Clean indoor air will help your family breathe easy in a healthier home.

(ARA) – It’s one thing to live in a well-kept home, but is it also a healthy place to live? While your home may look sparkling clean to the eye, there are a number of invisible factors that can seriously affect the health of your entire family, and even contribute to a heart attack or stroke. Chief among them is the quality of the air your family breathes while indoors.

Up to 72 trillion microscopic irritants, or allergens, find their way into your home every day. They include dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites, mildew, lint, fungus, tobacco smoke, cooking grease and bacteria. Many of these particles are so small that your nose and throat can’t filter them out and they can get deep into your lungs.

The Environmental Protection Agency, American Lung Association and American Heart Association all agree that exposure to airborne particles impairs breathing and increases the risk of asthma attack, stroke, heart attack and other serious illnesses. These fine particles enter your home through doors, windows or small openings in frames, walls and roofs. They stem from various sources outside including fossil fuel burning in vehicles and manufacturing plants, and from activities inside such as smoking or cooking.

No matter how hard you scrub and dust, your family can still breathe in tiny little particles that can aggravate allergies and asthma, and even affect the heart. However, it is possible to have a cleaner, healthier and comfier home. American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning has compiled a list of simple steps to help your family breathe easier.

1. Clean your home’s air.
Start with the basics by installing an effective and proven whole-home air cleaner. For example, studies show that the American Standard AccuClean(TM) whole-home air filtration system may help prevent an asthma attack, heart attack or stroke. With the highest clean air delivery rate in the industry, its patented air cleaning technology eliminates allergens and particles you don’t want in your home, such as dust, pollen, bacteria, pet dander, mold spores, smoke and the common flu virus.

2. Control humidity.
Keep a relative humidity of 30 to 50 percent for optimal comfort and to control irritants like mildew. Controlling your household humidity can also kill dust mites, one of the most common allergens. Having a humidifier or variable-speed fan technology as part of your HVAC system can help you take control of your humidity.

3. Repair damages.
Have your HVAC system components, including furnaces, flues and chimneys, inspected before each heating and cooling season to repair any damages, holes or cracks. In addition to repairing your equipment, a certified HVAC dealer can inspect and clean your system’s parts and pieces, ensuring they perform at optimal efficiency. It’s not just your HVAC system — it is equally important to maintain the other components of your home that impact indoor air quality including the roof, foundation and insulation.

By taking these simple steps you can ensure that you and your family won’t be breathing indoor air full of contaminants and, ultimately, you’ll all breathe easier. For more information on how to breathe easier at home or to locate an American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning dealer near you, visit www.americanstandardair.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Asthma is a respiratory problem which most often than not is triggered by an allergen. There are other causes, of course however, the most obvious of all causes is allergy – allergy to dust, to animal dander, to pollen in the air, to humidity, to cold, and so on. What do you do when you suffer from an asthma attack caused by allergy? You would most likely carry an emergency inhaler which would help you breathe normal in no time, but the best would be to prevent it by avoiding the allergen.

What About Allergic Asthma Home Remedies?

Since allergic asthma home remedies have been touted to be highly effective, you will find described here a few very simple ones which are well tried and tested and hope you would benefit from these treatments as millions of others across the globe do too.

A change in diet in extremely effective in fighting any type of allergic asthma – foods such as soybean, apples, lemon, orange, figs, guava, Bengal gram (black lentils) should be introduced into your diet as these provide the much needed fiber that prevents constipation, which in turn prevents the allergic asthma. Also include in your daily food consumption, whole grains such as barley, maize and oatmeal.

Since we are talking about diet, be informed that Vitamin E is another one among the well known and tested allergic asthma home remedies. You also need to know that among these remedies, some of the simplest are the most ignored yet the most effective.  For example, just having dinner some two hours before sunset can reduce attacks by 90%.

One among the most famous allergic asthma home remedies is the raisin cure – this is one of the most effective and easy to do allergic asthma home remedies known to mankind. Take about 15-20 raisins and have them soaked in about 150 milliliters of water (a little less than a full glass); in the morning you will find that the raisins have become big – just like grapes. Take these swollen raisins and boil them in a cup (250 ml) of milk. Have this milk at least twice a day.

You will find great relief if you would take a little dry peel of a pomegranate and boil in milk along with two raisins and drink it every day at bed time. For children below one year you could use a paste of about five to six leaves of basil and honey.

Avoid all the foods that cause phlegm such as rice, curd, lentils, banana and other such foods and concentrate on beneficial foods such as prunes, berries, tomatoes, lettuce, beet root, orange, etc.

