Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that can be fatal. Although the symptoms of asthma are quite individual, common symptoms include: wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and shortness of breath. If you think you might have asthma, your first step should be to see a doctor to get a confirmed diagnosis.
"The way to get a definitive diagnosis for asthma is for individuals over the age of six to have a spirometry test," says Jan Haffner, a certified educator with the Lung Association of Saskatchewan. "It measures how fast and how much air you can blow out. If there is narrowing of the airways, the value will be lower. If the patient takes a medication that opens up the airways and then we repeat the test and find a 12 to 15 percent improvement, it confirms the diagnosis, along with the patient history."
Once you've been diagnosed with asthma, it's important to identify what triggers your asthma and then to avoid -- or limit exposure to -- those triggers.
Who is at risk for getting asthma?
You might be at risk for asthma if you have a family history of it, or a family history of hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or eczema. Living in a polluted area, or near a major highway might increase your risk for asthma, as will growing up in a home with a lot of mould or dust. Second-hand smoke is also a risk factor in asthma.
There are some occupations that increase your risk of getting asthma: spray painting (isocyanates), grain handlers (grain dust), and lab workers (from lab animals).
Common indoor allergens that can trigger your asthma
The most common indoor inhaled allergens for asthma are: dust mites, animal dander from dogs, cats and birds, and mould. Inside the home, you might find mould in basements, bathrooms, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers.
There are other (non-allergic) triggers for asthma, including: smoke, exercise, intense emotions, and strong-smelling perfumes.
Managing asthma triggers inside your home
It's critically important to identify those allergens that trigger asthma difficulties; and there's no point in banishing the family cat to the garage if your allergy is to mites. Here are some tips to keep dust mites and mould exposure at a minimum in your home:
• Dust mites like warm places with contact to human skin, so keep them out of mattresses and pillows by using specially-made dust mite covers.
• Wash bedding blankets in hot water every week. Do the same with stuffed animals. Dry in a hot dryer.
• Carpets also collect dust mites, so vacuum frequently, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Consider replacing carpets, where reasonable, with other types of flooring.
• Dust mites like moisture, so keep the humidity in your house below 50 percent.
• Replace drapes (especially in the bedroom) with washable blinds.
• Keep the bedroom clutter-free to minimize the build-up of dust.
• Keep the furnace set to below 20' Celsius.
• When dusting, use a damp cloth and consider using a N95 respirator (available a hardware stores).
• Use vinegar or a chlorine-bleach solution to clean mouldy areas in the bathroom or basement.
• Remove houseplants, which may be a source of mould.
What to do if the family pet is the problem
If you discover the dog is the source of your asthma difficulties think carefully about your course of action. The best solution is, of course, to live in a pet-dander-free home, but that isn't always realistic. If you choose to keep the pet, here are some tips for reducing your exposure to allergens:
• Keep the pet out of bedrooms
• Keep the pet off of furniture as much as possible
• Have the pet groomed weekly
Want to know more?
The goal of asthma sufferers is to maintain control of symptoms. If you want to know more about asthma and allergies and how to manage them, talk to your doctor or visit the Lung Association and The Asthma Society of Canada
To learn more about indoor air check out this article on improving the indoor air quality of your home.
|
more articles
