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Stop and Smell the Roses

April provides all the elements that can trigger asthma and allergies. So, it's a good time to learn how to recognize triggers and treat symptoms early on.

Substances causing seasonal allergies include tree and grass pollen, which become prevalent in the spring and often cause allergy symptoms to increase. However, the severity of allergy conditions can vary widely by geography. And not all parts of the United States confront allergy season at exactly the same time. The American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) provides a pollen map to help determine when your city is at its allergen peak.

Allergy symptoms are sometimes similar to those of a common cold and can make your choice of treatment difficult. What's worse is that treatments that work for one don't always work for the other. Luckily, your symptoms and other clues can help you tell the difference.

When in doubt, a LifeSteps health coach can help you differentiate cold and allergy symptoms. To reach a health coach 24 hours a day, seven days a week, call 1-877-LIFE-123. Your health care provider can prescribe antihistamines and topical nasal steroids if over the counter medicines don't provide adequate relief.

Breathe Easy for Spring!

Among American Standard's employees and dependents, 5 percent are asthmatic. The company spends an estimated $3.5 million for prescriptions for respiratory, allergy, cough and cold relief.

Asthma prevention can reduce the number and severity of flare-ups. Although there is no cure for asthma, avoiding triggers and careful monitoring can help control it.

If you or a family member suffers from asthma, be sure to follow the asthma triggers checklist to ensure easy breathing during the peak season. It can be especially frightening if you have a child with asthma.

Bear in mind that there are a number of factors that affect asthma, including where you live. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America(AAFA) annually releases an Asthma Capitals list of the 100 most challenging places to live with asthma. It is a great source of information about the condition and the variables that indicate whether a community is positioned to make living with asthma easy or difficult.

Home sweet home?

Particles in the air of your home can be triggers. For example, most homes generate about 40 pounds of dust per year for every 1,500 square feet of space. Exposure to indoor air pollutants has increased due to a variety of factors, including the increased use of synthetic building materials and furnishings, chemically formulated personal care products, and household cleaners.

Two of our products, Trane CleanEffects and American Standard AccuClean, are 99.98 percent effective at removing such particles. Employees who purchase these products can receive a $200 rebate.

Enjoy extra spring savings!

This spring, Trane and American Standard will offer exclusive promotions that allow you to buy new residential HVAC or air filtration products with special rebates or financing - in addition to your regular employee discount.

Trane
Get a rebate of up to $1,200 plus six months same-as-cash financing available through participating dealers. Promotion available in the U.S. and Canada only. Depending on market location, the consumer purchase period for this promotion will run from March 1 - April 26, 2007 or from March 15 - May 10, 2007. Check promotion periods with your local retail dealer. Visit www.trane.com to locate a dealer.
American Standard
Get 12 months same-as-cash financing on 15, 16 and 18 SEER complete home comfort systems, or six months same-as-cash financing on 14 SEER and higher systems or individual products through participating dealers. Promotion available in the U.S. only. This offer is valid on purchases made between March 1 - August 31, 2007. Visit www.americanstandardair.com to locate a local dealer.

For more information on these products -- and the culprits in your own home that can aggravate your asthma and allergy symptoms -- be sure to check out their respective Web sites.

Personal health information provided to a LifeSteps health coach is protected by federal and state privacy laws and will not be disclosed to American Standard Companies except as authorized by law for administration of the company's group health plans.

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Personal health information provided to a LifeSteps health coach is protected by federal and state privacy laws and will not be disclosed to American Standard Companies except as authorized by law for administration of the company’s group health plans.