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Symptoms of a Sinus Infection

A sinus infection happens when the nasal passages become so congested that the mucus is unable to drain off and there is then an overabundance of bacteria that continues to grow and spread.  This bacteria then causes an infection that must be treated with antibiotics.

Some of the symptoms of a sinus infection include, pain in the face either running down the sides of the face or even around the nose and under the eyes.  The patient can have a headache and even a fever can sometimes accompany a sinus infection.  Of course one of the main symptoms is severe nasal congestion that lasts for several weeks.

Problems When a Patient Has a Sinus Infection and Asthma

When a person has a sinus infection and asthma there can be some complications.  A sinus infection and asthma are not the best combination to have to deal with.  As a person with asthma is already having difficulty breathing, having a sinus infection and asthma can compromise this even further.

It is important when a person has a sinus infection and asthma that the nasal passages be clear.  Having an open airway can help a person with asthma.  When someone has a sinus infection and asthma it is difficult to get the mucus to move out of the sinus cavities. 

A nasal rinse may be the best and most productive method of moving mucus through the nasal passages.  A person with a sinus infection and asthma may discover that doing a nasal rinse is a beneficial thing.  A nasal rinse involves using water and a specific nasal rinse mixture.  Then taking a bottle that is made for this use, and spraying water first through one nostril and then the other.  The rinse and the bottle can be found at any pharmacy.

.Sometimes a person with a sinus infection and asthma may discover that taking some over the counter medications that can assist with the congestion to be beneficial.  These medications can help thin the mucus and allow for it to drain.  Talk with a physician to find out what would work best for you. Having a sinus infection and asthma can be difficult.  It is therefore important to stay in touch with a physician in order to receive the most appropriate care for these conditions.

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Many people with breathing difficulties are unsure about whether they or a family member may have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A lot of people are under the impression that both are treated in the same way and, although there are similarities in some respects, they are distinct diseases and are managed differently from one another.

Spirometry (a breathing test used to measure the speed and amount one can blow out) is the method used to determine if someone has asthma compared to COPD or another lung disease.

Most often, asthma is diagnosed in childhood, but asthma can develop at any age. The insides of the bronchial breathing tubes become swollen and the muscles around the airway tighten up. For those with asthma, there could be one trigger or more that can cause the airway to react. Some examples of triggers are allergies, colds, and smoke. More than 50% of people diagnosed with asthma have allergies. By avoiding triggers, understanding the difference between a preventer and a rescue inhaler and using them appropriately, and having a written action plan, it is possible to control asthma and carry on a relatively normal life with minimal asthma symptoms. If you answer yes to one or more of the following questions, your asthma may not be well controlled and you might want to see your health care provider.

1. Do you use your reliever inhaler (usually blue) more than 3 times per week?

2. Do you wake up due to nighttime symptoms once or more per week?

3. Do you have daytime symptoms more than 3 days per week?

4. Do you miss work or does your child miss school?

5. Does asthma stop you from exercising?

The Lung Association’s Asthma Action Helpline can assist those with asthma and can be reached by calling 1-800-668-7682.

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are considered to be the major contributing diseases to the term chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and are different from asthma. Cigarette smoking is the main cause in 90% of cases and COPD is usually diagnosed in people 40 and older. An early symptom could be shortness of breath. Too often, people with the beginnings of COPD assume their shortness of breath may be due to other reasons. Early diagnosis is extremely important in order to take action as soon as possible. The main focus starts with quitting smoking and avoiding second hand smoke. Medicine to control shortness of breath as well as cough and sputum and keeping oneself as active as possible is important in the management of COPD. There are programs available to teach those with COPD how to manage the disease. If you answer yes to any of the following, you might want to see your health care provider.

. Are you now or have you in the past been a regular smoker or exposed to second hand smoke?

. Do you cough regularly with or without mucus?

. Do you get short of breath doing simple tasks?

. Do you get colds more often than others that last a lot longer?

The Lung Association’s BreathWorks Helpline can assist those with COPD and can be reached by calling 1-866-717-COPD (2673).

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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For people living with asthma, winter is a time to be aware of conditions that could trigger asthma symptoms. The key to enjoying the winter season is to keep your asthma controlled.

Here are a few tips to help manage asthma in cold weather:

. Get the flu shot. An influenza vaccine is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from the virus during the winter months. For children and adults living with asthma, it is especially important since the flu and colds can trigger symptoms.

. Speak to your doctor. Your physician is a key source for information during the winter months. Download The Lung Association’s Asthma Action Plan (link to online AA Plan: http://www.on.lung.ca/asthmaaction/action_plan.html) and take it to your doctor. Follow the plan for asthma management, and notify your doctor immediately if your or your child’s asthma worsens or if you or your child becomes ill during the season.

