with Halo.  www.brideandgroom.com

A soft teddy bear or dolly is practically synonymous with young children.  But when your child has severe allergies or asthma, their plush toys can be stuffed with more than just filling.  Dust mites and other germs can thrive in stuffed animals that can make your child's symptoms worse.  Kids Preferred out of Dayton, New Jersey has come up with a new filling for stuffed toys that inhibits the reproduction of allergens in your children's toys.  They do still suggest freezing and washing the items, but the materials inside tend to return to original shape easier and require less care than other stuffed toys.  Check out the website below: http://www.kidspreferred.com

Two doctors in England are trying to bring a 40 year old breathing technique back to help those suffering from asthma.  The Papworth technique teaches asthma patients how to reduce rapid shallow breathing in favor for more relaxed deep breathing - whether they are experiencing an attack or stress in their everyday lives.  Their testing showed improved respiration for those who suffer from asthma.  Those subjects also saw a benefit from the breathing technique in their stress levels as well. Learn more about the study and the Papworth method in the following article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070629/hl_nm/asthma_sufferers_dc

I hope that each and every one of you has a safe and fun Independence Day!  I'd love to share some important helpful information, but even The Blogger of Clean deserves a day off from leaping tall buildings and saving damsels in distress.  I'll be back Friday!

A European group of researchers and scientists have come up with an electronic nose that will be able to diagnose asthma. Supposedly when each person breathes, there are certain levels of "volatile organic compounds" that are exhaled from asthmatics and not from healthy people's lungs.  This electronic nose that one would breathe into could be ground-breaking for diagnosing children or for those who are otherwise verbally challenged as well. Read more about what the nose knows here.