ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES

The air we breathe in always contains dust, the amount and type of dust varies between different places and different times. It may include particles that some people are allergic to, house dust mite, skin, scales, fur, insect debris, food dust, pollens, moulds.

When people are allergic their immune system reacts to these specific particles when they inhale or touch them. In the person with asthma they cause the airways to narrow and make it harder to breathe.

House dust mites are microscopic creatures that live in their thousands and feed on the dead skin which all of us shed. They are found mainly in our beds and carpets and their droppings are very tiny and become airborne easily which then causes an allergic reaction in some people.

To help control house dust mites totally encase bed mattresses and pillows in vinyl or special house dust mite covers, weekly hot washing of bed linen in soapy water above 55ºC will kill dust mites and remove droppings. Expose the blankets, quilts and bedspreads to direct sunlight for several hours each week.

Smaller items and fluffy toys may be put in a plastic bag and freezed for four hours each fortnight.

Make sure rooms are light and well ventilated, avoid damp and poorly ventilated houses. Have hard floor surfaces, wood etc and mop the floor weekly.

Pet allergen can be carried on clothing and transferred on to furnishings, it takes 3-4 months of cleaning before cat allergen is removed from the house once the cat is removed.

Moulds are tiny fungi which form slimy or cottony growths in places that are damp and dark, mould occurs in laundries, bathrooms, drip trays of the fridge, the top soil of indoor plants, in mulch and compost heaps and gutters full of leaf litter. Most moulds produce millions of spores that become airborne easily.

Airborne pollens also affect and cause allergy.



SYMPTOMS AND TRIGGERS

TREATMENT

ASTHMA ATTACK

THE DANGERS OF SMOKING

ASTHMA AND EXERCISE

ASTHMA AND WORK

ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES

ASTHMA AND CARPETS

Foods That Cause You to Lose Weight:: The Negative Calorie Effect

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