Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Helping Allergy Sufferers Get Some Sleep

We are a family of allergy sufferers. My allergies are year round, usually consisting of dust, some pollens, and mold. Aaron's allergies are mostly specific to ragweed, making late July to September a miserable time for him with a stuffy nose and watery eyes. He's also slightly allergic to our cats. Cordy has skin allergies and we have to be careful what touches her skin for worries she'll break out in dry, itchy patches or red bumps.

While we do a lot of combat allergens in our home, I never really thought about our beds. I mean, I wash the sheets regularly, but other than that I didn't do anything specific to combat allergens. Did you know that it has been estimated that two million dust mites can thrive in an unprotected mattress? Combine that with other allergy triggers such as pet dander and pollen, and your mattress can become a haven for allergens.

I was recently sent a Protect-A-Bed mattress protector and pillow protector to try out. The mattress protector works just like a mattress pad, stretching over the mattress but under the sheets. It's soft, breathable, waterproof and prevents stains on your mattress. But this mattress protector also provides a barrier against dust mites and allergens and prevents bacteria from multiplying. The pillow protector is a zippered case that encases a pillow, underneath the actual pillowcase, and serves the same function.

I'm impressed at how soft the Protect-A-Bed products are. We have always used a mattress pad between the mattress and sheets, but this one is far more comfortable. I've never used a pillow protector before, but I'm completely sold on it now - it keeps my pillow clean and I've noticed I'm not waking up with a stuffy nose as often. The true test will be in the fall, of course, but for now they are doing a good job to keep allergens to a minimum.

The Protect-A-Bed mattress protectors are available in sizes from crib to King. They also have a line of mattress encasements that completely surround the mattress for ultimate protection.

WIN ONE!

I have one set of Protect-A-Bed mattress and pillow protectors to give to one lucky reader! The winner can choose between the AllerZip mattress protector, the Premium mattress protector or the Crib mattress protector. One Premium pillow protector will be included.

To enter, leave a comment below telling me what allergies you or a family member has. You can also earn additional entries in one of the following ways.

Extra entries:
1. Tweet about this contest on Twitter.
2. Subscribe to my blog or let me know you're already subscribed.
3. Write a post on your blog linking to this contest.

For each of these additional entries, please leave a separate comment. For #1 and #3, also give me the link to your tweet or blog post.

Also be sure I have a valid e-mail address to contact you if you should win. Entries will be accepted until Saturday, January 31 at 11:59 pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random after that date and contacted via e-mail.

Good luck, and be sure to watch for my other giveaways being held this week on this blog and my other blog in participation of the Bloggy Giveaways carnival!

This contest is now closed - thanks to all who participated!

67 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks - we have allergies to dust and mold.

Anonymous said...

I seem to be allergic to everything except my pets and my family members! But mostly to dust and mold and I am in constant agony- sneezing everyday!

texas_heartland84[at]yahoo[dot]com

Tiffany @ Lattes And Life said...

We all have typical seasonal allergies. And I get sick if I let the dusting go too long!!!
give_me_a_latte at yahoo

LeeAnn said...

We have allergies to mold, dust, dog dander, plus the regular seasonal outdoor allergies. We could definitely use this for our new mattress!

Keitha said...

We are allergic to dust and pollen! Thanks for the great giveaway!

keithadanielle at yahoo dot com

Jennifer said...

My youngest daughter is allergic to absolutely everything.

jls_wss2003(at)yahoo(dot)com

MarissaFH said...

Hubby has bad seasonal allergies; none of the medications work and he walks around with swollen and watering eyes some days.
Thanks,
MarissaFh@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I have a severe allergy to dust mites and cat and dog dander...I'm praying I won't be passing it on to my kids.

sabrina999 AT rogers DOT com

Anonymous said...

The pollen gets us all down here in the South...and pollen season is coming at us like a freight train!

Teresa said...

I am fortunate to not have allergies,but my daughter suffers from allergies to cat and dog dander, dust mites, weeds, and mold.
TRigell at aol dot com

Jennifer said...

My husband is allergic to pretty much everything and I am allergic to pollen and cats. Thanks so much for this great giveaway!

mattandjen[at]gmail.com

Unknown said...

I suffer from horrible dust and mold allergies. Thanks for the giveaway!

kport207 at gmail dot com

Stacy said...

I think we are allergic to every pollen.

hetz-junk(at)hotmail(dot)com

daytoncat said...

We have allergies to dust, mold and I have hay fever....yuck!

daytoncat1(at)yahoo(dot)com

Alicia said...

I'm allergic to dust, pollen, mold, all grasses, olive trees & bees. I'm probably allergic to cats but refused to admit it.

Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<

mom2boys said...

I would love this for my son's bed. Please enter me! Thanks for the great giveaway!

hottmomma_03(at)yahoo(dot)com

Re said...

i have allergies to dust and mold and pet dander

i dont knwo anyone who is totally unaffected

Anonymous said...

I am have food allergies, but also allergies to dust, and seasonal alergies that get real irritating when everything starts to bloom. Thanks.
leslierose at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Hubby has horrid allergies: dust, mold, pollen and fish or anything cooked in oil that's cooked fish.

shel704 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/1155705267

shel704 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

I'm subscribed via google reader too

shel704 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

Me- cat, rabbit, pine trees, birch trees, dust, dust mites, several types of mold, grass, roaches and slightly allergic to dogs

Daughter #1- dust, mites, cats and molds

Daughter #2- red dye

The rest haven't been tested yet.

Unknown said...

