Reducing Asthma Triggers in Your Home
by Dr. Rob for MSN Health & Fitness
Q. What changes do I need to make in our home to avoid aggravating my child’s asthma?
A. Creating a healthier indoor home air environment is important for anyone, but especially for those affected by asthma. To be successful, you’ll need help from the whole family. There may even be some expense involved; however, this investment will yield a wonderful dividend—fewer asthma flare-ups and, hopefully, a decreased need for asthma medications.
For starters, it is important to know that a condition or stimulus brings on most asthma attacks. We call these "triggers." Examples include: allergens (mold, pollen, pet dander, dust mites), irritants (tobacco smoke, room deodorizers), exercise (running), weather (cold air), infections, gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD) and even emotions (being anxious or scared). A primary care physician or allergy specialist can help identify your child’s precise triggers.
Once you have this information, you are ready to take back your home. You will need to control or get rid of these triggers. The best place to begin is the bedroom, where a child spends a large part of her or his time.
Bedroom Basics: Deal with the dust mites.
Dust mites feed on shed flakes of human skin. They can be found on pillows, bedding, mattresses, box springs, upholstered furniture, carpet and even Fluffy, your child’s stuffed toy. We actually breathe in the mites’ fecal matter and decaying body parts. Certainly gross to think about, but for those with asthma who are sensitive to these allergens, dust mites can cause genuine trouble. In order to get control of these critters, here are some suggestions:
Use mite-proof encasings for box springs, mattresses and pillow covers.Wash bed linens, blankets and stuffed toys in hot water (130 degrees Fahrenheit in order to kill the mites). Replace upholstered furniture with wood, vinyl or leather. Remove carpets and install polished flooring.
Kitchen Recipe: Clean up the mold and mess.
It is not unusual to have lots of crumbs, clutter and moisture in your kitchen. Thanks to these treats, cockroaches, odors and mold love this area. To combat these asthma triggers, keep the area as clean as possible by putting away all food, removing the trash and wiping the counters down at the end of each day. To combat mold, check under cabinets, behind the refrigerator, around the trash can to dry up any spills left behind.
Bathroom, Basements, Crawl Spaces and Attached Garages: Combat mold, moisture, poor ventilation and chemical fumes.
Chemical irritants in the form of pesticides and household cleaners, allergens from dust and mold, as well as the build up of fungus and bacteria are all possible in poorly ventilated areas. It is important to keep these areas clean, dry and well ventilated, as well as making sure any cleaners or pesticides are in properly sealed containers. Also, don’t lay carpet on concrete floors as this creates a perfect environment for the growth of mold and fungal allergens.
General Tips:
1) Don’t smoke. There are over 4,000 chemicals in these products. They are powerful irritants that linger on walls, furniture, carpets and clothing, as well as in the home’s ductwork.
2) Control the dust. Curtains are dust traps. If you must have them, use easy to wash curtains and launder monthly. Dust all furniture, pictures, vent covers and floor surfaces with a damp cloth (throw away the feather duster as it moves dust from one place to another).
3) Go on pet patrol. This can be an emotional issue in households where pet dander is an asthma trigger. At the very least, keep pets out of the bedroom 24/7.
4) Don’t eat in the bedroom. Cockroaches feed on crumbs. If you find tangled balls of dust, they may be cockroach nests. Their fecal matter can trigger some people’s asthma.
5) Dry up the damp. Get the hamper and plants out of the bedroom. Damp and dirty clothes are a great place for mold and mildew, as are house plants. Also, please repair any water leaks.
6) Have your air ducts professionally cleaned. This will help to remove any bacteria, dust, mold or mildew growing in these areas.
7) Reduce humidity in the home to 45 percent or less. Use a home humidity monitor or a dehumidifier that allows you to adjust to the desired level.
8) Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and encased motor.
9) Use dust mite powder while vacuuming and dusting at least once per week, if it is too expensive to replace furniture and carpets.
10) Replace heating and ventilation filters as recommended by the manufacturer.
11) Use exhaust fans or open a window in your bathroom after showering.
12) Make sure fuel burning appliances are vented to the outside in order to avoid potential exposure to the pollutant nitrogen dioxide.
13) Do not use home air purifiers that produce ozone, as they can trigger asthma flare-ups. This information should be available in the product safety sheet (check the fine print). For further information on air filters, check out Consumer Reports.
Simple measures can go a long way toward your breathing independence. Asthma does not have to rule your life, especially at home.
http://health.msn.com/centers/asthma/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100133437
