How to Breathe Easier Winter Can Be a Difficult Time for Those Who Suffer from Asthma

Asthma is leading cause of chronic pediatric illness in this country, affecting more than 13 million children and 26 million adults. In some parts of the Pioneer Valley, as many as one in four children have asthma.

Asthma is a condition of the lungs that causes inflammation of the air tubes, causing difficulty with breathing and air trapping or wheezing. Here at Baystate Children’s Hospital, we use a two-step approach to keep children with asthma healthy.

First, we help families identify and reduce asthma triggers in their home. These include, pets, cockroaches, dust and dust mites, mold and mildew, and rodents.

Second, we identify patients with persistent asthma and give them controller medications that reduce the inflammation in the lungs. These are children who have daytime symptoms more than twice a week or those who wake up with a cough more than twice a month or those who have to stop and slow down their playtime activities  due to coughing.

Fortunately, with the proper balance of environmental intervention and controller medications, children and adults with asthma can live normal, healthy, productive lives.

For many asthma patients, both children and adults, the wintertime can be especially aggravating with numerous triggers both indoors and outdoors waiting to set off their asthma. However, with adequate preparation this can be managed.

Parents can help protect their children by sending them outdoors with a scarf or a neck warmer covering their nose and mouth, which will help to warm the air that they breathe.

Even staying indoors has its own set of challenges. While in the house, mold, pet dander, and fires roaring in the fireplace all serve as asthma triggers. And, indoor heating can dry the air and irritate airways. Humidifiers can help, but care must be taken so the humidity level does not rise much above 45{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5}, which can encourage the growth of mold and mildew. Also, it is important to remember to purchase and install clean filters in your heating system. Use green cleaners and avoid bleach when cleaning your home, as these are potent triggers of asthma.

Even the holidays can be hazardous for those with asthma.

Whether you prefer a real or artificial Christmas tree, both can be problematic for children with asthma. Live evergreen trees can have mold, pollen or insecticides on them, which can trigger your child’s asthma. Even an artificial tree, along with the decorations you will be placing on its branches, can be covered in dust. Please remember that with proper cleaning, artificial trees can be displayed without much if any risk.

Smoke can be a potent asthma trigger. Wood stoves need to be properly inspected for leaks and fireplaces should not be used in households were people have asthma. Don’t smoke if you have children with asthma.

We see more colds and flu in the winter than any other time of the year, which can also lead to asthma flare-ups. Children are around other kids all day in school and are susceptible to a whole host of viruses. The best way to protect them from getting sick is to encourage children to wash their hands often and to keep them away, if possible, from others who are sick. It’s also important to have your child vaccinated to help prevent the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age six months and older get a flu shot yearly.

• Get a flu shot;

• Take your controller medications every day;

• Have a written sick day plan for adjusting asthma medication;

• Pay attention to technique, how you take your medications is very important.

• Don’t smoke in the home (or anywhere);

• Don’t heat with wood;

• Avoid strong smelling cleansers like bleach. Use castile soap or vinegar as cleaners;

• Clean regularly, avoid dusting and vacuuming when a person with asthma is in the room;

• Use a mattress and pillow cover;

• Consider removing carpets from the home and bedroom;

• Fix leaks and moisture problems;

• Keep pets out of the bedroom; and

• Take steps to eliminate and reduce mice and cockroaches by keeping food in sealed containers.

If you or your child are experiencing asthma symptoms more than twice a week, wake up with asthma more than twice a month,  or get short of breath whenever you run and play, contact your doctor. You may need to change your medication and your sick day plan.

The Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition is a local community group dedicated to improving the lives of people with asthma. Its website, www.pvasthmacoalition.org/, is a good place to learn more about how to use asthma medication and how you can work to improve indoor air quality in your home and school.

Also, for more information on Baystate Children’s Hospital, visit www.baystatehealth.org/bch.