Asthma
Asthma is a lung disease. It causes people to wheeze, cough, be short of breath, and sometimes even die. People with asthma can suffer from frequent periods of difficulty breathing called “asthma attacks.” During an attack, the airways swell, the muscles around them tighten, and the airways produce thick yellow mucous
- Asthma is the most common chronic condition among children.
- Asthma is more common among adult women than adult men.
- Asthma is more common among male children than female children.
- Asthma is more common among children (7 to 10%) than adults (3 to 5%).
- Nearly 5 million asthma sufferers are under age 18. It is the most common chronic childhood disease, affecting more than one child in 20.
- Asthma is slightly more prevalent among African Americans than Caucasians.
Asthma is not contagious, but it does run in families, so if parents have asthma, their children are more likely to have it, too. Children, particularly those living in urban areas and crowded or unclean conditions, are especially at risk for developing asthma. African-American children living in low-income families tend to have more severe asthma and are at greater risk of death.
What causes an attack?
Each person is different, but many things (called “asthma triggers”) can cause asthma attacks. These can be found both outdoors and indoors and include:
- Cold weather
- Exercise
- Stress
- Dust and dust mites
- Cockroaches
- Mold
- Pet dander (skin flakes)
- Rodents
- Tobacco smoke
- Air fresheners
What can you do?
Because there is no cure for asthma, it is most important to work on preventing attacks. There are three major categories of prevention:
Keep a clean home
- Make sure that your home is free of dust, mold, smoke, and other potential triggers.
- Vacuum often-HEPA (
High Efficiency Particle Air) filters remove dust best. - Keep foods stored in tightly sealed containers to avoid attracting cockroaches and rodents by keeping food in tightly sealed containers.
- Clear crumbs, drips, spills, and dirty dishes immediately.
- Identify and quickly fix water leaks in your home.
Keep people with asthma away from dust, dust mites, and smoke
- Use zippered “allergen resistant” mattress and pillow covers to keep dust mites out of sleeping spaces.
About Radon
Radon is a radioactive gas that cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. Radon gas is a natural substance that can be found in the dirt and rocks beneath houses, in well water
Radon is measured in picoCuries per liter of air (pCi/L). Radon levels inside houses below 4 pCi/L are considered acceptable. If your home has radon levels above 4 pCi/L, you should take action.
What can you do?
Test your home:
* Use a 2-day test kit or 90-day test kit (90-day test kits take longer but the results are more accurate).
* Follow test kit instructions closely.
* You may also hire a professional to test for radon for you (Contact your state’s radon office for a list
·* Fix your home if you have unacceptable levels of radon: Hire a professional contractor.
* Contact your state’s radon office for guidance and assistance if you are thinking about fixing your radon problem yourself.
* Re-test your home after repairs to make sure the problem was fixed.
Follow these additional tips:
o Do not smoke in your house. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer from radon.
o Keep your home ventilated by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air. (This will only temporarily reduce radon levels.)
o Seal cracks in floors and wall with plaster, caulk or other crack sealants.
o You can cover the earth floor in crawl spaces with a high-density plastic sheet. A vent pipe and fan can be used to blow the radon from under the sheet and vent it to the outdoors
Whom can you contact?
· Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse (to find a state radon contact) click here.
· National Radon Hotline (to order a radon test kit) 1-800-767-7236
· National Safety Council/EPA Radon Hotline (for questions about radon) 1-800-557-2366
· Radon Fix-It Hotline 1-800-644-6999
· Spanish Language Radon Hotline 1-800-725-8312