Asthma and Allergies

1
Asthma and Allergies

• Laura B. Booth
• Extension Associate,
• Environmental Health Education
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System
• Auburn University

2
Topics Covered

• What is asthma?
• Who is most at risk to get asthma?
• What does the indoor environment have to do with
  asthma?
• How can you reduce exposure to indoor asthma
  triggers?
• What can I do to help educate others about indoor
  asthma triggers?

3
What is Asthma?

• A chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways
• It is treatable, but not yet curable
• It is not the same as allergies, but allergies
  MAY cause asthma
• Not contagious
• Can be life-threatening!

4
Asthma Facts

• About 17 million Americans have asthma, including
  about 5 Million children It is the most common
  chronic childhood disease.
• Asthma causes more hospital stays than any other
  childhood disease
• Cost of lost workdays of parents with asthmatic
  children is near 1 billion
• It is a leading cause of school absences

5
Who is most at risk to suffer from asthma?

• Children
• Low-income, urban residents
• Some minorities
• Allergic individuals
• People with hereditary disposition for asthma
  (genetics)

6
What happens during an asthma episode?

• Airways narrow, caused by
• tightening of the muscles that surround the
  airways
• swelling of the inner lining
• increase in mucous production

7
What does an asthma episode feel like?

• Jog in place for 2 minutes
• Place a straw in your mouth and breathe only
  through the straw by pinching your nose closed
• How do you feel?

8
Warning Signs of Asthma

• Coughing (especially when it is not a cold)
• Wheezing (a squeaking sound when breathing)
• Fast breathing
• Poor skin color
• Shortness of breath

• Hunched over posture
• Restless during sleep
• Fatigue
• Space between the ribs may sink in when breathing
• Anxiety
• Vomiting

9
Warning Signs of Asthma

• Strained breathing
• Prominent neck muscles
• Out of breath after physical activity
• IMPORTANT These symptoms dont necessarily mean
  it is asthma

10
Asthma can be controlled!

• There are excellent medicines available now that
  can control asthma--some must be taken on a daily
  basis
• Environmental triggers of asthma--which are
  different for everyone--can be controlled to
  reduce asthma symptoms

11
What can you do to manage asthma?

• Everyone needs a written Asthma Action Plan this
  includes
• Medication
• Identification and avoiding of asthma triggers
• Peak flow monitoring (over age 5)
• Emergency plan

12
What to do if a child has an asthma episode

• Reassure the child with a calming manner
• Review Action Plan
• Use medication if necessary and available
• Identify what triggered the symptoms and remove
  child from triggers
• Inform parents/emergency contact if severe
• Call 911 in emergency

13
Types of medications2 main types

• Controller or everyday medications
• Intal, Singulair
• Pulmocort, Aerobid
• Azmacort, Serevent
• These control inflammation in the lungs on an
  everyday basis

• Rescue or Quick-Relief medications
• Albuterol, Serevent
• Xopenex, Ventolin
• These help to control broncospasms--release
  squeezing of the airways

14
Asthma medicines can be given in different forms

• Metered-dose inhalers
• Inhalers can be used with spacers
• These are especially useful with young children
• Nebulizers
• Pills

15
Inhalers attached to spacers
16
Peak Flow Meters

• A portable device that can help measure air flow
  in and out of the lungs
• May not be useful for children under the age of 5
• Can be a good indicator of air flow in and out of
  the lungs in those over age 5

17
Treatment is needed quickly for asthma

• Fever over 100 F
• Wheezing or coughing that does not get better
  after giving quick-relief medicines
• Peak flow is less than 80 of best
• Difficulty breathing that does not get better
  after asthma medicines
• Too weak or tired

18
Common Asthma Triggers

• Allergens
• Molds
• Dust
• Animals
• Pollen
• Food
• Pests (cockroaches)

• Irritants
• Secondhand smoke
• Strong odors
• Ozone
• Chemicals/cleaning compounds

19
Other asthma triggers

• Viral respiratory infections
• colds
• flu
• often worse at night after lying down
• Exercise
• Changes in weather
• cold air
• wind
• humidity

20
Indoor Air Pollution A Major Health Concern

• Most people spend 90 of their time indoors
• Toxin levels indoors may be higher than outdoors
  because of energy tight buildings
• Most of the common asthma triggers are found
  indoors

21
5 Most Common Indoor Environmental Triggers

• Secondhand Smoke
• Dust Mites
• Mold
• Pets
• Cockroaches

22
Other Indoor TriggersHousehold Products

• Vapors from cleaning solvents (non-water based),
  paint, liquid bleach, mothballs, glue
• Spray deodorants, perfume
• bleach, pesticides, oven cleaners, drain openers,
  aerosol spray products

23
Recognize asthma triggersto control indoor air

• Not all triggers affect every person
• 3 Basic Strategies to improve indoor air quality
• identify the problem
• control the source
• mitigation--get rid of the pollutant or
  triggering substance

24
Pollen

• Transported by wind
• Grass, ragweed, pine, birch, oak trees
• Can get indoors during pollen season
• Close windows during pollen season
• Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows

