Asthma Triggers: Hiding in Plain Sight

CHICAGO, March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One in 12 Americans has asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While we don't know what causes asthma, we know what can lead to an asthma attack: exposure to asthma triggers.

Unfortunately, the home is loaded with asthma triggers. "Many asthma triggers are hiding in plain sight, in the bedroom, common living spaces, the kitchen and also in the bathrooms," says Jill Heins, director of Respiratory Health for the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, in a new video at BeSmartBeWell.com.

To help families make an asthma-safe home, Heins offers advice for reducing and removing asthma triggers.

Watch Asthma Triggers: Hiding in the Home.

Why are asthma triggers important?

Triggers are anything that causes asthma symptoms to flare up. While medicine can help manage symptoms, limiting exposure to asthma triggers is key to preventing asthma attacks, Heins says. "There are two parts to asthma management: medication therapy and the avoidance of triggers," she explains in the video.

What are common triggers?
Some of the most common indoor triggers are:

• Pet dander 
• Dust mites 
• Mold 
• Cigarette smoke
• Strong odors

But not everyone has the same asthma triggers; and many people unknowingly make asthma worse by coming in contact with triggers.  

Trinity's mother had no idea the scented candles she burned were contributing to her daughter's frequent asthma attacks. Once she got rid of the candles and air fresheners, Trinity's asthma improved. Watch Trinity's story at BeSmartBeWell.com.

Where to start?
When tackling asthma triggers in the home, it is a good idea to start in the bedroom, Heins says. That's because it is important for people with asthma to have a trigger-free environment for sleeping. According to Heins, the most bothersome triggers in the bedroom are dust mites and pets. In the video, she provides these tips for reducing triggers in the bedroom:

• Remove wall-to-wall carpet, or at least vacuum weekly
• Use allergen-free covers on pillows and mattresses
• Wash bedding weekly in hot water
• Remove or wash stuffed animals frequently
• No pets in the bedroom

Timmy was only 4 when he was diagnosed with asthma. To keep his symptoms down, his parents took steps to eliminate triggers in his bedroom. "My husband put special carpeting in Timmy's room, special covers on the beds, special covers on the pillows. We had a HEPA filter put in his room," his mom says in a video at BeSmartBeWell.com. "Within two or three days we saw a huge improvement in Timmy's breathing!"

Watch Childhood Asthma: What Can I Do About It? at BeSmartBeWell.com.

Learn More
BeSmartBeWell.com/childhood-asthma provides practical information about managing asthma. The website includes:

• More tips for making an asthma-safe home
• Interviews with leading health experts
• Life stories of real people living with asthma
• A slideshow with five suggestions for reducing asthma triggers
• A quiz to test how much you understand about asthma triggers

At the site, visitors can also sign up for the bimonthly Spotlight Newsletter and biweekly News Alerts for more in-depth articles and breaking news on asthma and other important health topics.

About BeSmartBeWell.com
BeSmartBeWell.com is compliments of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Divisions of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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SOURCE BeSmartBeWell.com

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