Cleaning May Trigger Asthma Symptoms

If you have asthma, cleaning can make you sick, suggests a new study. The study included 25 women with asthma and 19 without the disease. After cleaning, both groups of women had some sort of breathing problem. But the problems were more severe in women with asthma. Researchers said it may be the chemicals in cleaning products that made asthma symptoms worse. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and other breathing problems. The study appeared in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

What is the doctor's reaction?

I have never liked to clean my house. Now, at least, I have a good scientific reason to avoid it! But more seriously, this article points out that some common activities or exposures may trigger asthma attacks. Housecleaning is the example given. The article also reminds us that normal household products may be harmful to our health.

Asthma is a growing public health problem. It is not clear why the number of cases of asthma continues to rise. One possible reason is that people are exposed to more and more chemicals in our homes that might trigger asthma. This article talks about possible harmful effects of cleaning products. There are many other possible chemical triggers all around us.

If we can identify asthma triggers, then we can help people avoid or better control their asthma. The triggers for asthma can be different in different people. Some triggers are related to allergies. Others, such as cigarette smoke and perhaps cleaning products, seem to trigger asthma by irritating the lungs.

The most common asthma triggers in the home include dust mites, mold, smoke and animal allergens. Cats and dogs are common offenders, but any furry animal can trigger allergic asthma.

As this article shows, however, many other things can trigger an attack. The end result is the same: Passages in the lung get narrow, breathing becomes difficult, and this can lead to a full-blown asthma attack.

What changes can I make now?

If you have asthma, or someone in your family does, try to learn what triggers the asthma. Then you can try to avoid the triggers.

This might mean having a snake for a pet instead of a cat. You might not allow people to smoke in the house. And it might mean changing the cleaning agents you use.

What you actually have to do will depend on your own triggers. There are a few things, however, that everyone can do to try to prevent asthma attacks.

• Vacuum and dust frequently

• Try to avoid the growth of mold. Keep water from coming into the basement. Fix leaky plumbing. Use a dehumidifier in humid weather. If items such as carpets or mattresses have been damaged by leaking water, get rid of them.

• Try to keep pollen and other allergens outside. Use air conditioners during the summer if possible. Don't forget to change the filters on the heating and cooling systems.

• Use synthetic or foam pillows rather than feather pillows. Don't use feather or down comforters either. Get synthetic products that are allergy-free.

• Cover your mattresses with allergy-control covers.

• Choose your pets wisely. Before adopting a new pet, make sure it is not likely to trigger asthma attacks.

• Don't allow people to smoke in your home. Smoke may be irritating and trigger asthma.

• Avoid strongly scented products.

What can I expect looking to the future?

Why do some people develop asthma and others don't? What triggers an asthma attack or an allergic reaction? How can we predict who is at risk? What can we do to prevent allergic reactions before they happen? Why is the number of people with asthma increasing all over the world? All these questions need to be answered. Research will help us to answer them.

Scientists around the world are studying the role of inflammation in asthma. Already this research has led to new medicines to prevent or control asthma attacks.

As this article shows, research continues on asthma triggers. If we can learn more about what triggers asthma attacks, and how this occurs, doctors will be able to help patients avoid flares of the disease.

For some people, no triggers have been found. Clearly we need to better understand why people get asthma. Research is under way to look at everything from vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women to childhood exposure to allergens. Research is needed to help us piece together the puzzle of asthma.