Health and the Kindle

[intinst]

I had to chuckle.  Vacuum the books?  Just a funny visual.

I wonder if microwaving them would change the allergenic properties?

It would dry out the glues and hasten their demise, I believe.

[Avalon]

Geoff, this is a great story.  Thanks for sharing it, and especially for bringing hope to a little girl with a difficult issue.  How wonderful.

It got me thinking, my "hay fever" has gotten so much better since I've been reading on Kindle.  Hmmm . . . 

[Esther]

Great story.   I too have allergy problems with old books.  I'm especially allergic to old pulp paperback paper.  Better paper found in hardbacks and trade paperbacks doesn't pose as much of a problem.  I'll keep those around.  But I always have to give away the mass market paperbacks after a year or so.  I used to live on Cape Cod and the books would get really musty from the humidity. 

[Angela]

Great story Geoff. Thanks for sharing!

[chynared21]

Thanks for sharing this great story Geoff! I love the smell of books but not library books  The books from the children's section is another matter...yikes!

For me...its been easier on my hands. Occasionally I have pains in my hands that will prevent me from doing simple things let alone hold a book.

[Toby]

Great story. I hope that little girl gets her Kindle. Geoff, thanks for enlightening all of us.

[geniebeanie]

I have severe asthma.  Have had it all  my life, avid reader as well.   I called my specialist and told him about the Kindle 2.  He wants to see it and will tell patients about it.   I use two inhalers as needed and two meds.   I only had to use the meds and  no inhalers since I got
it and it is spring.  Usually I am wheezing from morning to night.  I did not know it would stop asthma symtoms but I am thrilled.

[Betsy the Quilter]

Well, I don't know if it will stop them, but you certainly won't be adding to the problem while reading a Kindle!  There are still all the other triggers...have you noticed any difference?

Betsy

[DD]

Thanks for sharing that story, Geoff.  I'm going to mention it to my sister.  My niece has asthma.  So much so that her father, who is a smoker, can't even smoke outside of the house during the day anymore because when he came home in the evening, the residual odor from the smoke in his clothes would set her off when he hugged her.  She loves to read and this might be just the thing for her.

[kdawna]

Nice story. My problem with DTb is that they set off my  allergies. Some   smell musty and I am terribly allergic to mold. I never though of this before but it is one more great reason to own a Kindle.
  kdawna

[MonaSW]

I have terrible allergies too. I never considered the benefits of a Kindle in avoiding allergens. And some smells trigger my migraines. I'm doubly glad for my Kindle.

[Angela]

Never thought about it much, but I don't seem to sneeze near as much reading my Kindle as I did when reading DTBs. I definitely noticed that eye strain has lessened as well as dry eye issues. My eye doctor says I am blinking more reading my Kindle (during page turns actually).

[mumsicalwhimsy]

I am surprised that so many of you seem to be surprised by this thread.

My asthma controls my life.  Not only can I not read used books, I have trouble just stepping into the library.  My meds are at the max...  steroids at a high level for the remainder of my life.  Yes, asthma can be serious.

Please, for those of us affected.... take it easy on the fragrances, we don't do well with them.
Smoke.... don't smoke near entrances or exits of buildings.  That can affect us for a week.
Well, you get the idea.

The Kindle has restored a level of dignity to my life that I thought I had lost forever.   

[intinst]

I don't think that anyone is surprised at the seriousness of Asthma, we just had never put together the KIndle with regaining the ability to enjoy reading again for a sufferer.

