The Asthma-Friendly Home

The airways of people with asthma are very sensitive. Substances in the home that are harmless to most people can cause serious breathing problems for a person with asthma. Research has shown that the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks can be reduced through careful avoidance of common triggers, often found in and around our homes.

If you have asthma, you need to do all you can to avoid the common Asthma Triggers. One of the most important things you can do is to take steps to make your home more asthma-friendly. Here are some strategies for reducing or eliminating some common household asthma triggers:

Pets

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as an allergy-free dog or cat. If you are allergic to your pets, it is not only the hair, but also the flakes of skin, feathers, saliva, and urine that can cause an asthma attack. Ideally, you should get rid of any pets that trigger your allergies. However, if your pet is a member of your family that you can’t abandon, follow these rules:

• Keep the pet out of the bedroom area and close all forced air heating and cooling ducts.
• Wash your pet weekly.
• Use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a high-efficiency particulate air filter, or use a central vacuum with the collection apparatus located outside of the house.
• If possible, choose a pet without fur or feathers. If you must have a dog, choose one that does not shed its fur.

House Dust Mites

Dust mites in the home are a common asthma trigger. To minimize them in your home:

• Wash bed sheets, pillows, stuffed animals, and other bedding once a week
• Cover mattress and pillow with an airtight cover
• Avoid sleeping or lying on upholstered furniture
• Remove carpets from the bedroom
• Reduce humidity in the home to <50 percent
• Remove carpets placed on concrete

Indoor Mold/Pollen

• Keep windows and doors closed during high-pollen season
• Keep air circulating in bathrooms, kitchens, and basements
• Clean bathrooms, kitchens, and basements regularly
• Use dehumidifiers for damp areas
• Do not use humidifiers

Tobacco Smoke

• DO NOT SMOKE (see Cigarette Smoke)
• Do not allow smoking in your home, especially not in the bedroom
• Use an indoor air-cleaning device to filter out smoke, mold, and dander

Cockroaches

• Kill roaches with an insect spray. Have someone spray for you and do not return to the house until the house has been aired for several hours
• Use roach traps

Strong Odors and Air-borne Chemicals

• Avoid perfumes, powder, hair spray, deodorants, and other scented cosmetics
• Do not use home deodorizers
• Use an exhaust fan while cooking
• Do not expose yourself to household paint or other products with a strong odor

MEDICATIONS

Related Articles

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://blog.healthra.com/asthma/the-asthma-friendly-home.htm/trackback
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference "The Asthma-Friendly Home".