When her son, Will, was 2 months old, Pat Jones of Los Angeles and her husband woke to hear their son struggling to breathe in his sleep. Before then, Jones had never seen a baby with asthma, but it soon became a familiar sight. "When we had our duplex next to a freeway, we practically lived in the emergency room," she explains.
Jones and her son are not alone. In the past 15 years, asthma has increased world-wide. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more children suffer from asthma than any other chronic disease. "Asthma has become the leading cause of childhood hospital admissions beyond the newborn period," says Philip Landrigan, M.D., a New York City pediatrician. Asthma, reports the CDC, is the number one reason for school absenteeism in America.
How do you know if your child has asthma? "Asthma's more than just wheezing," says Harvey Karp, M.D., a pediatrician in Los Angeles. While wheezing is a symptom of asthma, also look for persistent coughing or repeated episodes of bronchitis or pneumonia, advises Karp. The best way you can protect your child from recurrent attacks is to become an educated parent.
Since asthmatics have hyper reactive airways, a number of allergens or irritants may cause the lungs' breathing tubes to close, restricting the breathing. The following commonly trigger asthma:
- Cigarette smoke. Technically an airway irritant rather than an allergen, smoke has a severe effect on asthmatics.
- Dust mites. The excrement of this microscopic mite is a potent allergen. Mites infest bedding, upholstery, draperies and rugs and thrive on moisture and human skin cells.
- Cockroaches are a primary allergen.
- Mildews and molds.
- Unvented gas appliances, heaters and stoves. The American Lung Association warns nitrous oxides such as NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) can pollute air when gas appliances such as water heaters, stoves and clothes dryers lack adequate ventilation. Poorly vented wood-burning fireplaces can also be a hazard.
- Ozone. "Ozone (often found in smog) causes inflammation in the lungs at very low concentrations," says David Bates, a professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia. This especially poses a risk in large cities and near high-traffic areas.
- Particulate matter. Very fine pieces of soot, dust, or smoke can invade the lungs.
Once you know what allergens and irritants to watch for, you can protect your child from asthma attacks. Use this list to help make your home a friendlier place for any child or adult who suffers from asthma.
Take early action. "In order to prevent asthma in the first place, we think the important thing is to avoid exposure to allergens very early in life, meaning younger than 2 years of age," says Douglas Dockerty, Ph.D., professor at Harvard School of Public Health. This is one more reason why a pregnant woman should not smoke.
Ventilate. "The building of tightly sealed houses make it easier for moisture and dust to collect in homes," Dockerty notes vapors such as perfumes, air fresheners and formaldehyde become trapped indoors and can irritate asthmatics. Be sure stoves and appliances are well-vented. If it's cool outside, open windows a crack to circulate air. On hot days, use air conditioners to ventilate.
Buy mattress and pillow casings that are impermeable to dust mites. Vinyl or tightly woven cotton (at least 380-count) work well.
Avoid feather comforters and feather or foam rubber pillows. Foam rubber produces a haven for mites.
Launder in hot water (130 degrees F). Bedding should be washed every two weeks.
Dust with a damp cloth and vacuum frequently. Small particles irritate asthmatic airways. When buying a vacuum cleaner, ask if it will fit HEPA (High Energy Particulate Air) filters, a $100 option, which trap finer particles. Wipe walls and ceilings with a damp mop. Vacuum air and heating vents.
Beware of vacuum cleaner back draft. The January 1995 issue of Consumer Reports found that the dustiest exhaust came from canister-style machines; the report recommends upright vacuum cleaners.
Keep clutter to a minimum. Piles of dirty clothes encourage growth of mildew and mites; piles of paper attract cockroaches. Stuffed animals offer a paradise for mites.
Dehumidify. "Dehumidifying is important, as many asthmatics are allergic to mildew and molds," says Harriet Burge, Ph.D., of the Harvard School of Public Health.
No pet, no dander. "Cat dander is everywhere, even if you wash the cat," says Ruth Etzel, M.D., Ph.D., of the CDC. "The only real solution is not to have the cat."
Replace furnace and duct filters monthly as they collect dust and molds. Keep asthmatics away from gas stoves. "Open the oven door and you get a blast of NO2," says Bates.
Ask your pediatrician about allergenic foods. If you have a family tendency toward allergy, limit foods assosciated with allergies-such as cow's milk-from the child's diet for the first two ears. Etzel and other pediatricians recommend that mothers try to breastfeed their infants for the first year.
Restrict outdoor activities when pollution levels are high. Check your air quality index daily. Asthmatic children should not exert themselves in hot, smoggy weather or when a dusty wind blows; smog counts tend to be highest between 3 and 6 p.m.- Eradicate cockroaches.
Try air cleaning and purifying machines. Consumer Reports says a good air cleaner can help those with allergies. Keep the machine in the asthmatic's bedroom at least six feet from the bed because it creates a draft and don't place it on the carpet since it can kick up dust. "Air cleaners can only help if you've first gotten rid of the risk factors such as dust mites, mold and dander," says Burge. Warning: many asthmatics experience irritation from the ozone type of air filter.
Drive less. Fight pollution at the source and support sustainable transportation. Urban locations with high levels of ozone and particulates put asthmatics at risk. Therefore, it's essential to fight pollution at its industrial and automotive sources and support public transportation and strict clean-air standards.
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