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It is very important to create an asthma-safe home, especially if you have children. As a parent, you should create a home environment free of asthma triggers so that you can minimize your child’s exposure to them.
About 17 million Americans suffer from asthma, and it is the leading cause of long-term lung disease in children. Despite the fact it is a common lung problem, you should keep in mind that asthma can turn into a fatal lung disease. When a person experiences an asthma attack, his airways get narrow, making it difficult to breathe. Some of its symptoms include:
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
This experience is especially terrifying for children. If your child has asthma, preventive measures must be taken. The quality of air that you breathe at home can make a huge difference because asthma can be triggered by allergens and irritants that are usually found at home. Help your child breathe easier by clearing your home of asthma triggers.
Deal With Dust Mites
Dust mites are usually found on bedding, mattresses, box springs, and pillows. You might even find them on your carpet and on your child’s fluffy stuffed toys. Those with asthma are very sensitive to the dust mites’ fecal matter and decaying body parts; thus, breathing in these allergens can cause a serious problem. So what can you do?
- Use mite-proof encasement for mattresses, box springs, and pillow covers.
- Wash your bed liners and blankets regularly. Let them dry completely before using them again.
- You should also dry clean stuffed toys. If your child’s room is filled with a lot of stuffed toys, you can ask your child to choose a couple of toys he wants to keep, and put the rest into a self-storage unit. In doing so, you can free up space in your child’s room and reduce the asthma triggers. You can click here to consider your self-storage options.
- Vacuum and clean carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture regularly. Unused furniture pieces should be sold, donated, stored, or thrown away.
Clean Up Mold And Mildew
Mold and mildew grow on damp areas and items, such as bath items, tubs, tiles, counter-tops, and shower curtains. To combat the asthma trigger brought about by mold and mildew, you need to keep common moist areas clean and moist-free.
- You should get rid of trash and wipe the counters dry.
- You should also wipe your kitchen and bathroom sinks, tiles, and other items that are usually moist.
- Check your cabinets, trash, and behind the refrigerator.
- Fix leaky plumbing and other water sources as soon as possible.
- You can use exhaust fans or open your windows at home, especially around the kitchen and bathroom to lower indoor humidity.
Avoid Using Products With Chemical Irritants
Chemical irritants are usually found in household products, such as cleaners, paints, pesticides, cosmetics, and air fresheners. These irritants can worsen your child’s asthma. Here are a few suggestions to lower chemical irritants at home.
- Use safe, Eco-friendly, and natural products.
- If you really need to use products with chemical irritants, make sure to apply them when your child is not at home.
- Follow the instructions listed at the back of the product.
- If you use these products, make sure to leave the windows and doors open.
Stop Smoking
Did you know that secondhand smoke can trigger asthma symptoms? You should avoid smoking when your child is around. Better yet, you should stop smoking altogether.
- Don’t smoke inside your home or in your car
- Don’t let anyone smoke near your young one
- Make your home and car smoke-free
These are just a few tips for clearing your home of asthma triggers. The best way to make sure that you have an asthma-safe home for children with asthma is to reduce clutter and mess. You should get rid of non-essential items; donate, sell, or store them in another location. In doing so, you can prevent dust build-up and get rid of other allergens.
Kris Hopkins is a registered nurse. In her line of work, she has helped treat asthmatic children. She always advises parents to keep their home clean, organized and clutter-free. To help them achieve an asthma-safe home, she suggests putting non-essential and unused items in a self-storage facility to keep them out of the house.
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