What is Asthma?

Healthy lungs are essential to feeling good. The lungs are the organs we use to breathe. They work by taking oxygen from the air we breathe in and then exchanging it for carbon dioxide, a deadly waste product made by the cells of the body. Once this exchange has taken place, we can then get rid of the carbon dioxide by breathing it out, or exhaling.

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs and the airways that deliver air to the lungs. It causes periodic attacks of wheezing and difficult breathing. An asthma attack occurs when the airways become inflamed in response to a trigger, such as dust, mold, pets, exercise, or cold weather. However, some attacks start for no apparent reason. Triggers may inflame the airways to the lungs, allowing disease-fighting cells to accumulate and causing swelling in the lungs. In addition, the airways may become blocked or obstructed when the muscles surrounding the lungs tighten or go into spasm. This keeps air from circulating freely in the lungs. Or, mucus may clog and narrow the airways in the lungs, making breathing even more difficult.

During an asthma attack, the walls of the airways become inflamed, and the mucous membrane covering the walls becomes swollen with fluid. Sticky mucus fills the remaining space, making it difficult to
breathe. Because air cannot flow in and out of the lungs freely, a
whistling or wheezing sound may be heard. During severe attacks, wheezing may stop because there is too little air moving to make any noise.

Asthma attacks can be mild, moderate, or severe, and can last for a few minutes, a few hours, or several days. They can occur anywhere and at any time. Many occur at night. Sometimes, there are warning
signs that an attack is about to happen, but sometimes there aren't.

Clear Your Home of Asthma Triggers

Secondhand Smoke

Asthma can be triggered by the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar and the smoke breathed out by a smoker.

Choose not to smoke in your home or car and do not allow others to do so either

Dust Mites

Dust mites are too small to be seen but are found in every home.  Dust mites live in mattresses, pillows, carpets, fabric-covered furniture, bedcovers, clothes and stuffed toys.

	Wash sheets and blankets once a week in hot water.
	Choose washable stuffed toys, wash them often in hot water, and dry thoroughly.   Keep stuffed toys off beds.
	Cover mattresses and pillows in dust-proof (allergen-impermeable) zippered covers.

Pets

Your pet's skin flakes, urine, and saliva can be asthma triggers.

	Consider keeping pets outdoors or even finding a new home for your pets, if necessary.
	Keep pets out of the bedroom and other sleeping areas at all times, and keep the door closed.
	Keep pets away from fabric-covered furniture, carpets, and stuffed toys.

Molds

Molds grow on damp materials.  The key to mold control is moisture control.   If mold is a problem in your home, clean up the mold and get rid of excess water or moisture.  Lowering the moisture also helps reduce other triggers, such as dust mites and cockroaches.

	Wash mold off hard surfaces and dry completely.  Absorbent materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, with mold may need to be replaced.
	Fix leaky plumbing or other sources of water.
	Keep drip pans in your air conditioner, refrigerator, and dehumidifier clean and dry.
	Use exhaust fans or open windows in kitchens and bathrooms when showering, cooking, or using the dishwasher.
	Vent clothes dryers to the outside.
	Maintain low indoor humidity, ideally between 30-50% relative humidity.  Humidity levels can be measured by hygrometers which are available at local hardware stores.

Pests

Droppings or body parts of pests such as cockroaches or rodents can be asthma triggers.

	Do not leave food or garbage out.
	Store food in airtight containers.
	Clean all food crumbs or spilled liquids right away.
	Try using poison baits, boric acid (for cockroaches), or traps first before using pesticidal sprays.

If sprays are used:

	Limit the spray to infested area.
	Carefully follow instructions on the label.
	Make sure there is plenty of fresh air when you spray, and keep the person with asthma out of the room.

Important Phone Numbers

	Indoor Air Quality Information Hotline: 800-438-4318 (Monday-Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm EST)
	Clean Air Council: 215-567-4004
	American Lung Association: 800-LUNG-USA
	Carpet and Rug Institute, Indoor Air Quality Testing Program: 800-882-8846
	Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: 202-466-7643
	Consumer Products Safety Commission: 800-638-2772
	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 800-638-2772
	Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes: 406-994-3451

Important Web Sites

	HeliosHealth.com - Asthma: A Complete Guide
	Children's Medical Center of the University of Virginia - Asthma Tutorial
	Kids Health.Org - Asthma
	Better Health - Asthma Profiles