5 Common Asthma Triggers Lurking in Your Home: Even the smallest trigger can set off an asthma attack, making it important to identify which triggers worsen your symptoms.
Once you identify what causes your attacks, you can take certain precautions to keep your home free of these provokers.
For now, let’s explore five common asthma triggers lurking in your home and how you can minimize or eliminate them.
1. Get Rid of Mold and Mildew:
Certain areas of your home that tend to stay damp and dark, like the bathroom or a cellar, are prone to mold and mildew, both of which are common asthma triggers.
There’s also a good chance that there’s mold growing in potted plants you have in the home. By doing something as simple as switching out your potted plants for artificial ones, you can greatly reduce mold in the home. For the dark and damp areas, you’ll want to clean them on a weekly basis to keep mold at bay.
Keep the Home Dust Free:
We already talked about keeping the dark and damp areas as clean as possible, but other areas of the home need to be cleaned regularly, too. The less dust that’s in the home, the better.
All floors should be vacuumed at least once a week with a regular or robot vacuum that utilizes a HEPA filter. And don’t forget that clutter attracts dust, so getting rid of knickknacks and small items should be a top priority.
Not only does this minimize dust in the home, but it also gives you fewer surfaces to clean.
2. Change Out the HVAC Filters:
Dirty HVAC filters are an asthma sufferer’s nightmare because they result in poor air quality and worsen asthma symptoms. Generally, the filter needs to be changed every 45 to 60 days. For homes with allergy and asthma sufferers, though, it needs to be changed at least once every 30 days.
3. Eliminate Dust Mites:
You might think dust mites only take up residence in dirty homes, but the truth is, they live in just about every house in America. To eliminate dust mites, you’ll need to shield your bedding with a protective barrier cover.
A mattress cover, for example, is an excellent way to eliminate dust mites from coming into contact with your skin. It’s also recommended that you steer clear of down-filled pillows and comforters.
If your child suffers from asthma, you’ll want to remove stuffed animals from his or her bedroom because they tend to be a haven for dust mites.
4. Switch From Gas to Electric:
You might enjoy cooking on a gas stove, but this type of cooking appliance disperses nitrogen dioxide throughout the home. And according to the National Center for Biotechnology, nitrogen dioxide is a common asthma trigger. To eliminate this problem, simply swap out the gas stove for an electric one.
Suffering from asthma is a condition that can be effectively managed when you take certain precautions to reduce coming into contact with your triggers. These tips are excellent starting points for better managing this disease.
