Asthmatic episodes can be devastating to the people that experience them, especially those brought on due to an allergic reaction to a substance in their indoor environment.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America*, the allergic asthmatic reaction creates an inflammatory process resulting in the constriction and inflammation of the airways of the affected individual's lungs.
It is important to know what can trigger an asthmatic episode and how to limit your exposure to those items.
Four Common Indoor Triggers for Asthmatic Episodes 1.
Cockroaches Cockroaches, their saliva, and their droppings are common triggers for asthmatic episodes.
Any home can have a limited number of cockroaches living inside, regardless of how clean it is.
To ensure that you wipe out any cockroach population that begins in your home, clean your home thoroughly twice per year.
This includes behind the refrigerator and the stove, in the corners of the basement, and beneath all of the furniture.
This can destroy any cockroach colonies and the eggs of any other insects that have invaded your home.
2.
Pet Dander Pet dander is flakes of dead skin shed by a pet, typically a cat or dog.
Some individuals are allergic to all pet dander, while others react to just the pet dander from certain types of animals.
To limit your exposure to pet dander, do not allow pets to sit or lie on the furniture, dust the home regularly, and install a high quality air filter to remove pet dander particles from the interior air.
3.
Dust Mites Breathing in dust mite feces or particles of dead dust mites can trigger allergic asthmatic episodes.
Dust mites are tiny creatures that live inside your home and eat your dead skin cells.
They make their home in mattresses, pillows, carpets, and fabric covered items.
While it is impossible to make a home completely dust free, using mattress covers, washing all bedding and pillows frequently and dusting the home regularly will reduce the accumulation of dust in the home.
4.
Mold High humidity or excessive moisture in the home can result in mold growth, another common trigger for asthmatic episodes.
Mold can grow anywhere in the home and is sometimes hidden behind the walls, beneath the carpet, or in upholstered furniture.
Because the spores of the mold become airborne easily, special precautions should be taken when attempting to clean up mold yourself.
A chemical agent, such as borate, that kills the mold and the spores should be used before wiping away the residue to prevent the spread of the mold spores through the home.
Borax laundry detergent is a good cleaning agent to use.
It contains Borate and can be found in the laundry cleaners area of most spores.
Of course, it's best to consult a professional for significant mold discoveries.
Be Proactive Taking steps to reduce the presence of these common triggers for asthmatic episodes can go a long way toward helping keep symptoms associated with indoor air quality at bay.
* Source: Allergy And Asthma Foundation Of America - http://www.
aafa.
org/display.
cfm?id=8&sub=16&cont=413
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America*, the allergic asthmatic reaction creates an inflammatory process resulting in the constriction and inflammation of the airways of the affected individual's lungs.
It is important to know what can trigger an asthmatic episode and how to limit your exposure to those items.
Four Common Indoor Triggers for Asthmatic Episodes 1.
Cockroaches Cockroaches, their saliva, and their droppings are common triggers for asthmatic episodes.
Any home can have a limited number of cockroaches living inside, regardless of how clean it is.
To ensure that you wipe out any cockroach population that begins in your home, clean your home thoroughly twice per year.
This includes behind the refrigerator and the stove, in the corners of the basement, and beneath all of the furniture.
This can destroy any cockroach colonies and the eggs of any other insects that have invaded your home.
2.
Pet Dander Pet dander is flakes of dead skin shed by a pet, typically a cat or dog.
Some individuals are allergic to all pet dander, while others react to just the pet dander from certain types of animals.
To limit your exposure to pet dander, do not allow pets to sit or lie on the furniture, dust the home regularly, and install a high quality air filter to remove pet dander particles from the interior air.
3.
Dust Mites Breathing in dust mite feces or particles of dead dust mites can trigger allergic asthmatic episodes.
Dust mites are tiny creatures that live inside your home and eat your dead skin cells.
They make their home in mattresses, pillows, carpets, and fabric covered items.
While it is impossible to make a home completely dust free, using mattress covers, washing all bedding and pillows frequently and dusting the home regularly will reduce the accumulation of dust in the home.
4.
Mold High humidity or excessive moisture in the home can result in mold growth, another common trigger for asthmatic episodes.
Mold can grow anywhere in the home and is sometimes hidden behind the walls, beneath the carpet, or in upholstered furniture.
Because the spores of the mold become airborne easily, special precautions should be taken when attempting to clean up mold yourself.
A chemical agent, such as borate, that kills the mold and the spores should be used before wiping away the residue to prevent the spread of the mold spores through the home.
Borax laundry detergent is a good cleaning agent to use.
It contains Borate and can be found in the laundry cleaners area of most spores.
Of course, it's best to consult a professional for significant mold discoveries.
Be Proactive Taking steps to reduce the presence of these common triggers for asthmatic episodes can go a long way toward helping keep symptoms associated with indoor air quality at bay.
* Source: Allergy And Asthma Foundation Of America - http://www.
aafa.
org/display.
cfm?id=8&sub=16&cont=413