| Asthma
RNS, Asthma-proofing the home, Nov. 2004
1:42
http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2004/hmasthma.htm
Asthma on the home front: Know your triggers and clear the air
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Lead — Over the past 20 years, self-reported cases of asthma have increased by 74 percent. In that same time, the number of asthma-related office visits has doubled and the number of asthma-related deaths has increased by 61 percent. With more than 31 million adults and children who have asthma in the United States alone, the need to educate the public in ways to prevent attacks is critical. Learning what triggers your asthma attacks and asthma-proofing your home are the key to maintaining control over this life-long condition. Here is Erin Block with more.
TRT 1:42
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Asthma is a chronic illness of the respiratory system characterized by coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Irritants and allergens such as fireplace smoke or cigarette smoke—which is the number one trigger of asthma attacks-, as well as dust mites, mold, pet hair, cockroach infestation, house plants, candle flames and cleaning products can trigger Asthma attacks.
Dr William Bria II M.D., co-director of the University of Michigan Health System 's Asthma Airways Program says,
“Asthma is an excellent detector. It is as if your respiratory tree, upper and lower, becomes a good warning alarm of what is not right in your microenvironment, inside and outside your home.”
To help reduce asthma attacks Debby Fugitt, a registered nurse with the Michigan Visiting Nurses Program with the University of Michigan Health System is helping asthmatic patients get the know-how for asthma-proofing their homes.
Fugitt advises to get rid of the dust by vacuuming daily, dusting silk plants and silk flowers monthly and vacuuming upholstery furniture weekly. Also stay away from cleaning products such as aerosols and scented sprays as much as possible—try to use a plain damp cloth instead.
Because the bedroom is the room where people spend most of their time, adults and children with asthma need to take extra time when asthma-proofing their bedrooms.
Fugitt says,
“You want to make sure that the bedding is washed once a week, that there are no feather pillows or feather mattresses and that the mattresses and the pillows are enclosed in airtight plastic materials that can be washed once a week. Pets can also be an asthma trigger and it's very important to keep the animals out of the bedroom.”
Remember: whether it's getting rid of the dust mites or wiping out mold, asthma-proofing is crucial for asthmatics to control their home environment and reduce attacks.
I'm Erin Block, U-M Health System News |
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