. Be prepared. Make sure you are ready to handle an asthma episode before it happens. This includes making sure that you and/or your child has the proper medication on hand at all times.

. Bundle up. You know that you need to dress warmly in the winter months. When outside in the cold weather, deep breaths evaporate moisture within the airways. This cooling and drying of the airways can be a trigger for an asthma attack. Make sure that you have a scarf covering your face to prevent inhaling cold air through your nose and mouth. Be aware of the worsening signs of asthma. Know your triggers. Even people with asthma should be able to spend time outside in winter if their asthma is under control. Be prepared. Follow your written action plan. . Breathe easy indoors. Most Canadians spend up to 90 per cent of their time indoors, making indoor air quality an important health concern, especially during the winter months. For the 2.5 million Canadians living with asthma, poor indoor air quality can lead to serious health problems and play a significant role in triggering asthma symptoms. More information on ways to clean up the air inside your home during the winter season is available online at www.on.lung.ca. Click on Air Quality and on the PDF “Breathe Easy Indoors During The Winter”.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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More than 50 million Americans are affected with allergy-related conditions every year.  Some of these allergies, such as mild seasonal hay fever can be controlled with over-the counter medicines or with no treatment at all.  Other allergies can interfere with your life, reduce your enjoyment in life, and become life threatening.  If this is the case, you should see a doctor for a comprehensive review and allergy testing.

When our immune system identifies a substance that is normally harmless as damaging to the body, it triggers the immune system to defend our body.  Sometimes the body aggressively attacks normally harmless substances such as dust, mold, or pollen. 

The body reacts to the release of the antibodies in various ways.  Allergic reactions can attack any part of our body.  It can attack the stomach, the nose, throat, sinuses, and lungs.  Some of the reactions your body might experience is nasal stuffiness, discharge, sneezing and nasal itching.  Sometimes itching in ears or roof of the mouth accompanies the other symptoms.

The eyes can be affected with conjunctivitis or red, itchy, and watery eyes.  Skin can be red, itchy, and dry, hives or itchy welts can appear on the skin as well.  Asthma is a common form of allergic reaction.  Asthma causes shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. 

Several substances can cause allergic reactions.  In fact, there are hundreds, but the most common allergens or triggers include things we meet often.

Pollen, we can hardly avoid pollen if we spend any time outdoors at all.

Molds can be anywhere, and in your home without you realizing it.

Household dust and dust mites, common in most homes.

Animal dander, urine, or oil from their skin.  Many of us have pets and don’t realize what they can do to someone with severe allergies.

Industrial chemicals, these are common in household cleaners.

Foods, such as peanut allergy are often life threatening.

Feathers can cause allergic reactions if you are in a home with a bird.

Insect stings can sometimes be fatal; a bee sting can kill if that person has an allergic reaction to bee stings.

Cockroaches and the waste they produce.

Anyone can be affected by allergies, any race, age, gender, or social status.  Allergies seem to be more common in children but an adult can suffer an allergic reaction even after years of remission.  Allergies run in families even though it isn’t yet understood why that happens.  Allergies can develop gradually over a period and can be caused by hormonal changes, stress, perfume, smoking, and other substances in the environment.

You can discover what allergens you have a reaction to in one of two ways.  The first is to have a blood test that measures the antibodies to specific allergens; the other is the skin patch test method.  Several well-known allergens are diluted and either injected into the skin or a small amount place under the skin by a puncture or scratch.  If a welt appears or a red area on the skin it might mean the patient is allergic to that allergen.

Treatments for allergies will vary and are determined on your age, overall health, and medical history.  Consideration will be given when deciding therapy on how bad the disease is, your tolerance of medications, and your preferences.  Occasionally a person may only need to change their lifestyle and be sure, their home is dust and mold free. 

For some it may mean a change of diet, especially if their allergies are food related.  Several different food allergies are common.  Reactions can be avoided by staying away from the ones they are sensitive to.  For those who are lactose intolerant, many over-the-counter cures will allow you to cope with lactose products.  You can enjoy an ice-cream cone without worry. 

A peanut allergy can be especially harmful and all items with peanut or peanut oil should be avoided.  Most candy makers now print on their packaging if the candy has been made in the same factory where peanut products have been used.  This is a potentially life threatening allergy.  Always check packaging of all candies to be sure there won’t be a trace of peanut or peanut oil in the product.

Allergies are annoying but controllable if you discover what you are allergic to, and avoid those allergens.

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