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| Home Care Solution for Chronic Asthma |
It’s important to know about
asthma triggers, and startling new research shows how using common spray
cleaners, and air fresheners, as little as just once per week, may be
all it takes to spark asthma. The landmark study, published in the
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, is the first
to focus exclusively on asthma triggered by everyday products consumers
use in their homes and offices on a regular basis. “The relative risk
rates of developing adult asthma in relation to exposure to cleaning
products could account for as much as 15%, or about one in seven of all
adult asthma cases,” noted the researchers (Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007;176:735-41).
In this study, researchers enrolled more than
3,500 patients from 10 European countries ⅔rds of whom were women —in
the study. Spray cleaners investigated included products for furniture
and glass. Whether the spray cleaners featured aerosol or a pump action
wasn’t noted. Dr. Meltz, however, points out that both methods propel
content droplets into the air. Consumers, in turn, inhale these droplets
into their lungs. Dr. Meltz is concerned about the increasing number of
household irritants that can spark asthma episodes. Fortunately,
there’s something you can do about it! Discovering how to identify
common irritants by reading label contents, you can help ward off
respiratory distress, and possible intoxication for you and your family.
Keep
track of how often allergies trigger asthma attacks. If you experience
two or more asthma attacks a week after taking over-the-counter allergy medicine, switch
to a different retail allergy medication. Most medical professionals concur
that it may be harmful to endure two or more attacks on a weekly basis,
and that it is completely preventable with the right prescriptive medications.
TIP!
If you or one of your family members is an asthmatic, it is key to keep
your home clean and dust free, in order to help prevent asthma attacks.
Frequent vacuuming is an important part of controlling the allergens
that occupy a home.
Chlorine Bleach Fumes
After
reviewing the medical records of 160 domestic cleaning women,
researchers in Spain concluded that the women’s asthma symptoms were
directly linked to their exposure to bleach and similarly irritating
cleaning agents. “The public health impact of the use of irritant
cleaning products could be widespread since the use of these products is
common both in the workplace and at home.” (Occup Environ Med 2005;62:598-606.) Own a dishwasher? Then you may be exposing yourself
and your family to chlorine fumes as well. That’s because many automatic
dishwasher detergents contain dry chlorine that is activated when it’s
exposed to water in the dishwasher. Clouds of invisible chlorine gas are
then released in the steam vented out of the dishwasher, and into your
home during each cleaning cycle.
Cleaning With Liquid Ammonia
In a study of 332 nurses and other
health-care professionals, researchers observed that those who used
ammonia and/or bleach experienced increased risks of new-onset asthma
(Occup Environ Med 2007;64:474-9).
If
you have received a diagnosis of asthma, you are not to smoke or be
near vapors or other types of fumes. This means avoiding tobacco
products, and making sure that you do not choose any kind of job that
could expose you to harmful vapors or smoke, such as factory work, or working with volatile petroleum products, as found in nail and hair salons, wood finishing, lumber or grain mills.
TIP!
Rescue inhalers will become your most dependable ally when you suffer
from the effects of asthma. This medication provides temporary and quick
relief.
Try Avoiding These Also
Look
for organic or less-toxic formulations of the following: Toilet bowl
cleaners —Contain chlorine and other lung irritating chemicals. Carpet
cleaners —Particularly toxic to children. Dryer sheets —Chemical
ingredients include chloroform. Laundry detergents —Contain ammonia.
TIP!
Do you know what type of asthma you have? If you identify your specific
causes, you can be prepared to treat the symptoms when they appear
during your daily routines. A perfect example is that if you have asthma
caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag.
Prenatal Warnings and Concerns
Did
you know that the frequent use of chemically based products prior to
conception, or during a pregnancy is associated with persistent wheezing
in young children? That’s the conclusion researchers made based on a
survey of women who recorded how frequently they used 11 chemical-based
domestic products during their pregnancies (Thorax 2005;60:45-9).
Children
born to women who eat apples during pregnancy, however, have a
significantly decreased risk of asthma and wheezing. These findings are
from a study that tracked the dietary intake of 1,253 mother-child
pairs over a five-year period. The only other positive association
between prenatal diet and the risk reduction of asthma in children?
Mom’s consumption of omega-3 essential fatty acids found abundantly in
cold water fish (Thorax 2007;62:772-8).
TIP!
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer
from asthma. It is widely believed that these vitamins can help control
asthma symptoms by improving lung function.
Off-Gassing Triggers
Household
chemicals aren’t restricted to just cleaning products. They can also
be found in everyday items, even as innocent looking as the new lamp or
curtains in the baby’s bedroom.
Imagine, for the last few weeks,
your little one has had a slight cough. In fact, the longer the baby is
in their room, the worse the cough gets. Ironically, the cough and the
arrival of the lamp or curtains were at the same time. Coincidence?
Maybe. But it’s just as likely that the culprit is the fumes
off-gassing from the synthetic materials used.
It's important to
become as knowledgeable as possible about asthma. When you're
knowledgeable about your condition, you'll be able to advocate for
yourself and seek out the best possible treatment. Keep up to date on
the different treatments and always be sure to have the best possible
care for yourself. You can easily know this information by further
developing your knowledge about your condition, as well as, discovering
treatment options.
