People with asthma have an issue with their airways narrowing, swelling and producing extra mucus. Therefore, asthma can make breathing difficult and lead to coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. Outdoors, there are several things that can trigger an asthma attack, including pollen and chemicals in the air. As for household asthma triggers, there are several.
It’s best to avoid lighting a fire in your home’s fireplace if someone in the home suffers with asthma. Furthermore, fumes coming from stoves, whether they’re gas, wood or kerosene, can also mess with a person’s asthma. Did you know, for example, that fuel-burning appliances end up giving off nitrogen dioxide which can easily irritate a person’s airways? In order to deal with this problem, make sure stoves and fireplaces are vented to the outside so their fumes don’t linger indoors. If you use an unvented appliance, such as a gas space heater, open a nearby window to let fumes outdoors, and, if possible, incorporate an exhaust fan to further help get fumes away from people in the home. Finally, have your heating system cleaned and checked annually to make sure they’re in good working order.
Most people keep several spray bottles in their homes. These can contain a variety of liquids or gases which wreak havoc with a person’s airways. For instance, scented cleaning supplies and soaps can irritate a person’s asthma. Therefore, do your best to buy and use unscented/fragrance-free ones. Avoid wearing perfumes and colognes around people with asthma. Air fresheners and scented candles can also trigger asthma attacks. If and when you use painting supplies, be sure to close the lids tightly. Even something simple like dust from using chalk can cause problems, so keep that in mind, too.
Other common asthma triggers include pets and bugs in the home, as well as mold. Your pet dog, for example, might be causing your asthma attacks, especially if he or she sleeps on the bed with you or your favorite chair is covered with their hair/dander. If you tend to pet your pet often, make sure you wash your hands afterward. Speaking of washing, to get rid of irritating dust mites on/in bedding, wash your sheets, blankets and pillowcases often. To keep bugs from wanting to call your home their home, make sure foods are stored in tightly covered containers. Any cracks in the walls where bugs can get in should be sealed. Look for areas in the home where there’s standing pools of water and/or excess moisture– that’s where mold can get out of control. Replace moldy household items so that you/your guests aren’t breathing those fumes into your airways.
Finally, if you or someone you know is smoking in the house, that can trigger asthma problems, so it’s best to avoid smoking in the home. For some people, that might mean quitting the habit, while others have to literally take it outside (or perhaps to their garage) to get the smoke away from the person with asthma.
Recent Comments