FitSugar

10 Powerful Pet Hair Vacuums (Even on Hardwoods)!

Sara Yoo — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:24:11 PDT

Will the fight against pet hair ever end!? Short of shaving your furry pal, the solution to the problem seems like a losing battle. Never fear: we've found 10 vacuum cleaners with powerful suction to suck up this hairy situation.

See one you love or hate? Share your opinions or reviews on the corresponding slide!

Source: Thinkstock

How to Reduce Pet Allergies

Sara Yoo — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 PDT

We're in the midst of high pollen season, and here at Sugar HQ, we're trading tips on allergy relief almost as much as monthly must haves. As temperatures rise, flowers and trees aren't the only ones shedding sneeze-causing particles: your pet is busy sloughing off fur and dander which can increase the intensity of itchy eyes and runny noses. Of course, you could research the best hypoallergenic pet breed for your home, but if you've already made a dog or cat a member of your family, here are a few tips on keeping the sneezes at bay!

Source: Flickr User Katie@!

Everyday Activities That Make Your Allergies Worse

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:45:18 PDT

Most of us are psyched for warmer weather, but allergy sufferers are cursing runny noses, congestion, red eyes, and itchy throats. You may not realize it, but here are the everyday things that can aggravate your symptoms.

Exercising outside is a no-brainer when temps start going up, but not so for those allergic to pollen. If you can't bear to skip outdoor workouts, try to exercise early in the morning when pollen counts are lowest. If you decide to exercise outside, be sure to wash your clothes to get rid of pollen and take a shower to rinse allergens out of your hair. If your allergies are really bad, invest in a gym membership or equipment for your home gym - exercising in the AC will make you breathe much easier.
Opening the window to get some fresh air? Don't you dare. Pollen and other allergens blow in where they come in contact with your eyes and nose. Keep the windows in your home, office, and car closed, and definitely don't use a window fan. If you're hot, turn up the air-conditioning.

Keep reading to find out other common things you're doing that can worsen allergies.

10 Signs of Seasonal Allergies in Pets

PetSugar — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:00:00 PDT

Spring 'tis the season for allergy flare-ups for many humans, but what about pets? My pal Samson suffers from some droopy, goopy eyes and itchy, red paws that clued his owner into their dilemma. If you're not sure whether a pooch has an issue like this, check out 10 signs of skin or allergy problems:

Constant paw licking
Rubbing body against objects/ floor
Excessive scratching or chewing fur
Hair loss
Change in odor
Redness of fur and skin rashes
Flaky or greasy coat
Drippy eyes
Runny nose
Increased sneezing and wheezing

While it's true that a variety of illnesses can cause these symptoms, if you see several of them at the same time, now is a good time to take your pet to the vet to get checked for a clean bill of health!

Source: Flickr User The_Poenisher

9 Ways to Prevent Allergies - Without Medicine

Shape — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:39:14 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Nothing puts a crimp on a Spring run like sneezing, snot, and watery eyes. And since seasonal allergies can worsen over time, early intervention can be the difference between enjoying the outdoors and being stuck inside with a box of tissues. To help you avoid that unfortunate fate, we pulled together this list of the best natural ways to keep your allergy symptoms under wraps.

Allergy Symptoms vs. Cold Symptoms

Susi May — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:21:39 PDT

I lived for years in denial of my seasonal allergies and pretended that the runny nose was just a little cold. But that little cold went on forever.

Needless to day, I have wised up and learned how to sort through symptoms to determine what is causing my runny nose - a virus or pollen. Here is the list comparing the symptoms of the common cold with those that accompany seasonal allergies that should help you figure out what is going on with your nose.

Itchy nose: Although allergies and colds both produce a runny nose and congestion, allergies create the dreaded itchy nose. The itch generally occurs in the back of the nose and is difficult to "scratch." Folks suffering from "nasal pruritus" (the fanciest way in the world to say itchy nose) often scrunch up their faces, like a bunny, to try to alleviate the itch.

The sneeze: Sneezing frequently, and sometimes quietly, is common with allergies. Allergy sneezes are an attempt to remove allergens from the nose. Sneezes from colds tend to be loud, deep, and infrequent, attempting to clear the bronchial congestion down in the lungs.

Unfortunately, the list of symptoms is a bit longer, so keep reading.