25
Secondhand Smoke

• Contains more than 4,000 substances (over 40 are
  carcinogenic)
• Is particularly harmful to young children
• Can trigger asthma attacks
• Causes coughing, excess phlegm, reduced lung
  capacity and other lung irritation

26
Byproducts of Smoke

• Particles such as nitrogen dioxide and sulfur
  dioxide may cause decreased lung function
• Increased risk of respiratory tract infections
  (bronchitis, pneumonia)
• Not only tobacco smoke--also caused by burning
  wood, candles, coal, kerosene, natural gas

27
Avoiding Secondhand Smoke

• Do not allow smoking indoors or in vehicles
• Limit use of fireplaces and candles
• Exhaust fan over gas stoves
• Smoke particles stick to clothing--can affect
  young child when held in arms

28
Dust Mites

• Too small to be seen
• Found almost everywhere!
• Live in soft bedding
• Feed on dead skin cells
• Mites and mite droppings can be asthma triggers
• Live in warm, humid places

29
Avoiding Dust Mite Triggers

• Wash sheets and blankets once a week in very HOT
  water (130 F)
• Use air conditioner in summer to lower humidity
  levels
• Remove carpets if possible
• Damp clean hard surfaces
• Vacuum often with HEPA vacuum or microfiltration
  bags
• Low indoor humidity-between 30-50

30
Avoiding Dust Mite Triggers

• Cover mattresses and pillows in dust-proof
  (allergen-impermeable) zippered covers
• Vacuum mattress, chairs and carpeting
• Replace pillows every 5 years

31
Pets/Animals

• Skin flakes, urine, and saliva of warm blooded
  animals can be asthma triggers
• Triggers can remain inside for several months
  after an animal is removed, even with cleaning

32
Molds

• A type of fungus
• Grow on damp surfaces
• Molds grow by releasing spores
• Grow on organic materials wood, drywall,
  wallpaper, carpet, foods

33
Avoiding Mold Triggers

• Mold problems are caused by excess moisture
• Correct the moisture problem first!
• Maintain low indoor humidity (between 30-50)
• Warm air holds more water than cold air
• Fix leaky plumbing
• Empty and regularly clean refrigerator drip pans

34
Avoiding Mold Triggers

• Run a bathroom fan during bathing
• Exhaust the dryer to the outdoors
• Control moisture in the crawlspace
• Replace carpet with hard-surface floors in
  basement
• Use air conditioner to lower humidity

35
More on Mold

• Dont need to test for mold--if you see it or
  smell it--then you have mold
• Clean up small areas with a bleach solution--
• 1/2 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water
• Limit houseplants--since soil/leaves contain
  mold--at least in bedrooms
• Clean when children are not present

36
Pests (especially Cockroaches)

• Many people are allergic to the body parts and
  droppings of cockroaches
• People who have dust allergies frequently have
  cockroach allergies

37
Avoiding Pests

• Avoiding pests like cockroaches is hard to do in
  Alabama--we have mild winters, humidity and lots
  of rainfall
• 3 steps to avoid pests indoors
• Prevention
• Identification
• Control

38
Preventing Pests

• Get rid of places for pests to hide and sources
  of food and water
• reduce clutter (boxes, stacks of newspapers,
  grocery bags)
• do not leave food or garbage out
• clean up food spills and crumbs
• caulk cracks and crevices

39
Controlling Pests

• Make sure you identify the pest before using
  pesticides
• Use less toxic baits, boric acid or traps
  first--before using toxic pesticides
• If you use sprays
• Limit spray to infested area
• Ventilate room--sprays may be a trigger for
  asthma or cause lung irritation

40
Air Cleaners and Filters

• Use Air Cleaners only as a last resort
• HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particle Air)
• Do not use air cleaning devices that produce ozone

41
Filters/Air Cleaners

• Know the size of the room to be treated before
  purchasing the unit
• Keep filters changed or cleaned frequently
• Some gases and very small particles are difficult
  to remove

42
Other Asthma Triggers

• Exercise
• People with asthma should be able to participate
  in exercise
• Sometimes, taking inhaler medicine before
  exercising may help
• Colds/Flu/Respiratory infections
• Often these illnesses will trigger asthma
  symptoms or make them worse--get a flu shot
• Cold weather sometimes triggers asthma

43
Review of Actions to Control Asthma

• Make sure everyone with asthma has a Asthma
  Action Plan
• Be aware of medicines used to treat asthma and
  have emergency contact numbers in case of asthma
  episodes
• Control the environment to prevent triggers
  dust, pests, mold, secondhand smoke, strong odors
  and cleaning solvents

44
For More Information

• Alabama Cooperative Extension System
• Asthma Web site
• www.aces.edu/asthma
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• www.epa.gov/asthma
• The American Lung Association
• 1-800-LUNG-USA

45
Credits

• Thanks to the Healthy Indoor Air for Americas
  Homes project
• www.healthyindoorair.org
• for photos and drawings used and for background
  information