How to "Grow" Clean Air

The New York Times published a story regarding how common houseplants can purify the air of chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde.

This claim is based on NASA research performed in the 1980s when the agency was trying to figure out ways to keep the air quality as clean as possible within enclosed habitats (like a space station).

Of course, you can read the 27 page report... or read a mom-friendly book that summarizes the findings in an easy-to-understand language from Amazon.com.

"How to Grow Fresh Air" by Dr. BC Wolverton


The book reviews 50 common houseplants' ability to clean the air inside the home or office. Depending on the plant, chemicals that can be removed include benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, toulene, trichlorethylene, chloroform, ammonia, acetone, and alcohols. Such chemicals are emitted from electronics, drywall, adhesives, upholstery, carpet, paint, cosmetics, etc.

It is suspected that such chemicals may be the cause of "sick building syndrome" that induces symptoms of upper respiratory irritation, fatigue, headache, and congestion when afflicted individuals enter certain buildings.

My personal favorite plants are the fern and peace lilly, both which have a high rate of chemical vapor removal, easy to grow and maintain, and fairly resistant to insect infestation. Does the job and easy to care for.

BEWARE!!!

Now before running to the nearest greenhouse and buying numerous plants to keep inside the home, consider that though such plants remove chemicals from the air, the plants themselves may exacerbate allergies in sensitive individuals.

Why? Plants can increase dust (accumulated on the leaves) and mold allergens (in the soil).


Source:
Really? Some Plants Can Filter Airborne Chemicals. NYT 9/3/12

Reference:
Interior Landscape Plants Indoor Air Pollution Abatement. NASA 9/15/89

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Dirty Air Filters and Allergies - Don't Forget the Car!!!

Most people with bad allergies know to change their home's air filter at least quarterly with at least a 1000 microparticle performance rating (mpr). Such filters will remove pollen, dust, and other airborne particles that may exacerbate allergies as well as keep the vent system within a home clean.

BUT... allergic patients should also not forget to change their car's air filter as well regularly, especially given the car is moving around outside and people often have the air conditioning or heat turned on blowing into the face. And guess what... there are many different quality car air filters.

As such, do recommend that whenever you have your car for maintenance, request the mechanic to show you your car's air filter.

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FDA Approves New "Dry" Steroid Nasal Spray

On March 26, 2012, the FDA approved of a new type of steroid nasal spray in the treatment of nasal allergies that puffs powder into the nose rather than a liquid. Liquid formulations such as nasonex, flonase, veramyst, nasacort, and rhinocort has been until now the only delivery medium of administration.

This new spray made by Teva Pharmaceuticals is called QNASL which puffs a steroid beclomethasone dipropionate. For those who know pharmaceuticals, it is the same active ingredient as (liquid) beconase nasal spray.

Just like the other nasal sprays, administration is 2 puffs (sprays) in each nares daily.

This spray does pretty much the same thing (and has similar side effects) as the other established nasal sprays. However, QNASL may be better tolerated in those patients who HATE the drip down the back of the nose after liquid nasal spray use.

Drug should be available for prescription starting in April 2012.

Source:
Teva Announces FDA Approval of QNASLTM (beclomethasone dipropionate), a New Nonaqueous Nasal Aerosol, for the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis. Teva Pharma 3/26/12

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With A Deviated Septum, Why Does Nasal Obstruction Come and Go?

A deviated septum is a well known factor causing nasal obstruction in people. However, many patients with a deviated septum will also state that there are times when they can breath just fine from their nose. As such, can a deviated septum truly be the cause of their nasal obstructive symptoms? Shouldn't the obstruction be constant?

The blunt answer is ABSOLUTELY nasal obstruction can be intermittent OR constant with a deviated septum!!! It's more a question of degree.

To begin with, a deviated septum is when the wall that separates the right and left nasal cavities is bent one way (green arrow) instead of being perfectly straight.

If there is no mucosal swelling, a person with a deviated septum is able to breath from both sides just fine. However, if there is the slightest bit of mucosal swelling from turbinate hypertrophy, allergies, upper respiratory infection, or any other environmental irritation, the side that is more narrow will obstruct much more readily with less swelling given there is just "less room" for swelling to occur before obstruction occurs.

Below is the same exact nose and septum as above, but with mucosal swelling present.

As you can see, with the same exact amount of swelling present, the deviated septum significantly influences how much space is present for air to pass through compared with a straight septum.

As such, even though a deviated septum may not technically be obstructive, given there is less room for any swelling to be accomodated, a patient will complain of nasal congestion and obstruction much more readily compared to someone with a straight septum due to the slightest changes in mucosal swelling.

How is a deviated septum fixed? Click here to read more.

Of course, one can try and control the mucosal swelling to avoid any surgical intervention, typically with steroid or anti-histamine nasal sprays. The downside is that such medications need to be used daily to prevent swelling from occurring in the first place.

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