Gadgets to Help Soothe the Winter Blues - and Flus!

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Lots of liquids and rest are important during times of illness, but there are also new gadgets that can improve winter wellness in the home.  As a doctor and a mom, Jennifer Trachtenberg, pediatrician at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, recommends four gadgets for every household that will help make cold and flu season a little more endurable, for kids and adults alike:

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• Humidifier:  Using a humidifier throughout the winter months can help relieve congestion and coughs for youngsters and help them sleep better.  The humidifier offers an effective solution to counteract the effects of dry, harsh winter air by adding essential moisture to any room – perfect temporary relief for dry eyes, dry nose, flakey skin, chapped lips, and general comfort.  For peace-of-mind, it's important to look for new humidifier technologies like the ultraviolet light chamber in the Vicks GermFree Humidifier that kills up to 99.9% of mold and bacteria in the water.    

• Hygrometer:  Humidification provides a number of health and comfort benefits such as relieving chest congestion, soothing parched skin and even reducing static electricity in the air.  If you think your home humidity levels might not be up to par, a hygrometer is a handy device available at most drug stores. Hygrometers provide a digital readout of the relative humidity in your home, and are compact and low-cost.  New research indicates the flu will have less of a chance of surviving on surfaces and in the air if you use your hygrometer and humidifier together to keep humidity at the ideal 40 to 60 percent level.  

• Thermometer:  Fever is often one of the first signs of the flu, and also a sign when you're most contagious.  When temperature-taking, reach for technology that is accurate and trusted.  The Braun ThermoScan Ear Thermometer is used by more pediatricians(1) and moms(2) in the U.S. than any other brand.  This advanced thermometer is proven to be more accurate than rectal(3) and temple(4) measurements and features patented technology, such as its pre-warmed tip and positioning guidance system that ensures accuracy every time.  

• Air Purifier:  The EPA says levels of indoor air pollution can be between two to five times higher than outdoor air.  Poor indoor air quality can negatively impact many people's health.  In fact, some cold-like symptoms including sneezing, sore throats and running noses can be triggered by indoor allergens such as dust, mold spores and pet dander, which are commonly found in indoor air.  One element of improving indoor air quality can be air purifiers.  One such air purifier is the Honeywell HEPAClean® UV Tower Air Purifier which is a new model that combines three air cleaning technologies: carbon zeolite pre-filter which can reduce common household odors, ultraviolet light which can reduce viruses, bacteria, fungi and mold spores and HEPAClean® filters which can remove up to 99% of allergens from the air passing through the filter. 

Dr. Jennifer Trachtenberg, MD, FAAP, is chief pediatric officer for RealAge.com and a mom of three active young children. The nationally renowned parenting expert and board-certified pediatrician has practiced pediatric and adolescent medicine for more than 14 years and maintains a successful private practice in New York City.  She is also an assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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For more information on winter wellness tips, visit www.coldandflucentral.com.

About Kaz

Kaz is a global manufacturer and marketer of air purifiers under the Honeywell brand. The Honeywell trademark is used by Kaz, Inc. under license from Honeywell International Inc.  Kaz has also been a partner with The Procter & Gamble Company since 1995, bringing Vicks Home Health Care products to parents everywhere.  The Thermoscan Ear Thermometer is manufactured by Kaz, Inc. under a license to the 'Braun' trademark.  'Braun' is a registered trademark of Braun GmbH, Kronberg, Germany.  

Visit www.kaz.com information about these and other quality products for home health, home comfort and insect control.  

(1) Based on a survey of pediatricians in the United States.  2009, March.  Arendt Consulting. Pediatrician Thermometer Claims Substantiation.  

(2) Based on syndicated ear and temple thermometer data.  

(3/4) Nimah M et al; "Evaluation of infrared tympanic thermometry…"' Pediatric Critical Care Med 2006; 7(1):48-55.

SOURCE Kaz