Asthma and Air Quality
by Youmasu J. Siewe, Ph.D, MPH.
The following article was published in the Stillwater News Press on November 7, 2001.
Health, a Shared Responsibility! Asthma is a chronic illness that temporarily causes the airways to become narrow, thus producing difficulty in breathing and related anxiety. Asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness of children in the United States, and most responsible for school absenteeism. The number of Americans diagnosed with Asthma, asthma death rates, and health care cost, also continues to increase. An estimated $6.2 billion in medical care cost, and lost time from school is associated with Asthma, reports the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
What causes an Asthma Attack? For sensitive individuals, an attack can be started by being exposed to substances called "triggers". Examples of triggers include: tobacco smoke, pollen, allergens from animals and insects, and vehicle exhaust. Urban or city environments tend to have higher levels of outdoor air pollution and poor housing conditions, which in turn increase levels of indoor air pollution. Exposures to pollutions, combined with inadequate health care, may explain why low income African-Americans have a death rate of Asthma that is two-three times greater than rates for Caucasians, and known to kills five times more children than adults.
Steps to reduce asthma attacks:
Outdoors: Stay inside or avoid heavy outdoor exercise on days when pollutants such pollen and sulfur dioxide are high. Use public transportation, carpool, and encourage everyone to limit polluting activities.
In the home: Don't smoke indoors, unless in a room just for smokers, with a separate ventilation system to exhaust smoke outside. Never smoke around children or people with asthma because smoking behavior releases gases and small particles in the air can trigger breathing difficulties for people with asthma. Call appliance service representatives or local utility company to check furnaces, stoves, or heaters every year to make sure they're operating properly. Change furnace filters according to manufacturer's instructions. Consider installing higher efficiency filters to reduce particles in the air. Avoid using a gas stove to heat the home, and use exhaust fan when cooking on a gas stove.
Keep humidity levels between 30 and 50%, since higher humidity tends to promote growth of biological factors that may trigger asthma. Use exhaust fans or open windows in kitchen or bathroom areas when taking showers, cooking, or using the dishwasher. Make sure clothes dryers are vented to the outdoors, and use a dehumidifier in the basement if necessary. Keep the house clean to reduce allergy-causing agents like dust mites, animal dander, and pollen. If you're allergic, use allergen-proof comforter and mattress covers. Consider reducing or eliminating cockroaches in homes, keep pets out of the bedrooms of family members with asthma and consider using high efficiency vacuum filters.
Asthma Control in Schools: Students with asthma may be sensitive to allergens from classroom pets such as birds and gerbils, hence keep cages clean and don't let animals roam in the classroom. Strong-smelling chemicals in laboratories or art supplies can trigger asthma episodes; hence ensure adequate ventilation when working in such environments. Gymnasiums, locker rooms, and libraries may be a source of dust and mold, hence make sure they are cleaned regularly and humidity levels are kept between 30 and 50%. By following the above preventive steps you can reduce asthma attacks for you, your family, and enjoy healthier and happier lives.