Sneeze-Free: Hypoallergenic Dog and Cat Breeds

Sara Yoo — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:00:00 PDT

If you know someone with pet allergies, then you're probably aware that some dog and cat breeds are less likely to cause your pal sneezes and itchy eyes. It's not necessarily the animal's fur that keeps some sniffles at bay: these breeds produce less dander or certain proteins in their saliva, or shed less than other breeds, thereby reducing airborne allergens. While these pets are great companions for allergy sufferers, keep in mind that they aren't completely allergen-free, so taking other measures (like frequent house cleaning, hand washing, and air filtering) will be necessary if you make them part of your family. It's important to do your research when considering a new pet, but here's a roundup of hypoallergenic dogs and cats to get brains a-storming.

Source: Flickr User Asha Elizabeth Gupta

Nighttime Habits That Are Ruining Your Sleep and Health

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:28:16 PST

You slip under the covers, turn off the light, and rest your head on your pillow. Seems simple and perfect, but here are some things you could be doing in bed that harm your health.

Grinding your teeth: Formally called sleep bruxism, many people unknowingly clench their jaw or grind their teeth at night, which can lead to tension headaches, earaches, irritated tissue on the inside of your cheeks, jaw pain, and permanent damage to your teeth in the form of chips and worn-down enamel that cause sensitivity or cracks. Stress can be a factor, so reducing the amount of worry in your life can help. If it doesn't, see your dentist about designing your own personal mouth guard to sleep with. Not exactly the sexiest thing to wear to bed, it's sure to offer you a more restful and less painful night of sleep.
Sucking on a cough drop: If you suffer from a chronic cough, cold or sinus infection, or postnasal drip, sucking on a cough drop every night may be the only way you can get some sleep without coughing keeping you up. Although soothing to your throat, exposure to a bath of sugar all night long is sure to lead to tooth decay and cavities. Here are other natural remedies for your nighttime coughs. If the cough persists, it's time to see your doc.

Keep reading to find out what else you're doing at night that's wrecking your health.

How to Kick a Nighttime Cough Naturally

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:05:23 PST

Whether it's because of a cold or allergies, coughing at night is not only annoying, it prevents you from getting the sleep you need to stay healthy. Before you down cough medicine (which often just masks the cough), you might want to relieve your nighttime cough with one of these natural remedies.

Steam up: Before hitting the hay, create a steam room in the bathroom. Shut the door, don't turn on the fan, and take a hot shower. Let the water gently run on your face, or if that's too intense, place a warm washcloth on your sinuses, allowing the heat and steam to help relieve sinus congestion. You can even use a neti pot in the shower - just be sure to fill it with warm distilled or sterilized water, not the shower water. Using a neti pot after you've breathed in steam can make it more effective.
Get moist: Since dry air can often cause a dry cough (especially in the Winter months when we crank up the heat), moisten the air you breathe by running a cool-mist humidifier on low throughout the night (I'm a fan of this humidifier from Crane). In the morning, be sure to wipe down your windows and windowsills as condensation tends to form, and you don't want this moisture to encourage mold growth, which can also aggravate a cough. Follow the directions that came with your humidifier when it comes to cleaning it, and disinfect it thoroughly at least once a week to avoid mold growth.

Keep reading for more natural ways to beat your nighttime cough.

Must-Know Tips For Neti Pot Newbies

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:03:57 PST

Whether it's a nasty cold or allergies causing your congestion, it may be time to give a neti pot a whirl. This teapot-looking device may seem a little odd at first glance, but it's recommended by ear, nose, and throat doctors to relieve nasal congestion and pain. To a newbie, using a neti pot may seem torturous, but with a few helpful hints, you'll be a neti-pot know-it-all in no time. Watch this video showing how to use a neti pot and keep these important tips in mind.

Go for plastic: Metal and ceramic pots might be pretty, but they tend to break or warp when dropped. A plastic neti pot (I like Rhino Horn neti pots) is lightweight, easy to travel with, a cinch to clean, and you don't have to worry about it shattering if it accidentally drops on your bathroom floor.
Type of salt: There's no need to splurge on special salt to use with a neti pot. Regular table salt works fine, but be sure it's not iodized, as that can cause irritation. Follow the directions that your neti pot came with and measure out the salt exactly rather than eyeballing the amount. Typically the ratio is one teaspoon of salt to 16 ounces of water.

Keep reading for more neti pot newbie tips.