Controlling Environmental Triggers

1.     GENERAL MEASURES

a.     Clean and dust the bedroom 5-7 days per week.

b.    Cover your bedroom pillows and mattresses with airtight covers.  We have a catalog describing   these.

c.    Place a HEPA room air filter in the bedroom and run it 24 hours a day.

2.    DUST MITES

a.    Dust mites are like tiny "bugs" you cannot see.  They are found in bedding, carpeting, upholstered furniture and stuffed toys.  It is rare to have dust mites in Colorado unless the temperature and humidity are fairly high during most of the year.

b.  If you have moved from a humid climate to Colorado you may have dust mites in your pillows, mattresses and upholstery.

3.    ANIMAL DANDER

Some people are allergic to the flakes of skin, dried saliva or dried urine from animals with fur or feathers.

THINGS THAT WILL HELP:

• Keep pets out of your home, or at least out of the bedroom, day and night.
• Avoid places where pets are kept, if possible.
• Wash hands and change clothes after coming into contact with any animals.
• Cover air vents in your bedroom with a filter or cheesecloth.
• Wash the pet weekly in plain water (no soap).

4.    POLLEN

Many people with asthma have symptoms that get worse during certain times of the year when pollen counts are high.  Pollen seasons, or allergy seasons, differ in parts of the country and pollen counts may change at different times of the day.

THINGS THAT WILL HELP:

• Know what you are allergic to by having allergy skin tests performed.
• Keep your windows closed and use air conditioning, if possible.
• Stay indoors when pollen counts are high, particularly during the midday and afternoon, if you can.

Also, ask our office healthcare provider whether you need to take or increase medicine before your allergy season starts.

5.    MOLD

Mold can occur indoors as well as outdoors.  Mold is not common in Colorado because of our dry climate.

THINGS THAT WILL HELP:

• OUTDOORS:  Avoid places where mold grows, if possible.  These include wet leaves, garden debris, stacked wood, dense forest, standing water or areas of poor drainage.
• INDOORS:  Get drippy faucets and leaking pipes fixed.  Lower humidity below 50%.  Use a "fungicide" cleaner such as bleach.

6.    COCKROACH

Many people with asthma are allergic to the dried droppings and remains of cockroaches.

THINGS THAT WILL HELP:

• Keep food out of your bedroom
• Store food and garbage in closed containers.  Never leave food out.
• Bait the cockroaches, but do not try to use poisons if there are small children in the house.
• Have rooms sprayed; be sure and stay away until the odor goes away.

7.    SMOKE

Smoke either tobacco smoke (cigarettes, pipes and cigars) OR wood smoke (fireplaces, woodstoves and campfires) is another very common trigger of asthma symptoms.

THINGS THAT WILL HELP:

• Do not smoke.
• Do not allow people to smoke around you.  Try to avoid public places with smoke.
• If someone in your family smokes, ask our office for ways to help them quit, or at least ways to protect you from their smoke.
• If possible, do not use a wood burning stove or fireplace; and avoid places they are used.

8.    MISCELLANEOUS

COLD AIR

• Cover your nose and mouth with a scarf or neck of a turtleneck on cold or windy days.

STRONG ODORS AND SPRAYS

• Try to stay away from strong odors and sprays such as perfumes, hair sprays, kerosene and paints.
• In your home, use only household cleaning products that do NOT have strong smells or scents.

Consider using an exhaust fan to get rid of strong odors.

1625 Medical Center Point, Suite 190    Colorado Springs, CO 80907    719.955.6000   Fax: 719.955.9595     www.StormsAllergy.com