Asthma in Children: If your child has asthma, you’re probably familiar with how various things like secondhand smoke or pollen can set off an asthma attack. When your child encounters a trigger, it causes their airways to swell, making it harder for them to breathe. To help manage asthma in Children, it’s essential to limit exposure to triggers, especially at home.
However, steering clear of asthma triggers isn’t always straightforward, as they can vary from person to person. Plus, some triggers, like pollution or pollen, are beyond our control. But one place where you have significant control is your home. Here are some practical ways to keep your home trigger-free and your child breathing easily.
- Keep Your House Fume-Free:
- Smoke and fumes from various sources, including gas stoves, wood stoves, and car exhaust, can trigger asthma attacks.
- Ensure proper ventilation for stoves, use exhaust fans, and crack open windows when using unvented heaters.
- Regularly clean and inspect heating systems and avoid idling cars in attached garages to reduce the risk of exhaust fumes entering your home.
- Beware of Household Chemicals:
- Common household products like cleaning supplies, paints, and perfumes emit strong smells that can trigger asthma.
- Store cleaning products safely away from children, opt for unscented or fragrance-free products when possible, and read labels carefully.
- Use non-toxic or natural alternatives and open windows for ventilation when cleaning. Avoid wearing perfumes or using air fresheners.
- Asthma Triggers: Pets, Cockroaches, and Mold:
- Allergies to pets, bugs, and mold are common asthma triggers.
- Keep pets off furniture and out of your child’s bedroom, wash bedding frequently in hot water, and use dust-proof covers for pillows and mattresses.
- Minimize pesticide use, seal cracks to prevent cockroach entry, and fix leaks to prevent mold growth. Use exhaust fans to reduce moisture and prevent mold formation.
- Asthma: Cut the Smoke:
- Secondhand smoke is a significant asthma trigger.
- Prohibit smoking inside your home or car and ensure other caregivers don’t smoke around your child.
- If smoking is unavoidable, do it outside away from windows and doors, and wash hands and change clothes to minimize smoke residue.
By implementing these measures, you can create a safer and healthier environment for your child, reducing the risk of asthma attacks triggered by common household factors.
Sources:
- WebMD
