*DIANE G HEATLEY, MD
Pediatric Otolaryngology
University of Wisconsin
School of Medicine and
Public Health:
Saline nasal washing helps keep the nose healthy. The nose warms, humidifies and filters the air we
breathe every day. When healthy, it does a good job of filtering, but an unhealthy nose can’t function
efficiently.
The nose and sinuses produce a quart of mucus every day. When this thickens, the cilia have a hard
time moving the mucus blanket. It can then become infected, leading to nasal congestion, drainage,
post-nasal drip, cough, headache, bad breath and fatigue.
Saline nasal wash with a Neti Pot or squeeze bottle thins the mucus to &ldquo clean the filter&rdquo that is your
nose. Saline use has been shown to diminish the number of days a person suffers from respiratory
symptoms, such as cold or flu, and relieve symptoms of nasal allergy. Saline nasal mist is a great alternative
for infants, young children, and others who find a true nasal wash to be unpleasant.
*NEIL SCHACHTER, MD
Author of Life and Breath:
Most people are well aware of air pollution in our outdoor environment. What is less known is
the problem of indoor air pollution in our homes, schools and workplace. In fact, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that air quality is two to five times worse indoors than outdoors.
The key to maintaining healthy levels of indoor air quality is the right form of ventilation, which
helps balance outdoor air pollutants like pollen and dust against the build-up of gases, irritants and
allergens that occur naturally in the home. Simple steps to improve ventilation like running the air
conditioner in warm months can help remove pollutants and gases that are dissolved in the humid
air. Also, using a high performance filter to help remove particulate matter, mold spores and pollen
can make a difference. Avoid using cleaning products that release volatile organic compounds, which
can cause tiny airways to constrict.
*STEVE RAMOS
Certified Home Inspector:
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), air pollution in the home can be made worse
by poor ventilation as well as high heat and humidity levels. Sometimes, improving your indoor air
quality is as simple as improving your homes ventilation system. Many homes are already outfitted
with a forced air heating and cooling system that circulates the air. While standard fiberglass filters
were originally designed to protect the equipment, they don’t provide much improvement toward
home air quality. High performance filters help protect equipment and help reduce indoor allergens
like mold spores, dust mite debris, pet dander and particles that can carry bacteria and viruses by
capturing them from the air that passes through the filter. Look for an electrostatically charge filter
to help capture more micro particles (.01 to 3 microns) than an ordinary fiberglass filter and change it
regularly, according to manufacturer directions for maximum efficiency.
*PEER LAURITSEN
President
Oticon, Inc:
At Oticon, our goal is always to put the needs of people with hearing loss first. As the first company
to introduce Bluetooth connectivity to the hearing instruments, we recognized the potential for high
speed, broadband wireless signal processing to address the most common listening challenges for
people with hearing loss. Powered by our proprietary RISE platform, two hearing instruments are now
able to communicate wirelessly with each other, processing sounds as a single unit. This is similar to
the way the brain normally processes sound from two ears to support the proper interpretation of
speech and other sounds in the environment. The result is a unique spatial awareness that makes it
possible for hearing instrument users to more easily focus on conversations while &ldquo cancelling out&rdquo
background noises. With the wireless connectivity built into Oticon hearing instruments, people with
hearing loss can also stream sound directly from cell phones to their hearing devices. The new ConnectLine
system, the first and only system of wireless connectivity solutions that connects seamlessly
to TV and landline phones, allows users to enjoy high quality audio streaming seamlessly through their
hearing instruments at their own preferred volume and without the delay experienced with off-theshelf
Bluetooth transmitters.