| When her son, Will, was 2 months old, Pat Jones of | | | | sealed houses make it easier for moisture and dust to |
| Los Angeles and her husband woke to hear their son | | | | collect in homes," Dockerty notes vapors such as |
| struggling to breathe in his sleep. Before then, Jones | | | | perfumes, air fresheners and formaldehyde become |
| had never seen a baby with asthma, but it soon | | | | trapped indoors and can irritate asthmatics. Be sure |
| became a familiar sight. "When we had our duplex | | | | stoves and appliances are well-vented. If it's cool |
| next to a freeway, we practically lived in the | | | | outside, open windows a crack to circulate air. On hot |
| emergency room," she explains.Jones and her son are | | | | days, use air conditioners to ventilate. Buy mattress |
| not alone. In the past 15 years, asthma has increased | | | | and pillow casings that are impermeable to dust mites. |
| world-wide. According to the Centers for Disease | | | | Vinyl or tightly woven cotton (at least 380-count) work |
| Control (CDC), more children suffer from asthma than | | | | well. Avoid feather comforters and feather or foam |
| any other chronic disease. "Asthma has become the | | | | rubber pillows. Foam rubber produces a haven for |
| leading cause of childhood hospital admissions beyond | | | | mites. Launder in hot water (130 degrees F). Bedding |
| the newborn period," says Philip Landrigan, M.D., a New | | | | should be washed every two weeks. Dust with a |
| York City pediatrician. Asthma, reports the CDC, is the | | | | damp cloth and vacuum frequently. Small particles |
| number one reason for school absenteeism in | | | | irritate asthmatic airways. When buying a vacuum |
| America.How do you know if your child has asthma? | | | | cleaner, ask if it will fit HEPA (High Energy Particulate |
| "Asthma's more than just wheezing," says Harvey | | | | Air) filters, a $100 option, which trap finer particles. Wipe |
| Karp, M.D., a pediatrician in Los Angeles. While | | | | walls and ceilings with a damp mop. Vacuum air and |
| wheezing is a symptom of asthma, also look for | | | | heating vents. Beware of vacuum cleaner back draft. |
| persistent coughing or repeated episodes of bronchitis | | | | The January 1995 issue of Consumer Reports found |
| or pneumonia, advises Karp. The best way you can | | | | that the dustiest exhaust came from canister-style |
| protect your child from recurrent attacks is to become | | | | machines; the report recommends upright vacuum |
| an educated parent.Since asthmatics have hyper | | | | cleaners. Keep clutter to a minimum. Piles of dirty |
| reactive airways, a number of allergens or irritants | | | | clothes encourage growth of mildew and mites; piles |
| may cause the lungs' breathing tubes to close, | | | | of paper attract cockroaches. Stuffed animals offer a |
| restricting the breathing. The following commonly | | | | paradise for mites. Dehumidify. "Dehumidifying is |
| trigger asthma: | | | | important, as many asthmatics are allergic to mildew |
| Cigarette smoke. Technically an airway irritant rather | | | | and molds," says Harriet Burge, Ph.D., of the Harvard |
| than an allergen, smoke has a severe effect on | | | | School of Public Health. No pet, no dander. "Cat dander |
| asthmatics. | | | | is everywhere, even if you wash the cat," says Ruth |
| Dust mites. The excrement of this microscopic mite is | | | | Etzel, M.D., Ph.D., of the CDC. "The only real solution is |
| a potent allergen. Mites infest bedding, upholstery, | | | | not to have the cat." Replace furnace and duct filters |
| draperies and rugs and thrive on moisture and human | | | | monthly as they collect dust and molds. Keep |
| skin cells. | | | | asthmatics away from gas stoves. "Open the oven |
| Cockroaches are a primary allergen. | | | | door and you get a blast of NO2," says Bates. Ask |
| Mildews and molds. | | | | your pediatrician about allergenic foods. If you have a |
| Unvented gas appliances, heaters and stoves. The | | | | family tendency toward allergy, limit foods assosciated |
| American Lung Association warns nitrous oxides such | | | | with allergies-such as cow's milk-from the child's diet |
| as NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) can pollute air when gas | | | | for the first two ears. Etzel and other pediatricians |
| appliances such as water heaters, stoves and clothes | | | | recommend that mothers try to breastfeed their |
| dryers lack adequate ventilation. Poorly vented | | | | infants for the first year. Restrict outdoor activities |
| wood-burning fireplaces can also be a hazard. | | | | when pollution levels are high. Check your air quality |
| Ozone. "Ozone (often found in smog) causes | | | | index daily. Asthmatic children should not exert |
| inflammation in the lungs at very low concentrations," | | | | themselves in hot, smoggy weather or when a dusty |
| says David Bates, a professor emeritus at the | | | | wind blows; smog counts tend to be highest between |
| University of British Columbia. This especially poses a | | | | 3 and 6 p.m. Eradicate cockroaches. Try air cleaning |
| risk in large cities and near high-traffic areas. | | | | and purifying machines. Consumer Reports says a |
| Particulate matter. Very fine pieces of soot, dust, or | | | | good air cleaner can help those with allergies. Keep the |
| smoke can invade the lungs. | | | | machine in the asthmatic's bedroom at least six feet |
| 16 Lung-Healthy TipsOnce you know what allergens | | | | from the bed because it creates a draft and don't |
| and irritants to watch for, you can protect your child | | | | place it on the carpet since it can kick up dust. "Air |
| from asthma attacks. Use this list to help make your | | | | cleaners can only help if you've first gotten rid of the |
| home a friendlier place for any child or adult who | | | | risk factors such as dust mites, mold and dander," |
| suffers from asthma. | | | | says Burge. Warning: many asthmatics experience |
| Take early action. "In order to prevent asthma in the | | | | irritation from the ozone type of air filter. Drive less. |
| first place, we think the important thing is to avoid | | | | Fight pollution at the source and support sustainable |
| exposure to allergens very early in life, meaning | | | | transportation. Urban locations with high levels of |
| younger than 2 years of age," says Douglas Dockerty, | | | | ozone and particulates put asthmatics at risk. |
| Ph.D., professor at Harvard School of Public Health. | | | | Therefore, it's essential to fight pollution at its industrial |
| This is one more reason why a pregnant woman | | | | and automotive sources and support public |
| should not smoke. Ventilate. "The building of tightly | | | | transportation and strict clean-air standards. |