[geoffthomas]

Gosh. Thanks for all the responses to this thread.
Intinst you are absolutely correct.  While none of my children have asthma (3 grown sons and a daughter just out of college) two of my three daughters-in-law do.  One of them just bad enough that she and my son decided to move to south Florida to make things better.
But......
I never thought about the Kindle in relation to respiratory problems.  I am a smoker who doesn't (over 2 packs per day for 20 years - now quit for over 20 years) and I REALLY don't like to breathe in other peoples smoke.  Something like got allergic to it while smoking (or some such).  But I don't even begin to have REAL problems.  And this child's problem (and the possible part-solution of the Kindle) was revalatory to me.  So I just HAD to share it with my friends here in the hopes that it might provide insight for some and direction for others.  I am encouraged to find that many of you who are enjoying your Kindles have found it possible to read again.
And it was also encouraging to read here that vision problems and hearing issues are helped by the use of the Kindle's features.  I just wish the Kindle had been my idea.  And I don't think that the developers of ereaders had this as their main inspiration (at least I have never heard that it was).
Just Sayin.......

[BlueGoddess]

*perks at the Princess Bride quote*

I have MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. It never prevented me from reading books, but I read a post from another lady on the Amazon forums who has it so bad that she cannot open a book without getting incredibly ill from the ink and whatever process they use on the paper. Yet another medical malady that can benefit from the miraculous kindle! Along with my carpal tunnel that made it impossible to hold a book without my hands cramping severely!

[BlueGoddess]

And yes, let me echo what another poster said about fragrances, and not just perfumes....lotions, shampoos, hairspray....these can send people with asthma and MCS into a medical emergency. I have a bumper sticker that says Your Perfume is My Poison.

[VondaZ]

My dad suffers from catacts and has problems reading black text on white paper. The contrast causes a problem and the white brightness consumes the text. He was very impressed with my Kindle's gray background and thought other cataract sufferers might benefit from it.

[kim]

My dad suffers from catacts and has problems reading black text on white paper. The contrast causes a problem and the white brightness consumes the text. He was very impressed with my Kindle's gray background and thought other cataract sufferers might benefit from it.

VondaZ - I noticed that was your first post.  Welcome, glad to have you here on KindleBoards.  If you post on the Introductions and Welcome board and tell us a little about yourself it will give everyone a chance to give you a proper welcome

[Betsy the Quilter]

My dad suffers from catacts and has problems reading black text on white paper. The contrast causes a problem and the white brightness consumes the text. He was very impressed with my Kindle's gray background and thought other cataract sufferers might benefit from it.

Thanks for sharing this, VondaZ!  Welcome to KindleBoards and congratulations on your Kindle!  Be sure to go to Introductions and tell us a bit about yourself and then check out the Book Corner and the Accessories, among all the other great boards we've got!

Betsy

[VondaZ]

Thanks for the suggestion - I posted an introduction!
Vonda

[geoffthomas]

Does anyone think that the Kindle DX provides different or more usefulness related to health issues?
I don't see the size helping anyone - harder to manipulate.
The additional memory doesn't seem to me to provide much more than MORE.
The rotational screen - I don't see an health/medical application.

Clearly there is an opportunity for yet larger fonts and so it might be even better for people with vision problems.
It also makes it easier for people with respitory problems to read magazines and newspapers as well as textbooks.

Now I would think that there are several Medical facility situations that the new Kindle would enhance -such as ease of carrying around medical records, etc.  Hmmmm - medical records application - there is a possibility.  Not to mention the books for medical school.  I know - color screen.  I wonder how much that is really important?
Ideas?

[drenee]

Geoff, thanks for sharing that story. 
deb

[Ann in Arlington]

Does anyone think that the Kindle DX provides different or more usefulness related to health issues?

Ideas?

I think the bigger screen means the 6 font sizes are going to be proportionally larger.  So, yeah, better for those with vision problems.   On size 6 on the existing kindle screen there are only a couple of words per page which is kind of weird if you're reading anything of length.  So the bigger screen will definitely help that.  Also the ability to adjust the number of words per line.

I think it's going to be light and slim enough that it won't be much harder to actually hold. . .though one handed might be hard for folks with any weakness in the hands or wrists.  Still, existing book rack devices will work.

The rotation thing could help because by turning sideways it might be easier to read for some. . . . .

Ann