by Lori Shevokas

Created on: December 19, 2006   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

The Dangers Inside Your Home:

When most people consider protection against potential asthma attacks, they are generally concerned about the outdoor environments and physical activities. Very rarely do they think about what can be done inside their homes.

According to the latest study of the American Lung Association, indoor air pollution is on the rise. Indoor air pollution consists of any particles in the air inside your home, which do not exist under natural conditions. These particles may come from paint or cleaning fumes, mold or mildew, dust, chalk, and one we have all heard before, smoking. Indoor air pollution is often directly related to asthma attacks which occur indoors.

The number one form of indoor air pollution resulting in asthma attacks has come from carpets. The foam padding in carpet can harvest mold and mildew, especially when the carpets are repeatedly treated with steam cleaning. When other cleaning materials are used, such as carpet powders and foams, vacuum cleaners generally only remove about 25% of the residue, on average. Aside from all those issues, new carpet, freshly installed will release fumes of glue and other carpet binding materials. These fumes will cling to the walls and the ceiling, and are inhaled with every breath.

If you must have carpeting in your home, and someone in your home suffers from asthma, restrict carpeting to common areas, and other areas the afflicted member of your household will not frequent. Make sure you purchase a heavy duty vacuum cleaner, and stay away from steam and chemical cleaning. Recommended vacuums are the Eureka vacuums, which use a filtered bag, and Kirby. Stay away from canister vacuums and vacuums which are not allowed to "breathe." You should also replace the carpet as it becomes worn, or if it develops a suspicious odor.

The other area of indoor air pollution most people overlook is cleaning supplies. When you use several different chemicals in your home, the cleaners will leave the mix of fumes in the air and on the furniture and walls. You should limit yourself to one multi-purpose cleaner, which will suit most of your needs, and one or two other cleaners for those couple of rare needs not met by the multi-purpose cleaner. There are many multi-purpose cleaners available on the market today. My favorites have always been Mr. Clean or Lysol. When money is tight, I simply use bleach water on all bleach-able surfaces.

Once you are aware of these two major components of indoor air pollution, and you take steps to control them, then everything else you were doing to prevent asthma will make more of a difference. Of course, those afflicted with asthma should not smoke, and should not sleep in an environment used regularly by smokers. Smoke particles can cling to the walls and furniture, and later upset an asthma prone visitor. Most patients know about controlling exercise programs and being aware of their outside environments, but now you can also be aware of your indoor environment. You can learn more from the American Lung Association at www.righthealth.com .

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