How To Reduce Asthma Triggers When You’re At Home
An asthma trigger is anything that brings on breathing troubles, coughing, breathlessness, wheezing or other similar symptoms for a person diagnosed with asthma. With asthma triggers around, there is also an increased risk of an asthma attack so it is important to reduce these triggers in your environment as much as possible. This is a precaution that can be taken in addition to following your asthma treatment plan that includes taking the asthma medication prescribed by your doctor.
Asthma triggers vary from person to person but some common asthma triggers that can be found indoors at home include secondhand smoke, dust mites, mould, cleaning products, pet dander, cockroaches and other pests, and breathing polluted air coming in from outside. Here are some steps you can take to reduce the triggers in your home:
1. Keep Your Home Clean
Keeping your home clean goes a long way when it comes to reducing asthma triggers like dust mites and pet dander. You can set up a cleaning routine for different rooms. When you dust or vacuum furniture and surfaces, you can wear a mask in case the dust acts as a trigger. You can change your bed sheets every week and wash other bedding in hot water once per month. In the kitchen, keep the surfaces free of crumbs and spills and wash the dishes right away after preparing food or eating. If you have pets, in addition to bathing them regularly, try to keep them out of bedrooms and outdoors as much as possible.
2. Keep Areas Dry & Moisture-Free
Mould grows in damp, moist spaces and it can be a major asthma trigger. To prevent mould or mould spores from taking hold, keep your home dry, especially in the kitchen and the bathroom. After taking a bath, keep your bathroom door open so it can completely dry. You can open kitchen windows or turn the fan on while washing dishes. Make sure to keep the hard surfaces such as counters clean and dry, keeping a check for any dirty spots that might indicate mould.
3. Keep Your Home Pest-Free
Cockroaches, mice, rats, and their droppings can be asthma triggers. You can take steps to keep your home pest-free such as keeping food in closed containers, storing your garbage in dustbins with a lid, and cleaning up food as soon as possible after eating. If you do have pests, avoid using pesticide sprays as they can also be a trigger. You can use gels for cockroaches, and poison bait or sticky traps for rodents. You can also hire a professional for pest control if your problem gets worse.
4. Keep It Well-Ventilated & Smoke-Free
Smoking is bad for the lungs but even inhaling secondhand smoke can be bad for those with asthma. Consider keeping your house a smoke-free area and ask others who smoke to do it outside so it doesn’t act as a trigger. Keep the air moving in your home by opening windows when the weather is warm and using fans. Avoid using fragrant sprays or candles that have strong scents. If the air pollution acts as a trigger for you, consider getting an air purifier.
5. Make Your Home Safer For You
Lastly, you can find more ways to make your home safer for your own needs. Wash your hands frequently or use a hand sanitiser, especially when you come from outside. Keep an asthma action plan ready in consultation with your physician and identify your specific asthma triggers and make others in your home aware of them.
Taking these steps won’t completely rule out the possibility of asthma attacks and these are not asthma remedies, but it will make your home more comfortable for you. If you find your asthma symptoms getting worse despite reducing these triggers and taking your asthma medication regularly, consult your doctor.
References:
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/living-with-asthma/managing-asthma/reduce-asthma-triggers
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