Asthma - Is Your House Adding to the Problem?

Millions of Americans have been dealt the asthma card, a card they are forced to play. A life threatening and life altering disease, asthma can affect the quality of life for sufferers, drastically for those whose asthma is severe. Though it has no cure, the good news for those inflicted is that asthma is often controllable, particularly if the asthma is triggered by certain allergens. This control begins, as most things do, in the home. The home can be filled with asthma triggers, triggers that you might not even be aware your housing.

To get rid of asthma triggers in your house, rid your house of the following:

Second Hand Smoke: Asthmatics are generally not smokers: cigarette smoke can drastically exacerbate the disease and asthmatics have a hard enough time breathing without filling their lungs with smoke. But, if asthmatics live in a house where smoking takes place, their disease can easily be triggered. For this reason, a house with an asthmatic should be free of all kinds of smoke. If a smoker resides or visits the house, they should be asked to smoke outside.

Pets: We love Fluffy and Fido as much as the next person, but some asthmatics are highly allergic to certain pet dander. A sufferer may see their asthma triggered when they are around cats, when they are around dogs, or when they are around both. Even animals such as hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits can be asthma triggers. For this reason, the family pet should be chosen carefully or omitted altogether.

Mold: No one wants mold in their house, but that doesn't mean they don't have it. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements are ideal places for mold to prosper. In order to help your house stay mold free, check your plumbing system for leaks, keep areas around washing machines, dishwashers, and bathtubs clean and dry, clean shower curtains, open doors to allow air circulation, avoid putting laundry away wet, and clean bath mats and door mats regularly.

Cockroaches and Dust Mites: Like mold, you probably aren't inviting cockroaches and dust mites into your house. But, they don't need you to: they invite themselves. Cockroaches sneak in through cracks and crevices and are often most attracted to areas where they can easily find food. To avoid them from entering your house, keep it clean of crumbs and other debris. Dust mites, though usually too small to be obvious, are known for living in mattresses and bedding. To avoid these, try purchasing a dust mite resistant latex mattress. That'll let the bugs know you aren't really all that fond of sharing your bed.

Not all asthma attacks are preventable, but identifying and ridding your house of the triggers can help asthmatics - and their families - breathe a little easier.