and wheezing

• develop asthma

• develop pneumonia and

•  bronchitis

• be at risk from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

• be at risk from meningococcal disease.

Smoke is also a trigger for a lot of people with asthma. Around three quarters of people with asthma become wheezy in a smoky room. Children with asthma whose parents smoke have more asthma symptoms than children whose parents don’t smoke.

Make your home (and car) smokefree – make it a rule that your home is smokefree at all times for everyone. Let other people know and ask people who want to smoke to go outside. Remove all ashtrays from inside your home. Put up Smokefree home/Whare Auahi Kore stickers at the entrance to your home (your local public health service has these free stickers).

Did you know that if you wait until the kids are in bed or just smoke less inside, that doesn’t actually reduce exposure to second-hand smoke? A total ban on smoking in the house is the best way to protect your kids.

Manage your asthma!

Around 600,000 people in New Zealand have asthma. While having a dry and warm environment is healthy for everyone, for people with asthma there are other issues that are important if you and your kids are to stay well.

Asthma triggers

Most people with asthma can think of several things that "trigger" their asthma or make it worse. Often, it’s not just one trigger that sets off an episode of asthma but a mixture of several triggers at the same time.

Common triggers around the home are:

• colds and 'flu viruses

• allergies

• smoke and fumes

• temperature changes

• emotions

• exercise and activity

• household sprays.

Triggers in the air include fly sprays, strong perfumes and aerosol cleaning sprays. Some building materials and home furnishings may give off fumes that might make asthma worse. Formaldehyde, common in particle-board, is one of these.

Try to find what the trigger is for you and avoid it.

Always carry your reliever medication with you.

Seal particle-board floors, shelves, stairs, and household fittings with polyurethane or an oil-based paint.

Ensure your home is well-ventilated so fumes do not accumulate.

Allergies

Some people are particularly sensitive or "allergic" to certain things they come into contact with daily. These allergies are important in hayfever and eczema as well as asthma.

The most common asthma-producing allergies are related to:

• house dust mites

• animals

• pollens

• moulds

• fungal spores

• certain food and drinks.

House dust mites

House dust mites are too tiny to see. They live off the flakes of skin we constantly shed. We all have them in our homes, in soft furniture and carpets and especially in our mattresses and pillows. Their waste products, which are very tiny and float in the air, can provoke an allergic reaction when breathed in.

Signs of allergy to dust mites include wheezing when you are vacuuming or dusting or when you enter a dusty room or house, or asthma symptoms during the night or first thing in the morning.

What should I do?

Get bedding covers which provide a barrier – the single most important step you can take. You can buy special barrier covers for bedding (ask at your local asthma society or call Airflow Products - 0800 AIRFLOW or 0800 247 3569).

Remove fitted carpets especially in the bedroom. Use rugs instead and vacuum them regularly.

Check out your vacuuming. Vacuum cleaners won't eliminate dust mites, but can reduce the level of dust mite waste. Vacuum at least once a week, or if you have asthma which is triggered by dust mites, have someone else do it for you. Use vacuum cleaners with a micro-filter, an "S-class" filter, or an HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter system. Machines without these types of filters are more likely to recirculate the dust mite waste through their exhaust vent, back into the air. Remember to vacuum your mattress weekly (if you have barrier covers they do not need to be removed).

If you use a vacuum which exposes you to the contents when you empty it, get someone else to do it for you.

After vacuuming, leave the house and allow the dust to settle for a half hour or so before re-entering.

Dust with a damp cloth every week. Don’t use a feather duster which just pushes the dust around.

When you do the washing, hang things in the sun to dry. Direct sunlight kills the dust mite. Alternatively, if you use a drier, run it an extra half hour on warm after the contents are dry. Air blankets/duvets weekly, if possible in natural sunlight. Do the same with any loose rugs.

With any young children:

• put soft toys in the deep freeze for 24 hours every three weeks. Use washable soft toys, and avoid fluffy toys where possible

• avoid using sheepskins and especially avoid using them as infant bedding

• do not put young children on a bottom bunk where they will be exposed to dust mites from above.

Animals

New Zealanders love cats but unfortunately they are the second major source of indoor allergens, so they are not a good choice for families with allergies. Dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and mice can also cause problems in some people.

Never allow pets into the bedroom and, if possible, keep them outside.

If you visit friends or family who have pets, take extra medication beforehand. Ask them to keep the animal outside during your visit.

Moulds and fungal spores are a source of indoor allergens and make your home unhealthy.

Keep the house as warm and dry as possible to avoid moulds.

Remove mould or mildew from walls, shower curtains, etc. with a fungicide e.g. very diluted household bleach.

Air clothes, shoes and wardrobes regularly.

Want more info on making your home healthier?

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation acknowledges these sources of information about healthy homes in preparing this article:

Contact Energy’s Positive Energy website has information on their healthy homes initiative and energy conservation www.positive-energy.co.nz 

BRANZ has a variety of information bulletins which can be ordered through their website www.branz.org.nz 

EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) has a range of energy conservation information on their energy wise website www.energywise.org.nz 

For information on the Housing and Health research programme at the Wellington School of Medicine see www.wnmeds.ac.nz/healthyhousing.html 

For information on the second-hand smoke campaign and more information on making your home and car smokefree visit www.smokefreehomes.co.nz 

If you want help to stop smoking visit Quitline’s site www.quit.org.nz