March 15, 2000 – A researcher at the North West Lung Center at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester (UK), Dr Ashley Woodcock, came up with the idea of measuring allergens from cats and dogs in pillows that have been used for two years in the same bed. To his surprise, pillows made from synthetic materials contained six to eight times more allergens than feather pillows.
The study made public at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology confirms other similar research on dust allergens.
The 14 pillows studied belonged to people who did not have dogs or cats. According to Dr. Woodcock, allergens can build up like this just because they’re floating around in the air.
It is not known why feather pillows are more impenetrable to allergens than synthetic pillows, but a mechanical explanation seems plausible: the material used for feather pillows is woven much tighter than that of synthetic pillows. The researcher concludes that you should respond negatively to a doctor who tells you to get rid of your feather pillow to reduce your allergies.
HealthPassport.net
According to Reuters Health, March 9, 2000
