How to Reduce Common Asthma Triggers in Your Home

Do you suffer from Asthma? Over 25 million Americans suffer from Asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Asthma is a leading chronic illness, which accounts for nearly 10 million physician office visits per year! Reducing asthma triggers is the best way to prevent an asthma attack, save lives, and save money in this new era of COVID-19. It helps adults and children alike and keeps the air in your home fresh. Keep reading to find out how you can help curb asthma attacks for your loved ones.

What Is Asthma?

Not everyone has the same asthma triggers, and not all asthmatics will have an attack with the same exposure. More often than not it’s a combination of these triggers that cause an attack. These factors will work together to cause airway narrowing and breathing restriction. The most common types are allergic and non-allergic Asthma. Allergic asthma is caused by fragrances, mold spores, pollen, dust mites, and pet dander. It’s also the most common form of the two asthma types. While less common, non-allergic asthma can be triggered by things like exercise, smoke, stress, and respiratory infections.

Animals: Feathers and Fur

Pets are precious to Americans, with over 84.5 million pets in American households. We love our feathery and furry family! Sadly, there’s no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic pet. Dander is made up of dead animal skin cells, and while some dogs like Poodles do have hair that holds onto less dander, it isn’t danderless. Add saliva and other body fluids and excretions and asthma triggers are increased. That doesn’t mean that the pets have to go, just that some precautions must be made.

• Regularly use anti-allergen pet shampoos that neutralize dander and dust mite allergens
• Use a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner, and use it often
• Use anti-allergen solutions on upholstery, bedding, pet beds, furniture, and, especially, carpeting.
• Limit pet movement to common areas and keep them out of bedrooms as much as possible

Air Pollution and Weather

Extreme weather can trigger some asthmatics into an attack. Smog, very hot or cold temperatures, ozone, and other PM2.5 or PM20 particles can trigger an asthma attack. If you’re on a trip to Asia or live in an industrial-heavy area, this can be a tough one to fight.

• Check out Air Quality Index sites for hourly updates around the world or locally.
• Limit outdoor activities when temperatures or AQI is extreme
• Use air conditioning instead of opening the windows on warm days
• Keep airways warm and humid using a scarf when it’s cold
• Keep up with proper air-filter replacement maintenance

What To Do About Dust Mites?

Dust mites are tough to take care of because they’re microscopic and feed on dead skin cells which we and our pets constantly shed. They don’t carry diseases but are an allergic trigger for many people, even non-asthmatics. They can cause skin rashes, among other things. They love to live in warm, moist places like our pillows, bedding, carpets, furniture, stuffed toys, and more. Cleaning bedding weekly with anti-allergen laundry detergent goes a long way. Washing throw rugs and toys on occasion, with frequent HEPA vacuuming again, and trying not to dry-sweep or dry-dust will go a long way. There are even “miticides” that will help keep dust mites from coming back. A full encasement mattress protector, rather than a five-sided mattress protector will also do wonders for dust mite allergen control.

Other Pests

Cockroaches and rodents are other huge irritants not just for asthmatics, but most other people. Droppings and decaying body parts of cockroaches settle in dust and float in the air. Keeping an uncluttered space with as little cardboard as possible will keep pests in control in most cases. Some other tips are to:

• Store food and garbage in air-tight containers, and don’t leave garbage open or out
• Clean crumbs and other food debris daily
• Seal cracks in walls, windows, baseboards, doors, and tight spaces where bugs love to hide
• Use poison bait traps in out-of-reach areas for pets and children, especially in moist areas (but avoid sprays)
• Use Vital Oxide to eliminate pest allergens from surfaces.

Vital Oxide has proven efficacy against rodent, dust mite, and cockroach allergens. Anything you can do to reduce these allergens will help everyone, not just the asthmatic friends and family. Our blog has more information about Vital Oxide and other essential cleaning products.

Pollen, Mold, and Mildew

The AQI index can help to give a daily pollen forecast in most cases, along with local weather reports and weather apps. Plant life and fungal spores are some of the biggest irritants because they’re everywhere. If you have a known pollen allergy, keep windows closed and use air conditioning on days that are especially pollen-heavy. Fallen leaves in winter, cut grass, and compost piles are a hotspot for fungal spores and pollen. Try to sweep clippings, rather than use a blower, if there are those with pollen allergies present. Again, vacuuming using a HEPA filter during heavy pollen times can be a huge help Damp areas and days are the favored places of molds and mildew, and often hide under carpets and around sinks, cabinets, showers, and cupboards. If you think there is excess humidity in an area, Vital Oxide can kill the mold and mildew on the spot and keep it fresh for up to seven months! It’s also safe to use on surfaces like carpeting and marble, which are susceptible to damage from the traditional mold and mildew killers, like bleach or acids. Even better, Vital Oxide is an NSF-registered “no rinse on food-contact surfaces” sanitizer. Also, try dehumidifiers in problem areas, and keep ventilation up with exhaust fans. Use fewer humidifiers or vaporizers in the home, as adding excess moisture can lead to mold and mildew. If you do, use Vital Oxide to sanitize humidifiers and vaporizers to prevent dangerous “humidifier fever.” This is a kind of pneumonitis that is especially dangerous to older ones and young children. Because Vital Oxide is registered with the lowest toxicity category, you can use it for daily disinfecting and sanitizing, at hospital-grade, without worry.

Chemicals, Fumes, and Vapors

We mentioned before in the article not to use pest sprays if at all possible. Vapors, fumes, and chemicals can cause strong and immediate reactions, long after they’ve been sprayed. Using hairspray, perfumes, spray deodorants, or air fresheners can fall into this category. Simply walking into an adjoining room can cause a sensitive or asthmatic person to get an attack. Instead of using cleaning supplies with fragrances try using Vital Oxide. To replace detergents for laundry with fragrance a fragrance-free anti-allergen laundry detergent should do the trick. Good ventilation will help with strong odors and fragrances as well. Tobacco smoke is a common trigger as well, including second-hand smoke. Really, it’s unhealthy for all, but especially those with asthma. If you’re moving into a new home that previously had smokers, it’s important to remove the smoke residue from surfaces, walls, and ceilings. Inhaling contaminant residue is called third-hand smoke, and Vital Oxide can help remove it. If you’re a smoker, the best thing you can do for your health and the health of those around you, especially asthmatics, is to quit. It’s difficult to do, but not impossible. It may not just make the lives of those around you easier, but save your own life.

Now You Know the Common Asthma Triggers and How to Reduce Them

We can’t completely remove asthma triggers, it’s true. But we hope this guide has helped you to identify areas you could be doing more, for the sake of your family. Some of the most important things to remember is that regular and frequent vacuuming using a HEPA filter installed can reduce a great number of irritants. Keeping a clean and uncluttered home can reduce pests. Lastly, Vital Oxide can be used as a spray, fog, or wipe to eliminate odors, prevent respiratory infections, kill and prevent mold and mildew, and more. Vital Oxide should be one of your go-to tools for preventing an asthma attack and illness. Try it out today!