INVALUABLE ASTHMA INFORMATION
Which Asthma Drugs And Medicines Are Safe During Pregnancy?
These steroids have been used for decades and on a massive scale ...
What Is Asthma?
Asthma is a highly ranked chronic health condition ...
What Triggers An Asthma Attack?
Asthma triggers can vary dramatically from person to person ...
For More Invaluable Information:
THE BEST ASTHMA BOOKS
Asthma For Dummies
Asthma For Dummies will help asthma sufferers and their loved ones get a strong handle on managing the disease ...
American Academy of Pediatrics Guide To Your Child's Allergies And Asthma
From the foremost authority on children's health -- a vital guide for parents whose children suffer from allergies and asthma ...
For More Asthma Books:
ASTHMA BOOKS
Asthma And The Interior of Your Home
You may not know it, but there are environmental factors inside your home that can trigger your asthma attacks.
Most often characterized by a difficulty with breathing, asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes a particularly sensitive reaction of a person's airways (bronchial tubes) to irritants. These irritants can often be found right inside your own home.
Let's take a look at the most common.
House-Dust Mites
Many people with asthma are sensitive to the droppings of house-dust mites. These are tiny insects that live in the dust that builds up around the house - in carpets, bedding, soft furnishings and soft toys.
If you suspect or know that house-dust mites trigger your asthma, then you may be able to reduce some symptoms by following all the recommendations below:
- Use complete barrier-covering systems on your mattress, duvet and pillows.
- Remove all carpets and replace with hard flooring.
- Vacuum all areas frequently. Use a vacuum cleaner that has good suction and a filtered exhaust that does not scatter dust. Damp dust all surfaces or use an attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
- Remove all soft toys from beds. Put them in a bag in the freezer for a minimum of six hours every one to two weeks to kill house-dust mites.
- Hot wash (at 60 degrees C) sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases once a week. Although some people are allergic to feathers there is no conclusive evidence to show that synthetic hypo-allergenic pillows are any better.
- Clean your soft furnishings with anti-house-dust-mite chemicals (although these can sometimes cause symptoms to get worse).
- Use a dehumidifier to dry the air, as this makes it more difficult for the house-dust mites to survive.
- Ask someone else to vacuum while you stay out of the room.
Carpets And Furnishings
Furniture, flooring and shelving made from chipboard or MDF may trigger asthma symptoms in some people. This is because they contain a formaldehyde resin, which gives off a pungent, colorless gas that can irritate the airways.
Carpets can also be a source of formaldehyde gas left over from the manufacturing process. When purchasing a new carpet, you should always ask the shop if they can unroll and air it out before you bring it home.
People who are allergic to latex should avoid carpet with a foam underlay.
Some people report that their asthma is triggered by the smell of new sofas and soft furnishings. Try airing out new furniture before bringing it into the house, and keep the windows open for a few days.
Those who are allergic to pets may continue to have symptoms for many months after a dog or cat has left the house. This is because pet allergens can linger on furniture and in carpets. They're very difficult to remove without resorting to rigorous cleaning, something such as steam cleaning. When moving into a new house, it's wise to check whether the previous homeowners had any pets.
Heating And Cooking
Dampness has often been linked with asthma reactions. Research has also shown that asthma symptoms were more difficult to control in people with homes without central heating.
There is no type of heating that is best for everyone with asthma.
- Ducted air heating. No medical research has been carried out on links between this type of heating and asthma. However, expert doctors have seen many patients who appear to have worse asthma symptoms due to the ducted air heating. This could be the result of more house-dust mites being inhaled as the air is re-circulated. Fan heaters and convectors also move stir the air and dust.
- Gas heating and cooking. Houses that have gas fires and gas cookers have higher levels of nitrogen dioxide. In some asthma sufferers, nitrogen dioxide may cause other triggers and heighten their symptoms. There is no evidence that demonstrates whether gas central heating increases asthma symptoms.
Wood And Coal Fires
Wood and coal fires, without adequate flues, can cause a slight increase in breathing problems when compared with central heating.
Cleaning, Decorating, Building Work And Repairs
In everyday life, and especially while redecorating, a wide assortment of domestic products and solvents are often used around the home. Many of these release chemicals that can cause breathing difficulties in those with asthma. These chemicals are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Many household and do-it-yourself products such as cleaning fluids, varnishes, glues and paints contain VOCs.
Some notes to keep in mind:
- Furniture polish, air fresheners, carpet cleaners and dry-cleaned clothes can all trigger asthma because they contain VOCs.
- Use solid or liquid alternatives rather than sprays where possible. Use as little of the product as possible and open windows.
- Decorating: to date, there has been little medical research on the many chemicals used in renovating or decorating a home.
- Wet paint can cause problems, as it gives off chemicals that can trigger asthma symptoms in some people. There is no paint that can be guaranteed as safe for everyone with asthma.
- New low-odor, water-based gloss paints that may be slightly better for some people with asthma are now available. These paints are available at most large do-it-yourself outlets, and manufacturers' details can be obtained by contacting the Paintmakers Association.
- Stripping wallpaper can unsettle dust. As a precaution, wash down wallpaper before you begin your project. This may help to dampen and minimize the dust. Always ensure there's plenty of ventilation while working.
- Some people prefer to wear a mask during decorating and even during everyday cleaning. They certainly can't hurt. But you should realize that no special masks have been shown in trials to reduce asthma symptoms.
Building Work And Repairs
There is a demonstratable link between poor housing conditions and asthma. It's important to ensure that housing conditions such as damp, poor ventilation and inadequate heating are resolved as quickly as possible.
Major renovation or structural repair can create dust and other irritant triggers.
Problems can also arise when treating a house for woodworm, dampness and dry rot.
You can also ask your local council's environmental health department for advice.
Some insulation materials contain formalin and formaldehyde. It's important that the paper backing which encloses the insulation is not cracked, as this can leak fumes into the house. If you're having cavity wall insulation installed, check with the builder or contractor to confirm exactly what they intend to use. Micafil is free of the chemicals that are most likely to irritate your asthma.
If you're contemplating any building work within your home, it's worth seeing your doctor or nurse to check if a temporary increase in medicine is needed.
At A Glance
- Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes airways (bronchial tubes) particularly sensitive to irritants, and this is characterized by difficulty in breathing.
- Various factors inside your home can be important triggers or causes for the symptoms of asthma and asthma attacks.
- House-dust mites, carpets and furnishings materials, heating and cooking fuels, wood and coal fires, and chemicals and materials used for cleaning, decorating, building work and repairs can all have major impacts on asthma.