Full Text
ASTHMA U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development • Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control ASTHMA www.hud.gov/offices/lead “The important thing to remember is that you can control your asthma.” Centers for Disease Control "Basic Facts About Asthma" Did you know...? ■Over 20 million people in the United States suffer from asthma?1 ■Over 6.3 million children under 18 report having asthma?2 ■There were 75% more cases of asthma in 1994 than in 1980?3 ■Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization in the United States?4 What is it? 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 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."5 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 ■Pollen ■Exercise ■Stress ■Dust and dust mites ■Cockroaches ■Mold ■Pet dander (skin flakes) ■Rodents ■Tobacco smoke ■Air fresheners continued on back ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control ASTHMA 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 sealed containers to avoid attracting cockroaches and rodents by keeping food in 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. ■Keep pets outdoors or away from sleeping areas; clear hairs from carpets and furniture. ■Quit smoking, or smoke only outside your home and car. Always keep tobacco smoke away from children. ■Change bed sheets often. ■Keep people with asthma out of a room while vacuuming or dusting. Get medical advice and follow the doctor’s instructions. ■Get medical attention for breathing problems. ■Get emergency medical care for bad attacks of shortness of breath or wheezing. ■Take all prescribed medication, either to prevent attacks or to lessen the ■Find out what allergies you have so you can avoid these potential asthma triggers. For more information . . . Visit HUD’s website at www.hud.gov/offices/lead for more information about addressing health hazards in homes or to learn if HUD has a Healthy Homes program in your community. From this website, you can download a copy of “Help Yourself to A Healthy Home” for more practical steps you can take to make your home a healthy home. Other Federal Resources US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/od/oc/childhealth US Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov/children Other Resources American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) www.aaaai.org Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America www.aafa.org The Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) www.aanma.org Ask your doctor or contact your local or state department of health. 1“Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use, and Mortality, 2000-2001,” National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2Ibid 3Centers for Disease Control. Surveillance for Asthma – United States, 1960-1995, MMWR. 1998; 47 (SS-1). 4Environmental Health Watch, website www.ehw.org/Asthma/ASTH_home1.htm. August 25, 2004 5Centers for Disease Control. Surveillance for Asthma – United States, 1980-1999, MMWR, 2002; 51 (SS-01). Mold is a common asthma trigger. Cockroaches can trigger asthma. Use traps, gel bait, and cleaning to deal with roaches. www.hud.gov/offices/lead U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control Photo by: January E. Jones, Improving Kids’ Environment Photo by: January E. Jones, Improving Kids’ Environment