Cleaning the air

[baxjul]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>What does your child breathe at home? The answer may hold the key to better asthma control. Home is where the heart is, the place where many of us feel the safest, where we head when we want to retreat from the worries and cares of the world. However, our homes - and the air we breathe there - may not always be optimal for our health.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality is among the top five environmental public health risks. In fact, levels of some pollutants can be 25 times - and occasionally more than 100 times - higher than those in the great outdoors. The American Lung Association (ALA) reports that more than 25 percent of us aren't concerned about the quality of the air inside our homes - and we should be.
Norman H. Edelman, M.D., chief medical officer with the ALA, says indoor air quality is important simply because we spend so much time indoors. "One study calculated that if you could control several major indoor air pollutants that affect people with asthma, you could reduce asthma attacks by 60 percent," he says.
The Inside Story
Asthma is a chronic and potentially life-threatening lung condition that affects the ability to breathe normally. People with asthma have inflamed and swollen bronchial tubes that are more sensitive to outside irritants. When one of these irritants triggers an asthma attack, airway muscles tighten, swelling increases, and cells may produce more mucus - all of which can make it difficult to breathe.
Children with asthma may experience periodic shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and excessive coughing during (or after) exercise. Often these episodes are triggered by allergies or environmental factors. The good news is that asthma is one of the most manageable of chronic diseases. With a doctor's supervision, medication, and attention to the environment, it's possible to minimize asthma's impact.
</TD></TR></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>It's a Jungle in There
You probably know what precipitates an asthma attack when you and your child are outdoors. Here's what you need to know about tracking down triggers when you're at home: Secondhand smoke. "First and foremost is cigarette smoke," Dr. Edelman says. "It's very irritating to children with asthma and clearly contributes to precipitating asthma attacks."
Dust mites. These microscopic insects look like something out of a monster movie in photo enlargements, so it's just as well they're invisible to the naked eye. They live in bedding and pillows, upholstered furniture, carpets, and even stuffed toys (so buy only those that are washable). Weekly laundering of bedding in hot water and regular vacuuming will help control the population. Dr. Edelman suggests using dustproof covers on bedding and maintaining low indoor humidity (below 60 percent), which inhibits the growth of dust mites.
Mold. In moist environments like baths and the kitchen, remove visible mold on shower curtains or tile by scrubbing with soap and water. To prevent it in the first place, run exhaust fans or open windows when showering or cooking.
Furry pets. Dogs and cats are beloved family members, but the dander they put into the air is no friend to a child with asthma. Keeping pets outdoors is best, Dr. Edelman says, but if that's not possible, restrict their access to your child's bedroom. "It's not clear whether bathing them once a week will reduce the dander, but some recommend that," he adds. For information on low-dander dogs, visit the website www.akc.org and search for "hypoallergenic dog breeds."
</TD></TR></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Cockroaches. They're disgusting, to be sure, but to an asthma-prone child, they also can trigger attacks. Dead insects and shed body parts are potent allergens, Dr. Edelman says. Make your home less hospitable to the critters by storing food in sealed containers, sweeping up crumbs, and taking out the garbage.
If you use replaceable air handler filters, available at your neighborhood Publix, look for the highest efficiency. These filters trap pet dander, dust, smoke, mold, and other small particles better than fiberglass ones. The ALA recommends filters that meet its indoor air quality guidelines with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value rating of 10 or higher.
The Future Looks Bright
According to the ALA, in 2004 some 4 million children under the age of 18 had experienced at least one asthma attack in the previous 12 months. And the EPA reported in 2002 that since 1980, the largest growth in the number of asthma cases has been in children under age 5.
But the trend in childhood asthma could be reversing, Dr. Edelman says. "It's been on the rise for 20 years or so. But the last four or five years, it seems to have plateaued in the United States." Asthma deaths actually have declined in the past five years, he adds.
Only about 5 percent of patients seem resistant to asthma medications and have difficulty controlling symptoms, Dr. Edelman says. "We say that the vast majority of people with asthma should live entirely normal lives if their asthma's controlled."
For lots of parents, that news will come as a breath of fresh air.
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[geckoace]

we use those filters that are supposed to catch a bunch of allergens and have our ducts cleaned periodically but i am still considering getting a purifier. maybe one of the small plug in ionic ones for each bedroom