Subscribed by Google reader.

hafner611 {AT} gmail {DOT} com

JoyFilled said...

I have AWFUL allergies to pet dander. Dust really bothers me, too.

lukeandbryn @ gmail.com

taterbug said...

I have allergies and asthma. Something as simple as a fragrance spray or perfume can set off an allergy or asthma attack. Thanks for the great giveaway!

taterbug said...

I subscribed via Google Reader.

taterbug said...

I subscribed via Google Reader.

taterbug said...

Tweeted (taterbugtx)

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

dust allergies for all

Anne R. Key said...

Dust is the worst culprit in our house since it's with us all year long. Of course, we also suffer when it's ragweed and pollen time.

Karen said...

Dust, dander and pollen here.

Trish said...

dust, pollen, mold
thanks for the giveaway!
trishnatey@gmail.com

Becky said...

I am allergic to dust and mold.
ndair4ce@cox.net

Tara said...

My husband has all kinds of allergies.. my son is allergic to pet dander. I love this giveaway!!

Tara
cloudspassby78 (at) yahoo (dot) com
www.weightingforperfection.blogspot.com

Tara said...

I subscribed via yahoo reader


Tara
cloudspassby78 (at) yahoo (dot) com
www.weightingforperfection.blogspot.com

mindy said...

mom has copd and is very sensitive to a lot of allergents thanks for the giveaway

A Reader said...

we're allegic to dust.
Thanks for the giveaway!

kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sir Thrift-A-Lot said...

Dust! This would be a perfect surprise for my boyfriend, he's allergic to dust & we live on the 22nd floor of an apartment building in the heart of downtown with 2 animals! The amount of dust is insane & he seems to breath louder than anyone I have ever met (drives me nuts!).

Sir Thrift-A-Lot said...

I subscribe via google reader as jchaborek[at]gmail.com : )

Valancia said...

My poor son has such bad allergies.. mostly to dust and pollen and I have allergies for dust and a couple foods. Thank you kindly! skyxsky27(at)gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I'll just say that I sneeze my head off at the sight of dust.

palmersf(at)bellsouth.net

Anonymous said...

asthma :-(
KawaiiNeko2008 (at) aol (dot) com

AudreyO said...

Pollen is huge for me, which means I'm pretty allergic to outdoors LOL

Unknown said...

I'm allergic to dust and some foods. My son is allergic to dust, some foods, and his seasonal allergies are terrible in spring and fall. freetibet1974 at yahoo dot com

Reva Skie said...

Between my husband and myself we are pretty much allergic to everything. Mold, pollen, cats, dogs, ragweed...you name it, we are allergic to it.

Julie said...

I have hayfever. And with in laws who live on a ranch, that's a lot of hay going on!

cdmtx said...

i am allergic to dust and mold. this would be an awesome win for me ...


thanx

Jacqueline in Atlanta said...

I am desperately allergic to dust mites. When they did my allergy testing, no matter how much they diluted the serum, my arm bump still swelled up like crazy to dust mites. Also to molds and cats.

Thanks for having the giveaway!

Amanda Jayne said...

What a great giveaway! I am allergic to everything it seems...mold, dust, animals, leaves, grass, the outside in general...but mold and dust are my biggies!

Robin said...

I'm pretty much allergic to everything that's green or grows or is dusty - most trees, leaves, dust and dust mites... Just had a new scratch test last week to confirm in fact.

Great giveaway!

Trish said...

I'm allergic to dust and pollen.

trishalitax3(at)gmail[dot]com

michelle said...

Throughout my years, I have had recurring allergies, some disappeared after childhood and some have managed to stick with me for the long haul. Fall seems to be the worst time of year for me. Dust, smoke, and pollens seems to be the worst triggers for me. This prize is wonderful. Thanks for the giveaway.

michelle at northofthe49 dot com

Anonymous said...

I have terrible seasonal allergies. Especially dust and mold and pollen. Thanks for the giveaway!

Anonymous said...

Dust and mold take down myself aand my son.... wiicked13 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Sandra said...

We have never been officially diagnosed...but cat dander really seems to affect my husband and dust/dust mites could be another possibility.

owatz (AT) telus (DOT) net

wendy wallach said...

I am highly allergic to dust mites, mold, cat and dog.

madamerkf at aol dot com

punkinmama said...

My son is allergic to cats, in addition to many foods.

Miranda Ward said...

Im allergic to dust and mold

Crystal F said...

We have cat allergies, dog allergies, tree allergies, dust allergies, food allergies and allergies to medicine. Our house is a house full of runny noses and ezcema. lol Thank you!

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness! It would take up less space to list what allergies we DON"T have!!!

I was tested, and I tested allergic to about 90 different foods, animals, plants and pollens.

My daughter has apparently inherited my allergies. She's been in the ER TWICE in the last month b/c they've been so bad that she couldn't breathe. Her oxygen count was 91, when it should be 98-100.

Anonymous said...

I have allergies to dust and smoke!


Thanks for entering me! Great Contest!

Janna Johnson
jannajanna@hotmail.com

Amy L said...

I'm very allergic to dust and molds, and I have asthma.
aleach6179(at)gmail(dot)com

jennifer57 said...

I would pick a queen size :)

Ashley said...

I'm allergic to dust.

Jenn said...

Both dh and I are allergic to dust, pollen, and other assorted things. We'd need a king size.

37 Questions said...

My husband and I are both VERY allergic to dust mites. Thanks for a super giveaway!
jjdragonfly [at] gmail [dot] com

Lindsey said...

The Allerzip would be wonderful. My husband is severely allergic to dustmites.