Asthma-proof Your Home

Asthma-proof Your Home

Martin Howard March 18, 2015 View all blog articles

A lot of people associate shortness of breath or coughing to physical strain, obesity, allergies or lack of exercise. What people may not know is that these could already be symptoms of a very common illness called asthma.

Asthma is a lung disorder that is characterized by recurrent episodic obstruction of the airway. Most symptoms are triggered by increased reactivity to various irritants and stimuli, like allergens or rapid temperature change, and usually manifest as coughing, wheezing, the sensation of chest constriction, and general difficulty in respiration.

Though asthma is incurable, and factors like race, age and gender influence at what point an individual becomes more likely to develop the illness at any point in their life, it does not mean that you can't control or prevent the effects of the illness. Knowing what triggers asthma can help you figure out all the proper countermeasures to prevent an asthma attack. Here are a few ways on how to make your home asthma-free:

  1. Keep your house dry.

    Damp corners or moist counters are often catalysts for bringing in the causes of asthma. Puddles of water attract cockroaches which are proven to be a trigger for asthma. Cockroach droppings contain substances which mix with the surrounding air and when inhaled, can trigger an asthma attack or an allergic reaction. The moisture fosters growth of mold and attracts other insects as well. The fungus and the mold are proven as triggers for asthma but can easily be avoided by wiping off left over water. This means that windows have to be closed, so the difference in temperature between the house and the air outside won't create moisture. Keep the temperature all throughout the house constant. Though it may cost more, it would be beneficial to invest in air conditioners to help with balancing the temperature in the house.

  2. Clean and dust often.

    Dust is the primary suspect for most allergic reactions and asthma attacks. An accumulation of dust in the house attracts the breeding of dust mites. Dust mites are not the cause of the allergic reaction, but it's the droppings of these critters mixed with dust in the air that triggers an asthma attack. When dusting the house, remember to wear gloves and masks at all times. This is especially important for people with prior incidents of allergic reactions to dust. It is helpful to establish a pattern or a schedule when you will dust the house. This helps make cleaning a routine work which can be integrated to one's weekly schedule.

  3. Go for smaller carpets.

    Depending on what type of home you live in, there are additional tips on how to get rid of dust. If you happen to be a fan of carpets, know that carpets gather dust. People having severe asthma attacks would be better off getting rid of carpeting all together. Even the smallest of carpets can gather dust, and thus attract the breeding of dust mites. But if you love the carpets, and your asthma attacks aren't too severe, you can trade your carpets to smaller ones. Get rid of wall-to-wall carpeting. The lesser the surface area, the lesser the amount of dust accumulated. Reducing the size of the carpet to the size of rugs and doormats make them easier to clean, and it would be great to clean them regularly.

  4. Avoid indoor plants.

    Indoor plants may look innocent, but usually they become hotbeds for triggers of asthma attacks. Given how stationary they are, the leaves inconspicuously gather dust on top of them. And unlike furniture or table counters, cleaning off plant leaves doesn't come as routine or instinctive. Also, plants need water and sunlight. This means that there is a good chance that the plants gather moisture as well. The tricky part is, plants actually need moisture in order to stay healthy. So the better way to avoid asthma triggers from plants is to not keep any altogether as much as you can. If having indoor plants is unavoidable, then remember to try and dust the leaves as part of your cleaning routine in order to make the possible asthma attack as minimum as possible.

  5. Keep your pets outside sleeping spaces.

    Much like dust, most pets shed small particles that can be triggers for asthma as well. Most mammals shed fur, especially active dogs and naturally furry cats. Others, like birds, give off small feather bits which mix with the air. In fact, even reptile pets like lizards or snakes can potentially have particles of their scales mix with the dust in the air and cause asthma. Now, while this may be true, it isn't always recommended to not have pets. Usually, it depends on the gravity of the asthma attack one gets from having pets around.

If the owner is sure that the main trigger for their asthma attack comes mainly from their pets, then it would be wise to get rid of those pets or not have them altogether. But if the asthma attack comes only from prolonged exposure to the pets, then it would be acceptable to just keep the pets outside sleeping spaces. The bedroom needs to be kept as dust-free as possible because one would more likely spend the most time there. Having specific spaces where your pet stays and roams around reduces the places where you'd have to dust, therefore minimizing the possibly arduous task of maintaining a dust-free, asthma-proof home.