TIP! Schedule regular visits with your doctor to check up on your asthma. Ideally these should occur every few months.
In
Taiwan, a study of 2,290 fifth graders found that exposure to chemical
fumes from off-gassing was clearly associated with all seven respiratory
symptoms considered in the study —including exercise-induced coughing
(J Asthma 2006;43:355-61). Even new furniture and painted walls can
trigger an asthma crisis. Among 96 homes in Quebec City, Canada,
researchers identified high concentrations of formaldehyde in homes with
new wooden or melamine furniture purchased in the previous 12 months,
“and in those homes where painting or varnishing had been done in the
sampled room in the previous twelve months.” (Environ Res 2006;102:1-8.)
The good news? The same researchers say that “increasing air change
rates in homes could reduce exposure to this compound.” What that
means, is open a window and improve the ventilation.
Copy Machine Toner and Computer Printer Ink
Avoid
anything that could trigger your asthma. This can vary from person to
person, as small particles like dust can cause asthma attacks. For other
people it may physical activities that will set them off. Try to see
what cause your asthma so that you can avoid it.
TIP!
Using more than 4 different kinds of cleaning products for your house
has been known to increase risks associated to asthma attacks. To limit
the chemicals in the air, look for organic cleaning alternatives.
Whether
you work from home, or simply have a room set aside for paying bills
and surfing the Internet, chances are you own at least one computer and
printer, maybe even a copy machine. And, if you're like countless other
families, your children have their own computers and printers: most
likely in their bedrooms.
But did you know that your printer —just
like the chemically based cleaning supplies —may also trigger asthma and
other respiratory problems?
According to the results of a recently
published study, Australian researchers found that 40 percent of the 62
office printers they tested released high levels of ultra-fine
particles into the air. These particles, like those found in cigarette
smoke, are subsequently inhaled into the lungs (Environ Sci Technol 2007;41:6039).
Obesity and Asthma
In a more recent study, it was found that obesity was associated with poor asthma control. Furthermore, it's influenced most by airway inflammation stemming from oxidative stress. Often times those affected most seriously resort to using steroid inhalers causing other complications (Biochim Biophys Acta. 2011 Nov;1810(11):1120-6. Epub 2011 Sep 14). If you are prescribed asthma medication, and you find yourself without your inhaler or medication when you have an asthma attack, find some caffeine. Many people
have found that consuming black tea, coffee or chocolate may lessen the
effects of an attack. The caffeine constricts your blood vessels and
leads to the opening of your airways while other compounds in chocolate have similar effects.
TIP! Your home can be full of the major triggers leading to an asthma attack. These include mold, dust and spores.
Toner
coverage —in this case, more is not better —and cartridge age
influenced the amount of particles released into the air. Using
printers in well ventilated areas, however, can reduce the amount of
free-floating particles and leave you breathing easier.
Respiratory Function Improved With Chiropractic Care
In
addition to reducing household chemicals, you can also boost lung
function with regularly scheduled chiropractic care. I typically
recommend every 90- days, or at the change of every season… just about
twice as often as most would choose to get their teeth cleaned.
If
you tend to suffer from any allergies or asthmatic conditions, always
clean vaporizers very thoroughly, as well as humidifiers and any associated
apparatus. Bacteria could breed in this moist environment and get into
the air once you turn the humidifier on.
TIP!
When you have asthma, it is vital that you avoid cleaning products.
Cleaning products may contain chemicals which can trigger an asthmatic
episode, such as ammonia.
A recent Australian
study explored the effect of combining chiropractic manual therapy with
exercise on respiratory function in 20 healthy, nonsmoking individuals.
The results showed that “manual therapy appears to increase the
respiratory function of normal individuals.” What’s more, this type of
treatment —received before exercise —may allow patients to exercise
longer because of their boosted respiratory function (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2007;30:509-13). The connection? Misaligned vertebrae and
ribs may restrict lung function and impede breathing. Doctors of
chiropractic use safe and gentle maneuvers known as chiropractic
adjustments to restore the restricted movement of spinal bones
(vertebrae): a common condition known as vertebral subluxation, or
fixation.
Talk to Dr. Meltz
If you or someone in your family
is having occasional episodes of wheezing, this could be a sign of mild
environmental asthma, and you should schedule an appointment with your
doctor today for a complete chiropractic checkup.
The
development of asthma symptoms can occur over time and they can be
difficult to pinpoint and diagnose. There are actually many people that
have passed away from an asthma attack without ever knowing they were
even at risk. If you have any trouble catching your breath, or a cough
that won't go away, consider talking to your doctor to make sure that
you aren't afflicted with asthma. Other more serious
signs of respiratory distress include frequent chest pain, sudden
difficulty breathing, or regular shortness of breath. These are much
more serious concerns, and should be considered a medical emergency
equally as serious as bleeding, poisoning, or shock.
Don’t wait until a full-fledged asthma attack or worse, leaves you, or a loved one, breathless.
Bless, and be blessed... Always
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