© 2007 The Times Picayune

 

The bad news: Asthma is an American epidemic. The health and economic consequences of asthma are substantial, including:

 

-- 5,000 deaths per year

-- 470,000 hospitalizations

-- 100 million days of restricted activity

-- $7 billion to $9 billion a year in direct and indirect costs

-- 10 million missed school days per year

 

The good news: Almost all people with asthma can remain symptom- free and lead normal lives with the right treatments. Asthma can be controlled by managing environmental triggers and taking the right medications.

 

There is not one "best" medication for everyone, so patients must work closely with their doctors.

In the home, isolating and then eliminating an individual's asthma triggers can help. This can be done by keeping track of the conditions present when an attack occurs, then identifying patterns.

The residue of dust mites and cockroaches commonly trigger asthma attacks, and high exposure to dust mites has been shown to cause asthma. For many, asthma attacks are triggered by a variety of allergens and irritants, such as tobacco smoke, dust, animal dander, pollen and mold.

 

Dust mites thrive in bedding, so dust-mite-proof mattresses and pillow covers are a good investment. Dust mites can live in many other places, including carpeting, upholstered furniture and stuffed toys.

Regular cleaning is helpful, but the most effective prevention is to keep the indoor relative humidity at 50 percent or lower. Dust mites need higher humidity to reproduce. If air conditioning, the use of bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans and other humidity-control strategies don't keep the relative humidity that low in your home, a dehumidifier might be helpful.

 

Humidity and moisture control also can alleviate mold problems. Fix leaks and get rid of water drips and spills quickly. Speed-dry damp materials. Wet materials that can't be dried within two to three days are best replaced to prevent mold growth.

 

Roach control is difficult, but important. Roaches seek food and water. Be careful to store food in tight containers, and clean up scraps and crumbs promptly. Do not allow snacking in the asthma sufferer's bedroom, TV chair or homework desk. Seal gaps in walls. Inspect stored boxes for infestation before bringing indoors.

 

It is best not to have furry or feathered pets. If that's not possible, at least keep them out of bedrooms, carpeted rooms and areas in which asthmatics spend a lot of time.

 

Dust levels in the home can be reduced by using large doormats, having family members remove their shoes at the door and practicing strategic housekeeping. High performance (HEPA or micro-filtration) and central vacuum cleaners are best. Using damp mops and dustrags also is a good method to control dust. Since cleaning can put dust into the air, schedule this when asthma sufferers are out of the house.

 

It is especially important to clean carpet frequently. Carpet can contain dust, mold, dust mites, lead and other pollutants. Be careful with carpet-cleaning chemicals (follow label instructions). If carpets are wet-cleaned, use fans with air conditioning, heating or a dehumidifier as needed so they dry within a day or so.

. . . . . . .

For more information, contact Dr. Claudette Reichel, a professor in LSU AgCenter's Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, at creichel@agcenter.lsu.edu.

 

Information for Home FAQs is provided by the LSU AgCenter, an organization devoted to research and educational outreach designed to improve the quality of life for Louisiana citizens. Send your questions to insideout@timespicayune.com, or, for the latest research-based information on just about anything related to the home, visit www.lsuagcenter.com .