Saturday, October 15, 2022
HomeEditor PicksIs The Heater Bad For Asthma

Is The Heater Bad For Asthma

What Does Contents Insurance Cover

How to deal with your asthma in hot weather

House Contents Insurance covers against accidental damage, loss or theft of personal possessions, such as

  • Furnishings Curtains, Carpets, Sofas etc
  • White Goods Refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, dryers
  • Personal Possessions Clothing, Jewellery
  • Electrical Goods TVs, Stereo systems, Mobile Phones, Tablets, PCs, games consoles
  • and more!

Some policies also cover possessions that are taken outside of the home, with some even extending the cover overseas.

We Give You Four Reasons Why Heaters Are Not Good For You

Written by Debjani Arora | Updated : March 20, 2015 6:29 PM IST

While air conditioners remain switched off during winters, room heaters are used extensively to beat the chill. Being an easy, inexpensive and convenient way to keep warm, it isn’t a healthy way of living when it is cold.

Here are four reasons why you need to switch off the heater for benefit:

#1 It depletes the moisture content in the air: This is the most common problem of using a room heater. The air that is sent out through the heater or the blower, dries up natural moisture in the air, inside the room. This dry air, devoid of any moisture, leads to dryness and roughness in your skin. If you have sensitive skin, this could also lead to itching and redness or give rise to infection. Moreover, if you have a baby, this could lead to even more damage to your baby s sensitive skin and nasal passage. Extreme dryness in infants and babies, due to overuse of a heater, could lead to skin rashes and nose bleeds. Here are few tips to keep common winter diseases at bay.

Respiratory Symptoms And Interviews

Information on symptoms and diagnoses was collected using parent completed questionnaires. Questions included whether the child had ever had wheeze or had ever had asthma diagnosed by a doctor. Further questions were whether wheezing had occurred in the previous 12 months and if either parent ever had a history of asthma. These questions have previously been tested and shown to have a high degree of repeatability. A further section in the questionnaire was designed to capture information on the home environment of the children both during their first year of life and currently. The questions in this section included the type of heating used in the home , the type of cooking appliances used at home , and exposure to home environmental tobacco smoke from maternal smoking and other family members . We also asked if the children had ever kept pets at home since birth.

Read Also: How To Calm Asthma Without Inhaler

Can Your Room Heater Make Asthma Worse

This is an important question that needs to be answered!

Recent research has thrown up light on the fact that your favorite home heater could directly increase your winter asthma symptoms, if not chosen wisely.

The research also showed up that most people do not realize that their wrong choice of room heater or heating system could affect their health negatively.

They do not understand that this can increase the chances of getting their asthma symptoms worse.

Sad to reveal that only 7% of a household considered their health first before they consider buying an appliance such as a room heater for their home.

Many among them were also worried about the cost factor and attractiveness involved, while they were buying a heater for asthmatics.

Well, if you give priority to your health and asthma symptoms you can actually avoid making your asthma conditions worse in the winter season.

Asthma Triggers In The Home

Asthma Alert: Stay inside and keep inhaler nearby

Some of the more common household asthma triggers include:

  • dust mites which love warm, moist conditions and thrive in bedding and carpets. Their droppings cause the allergic reaction
  • moulds which need moist environments with poor ventilation
  • pollens from trees, plants and grasses
  • pets because of their fur, skin or scales
  • other triggers including cold dry air, smoke, certain foods, chemicals and perfumes.

Read Also: What Part Of The Body Does Asthma Affect

State Governments Need To Start Buybacks

In New South Wales, the government is reviewing its clean air strategy but has already ruled out any phase-outs or bans.

Environment Minister Matt Kean said a state-wide ban wasn’t supported by the wider community.

In a statement, he said a buyback scheme run in two council areas in 2016 hadn’t been very popular whereas rebates for flue cleaning had been more successful.

Follow The Recommendations Below To Reduce Your Chance Of An Asthma Attack While Cleaning Follow Recommendations For Cleaning Your Home And In Your Facility

  • If you have asthma:
  • Ask an adult without asthma to clean and disinfect surfaces and objects for you.
  • Stay in another room when cleaners or disinfectants are being used and right after their use.
  • Use cleaning agents and disinfectant only when necessary. In routine situations, high-touch surfaces and objects might be cleaned effectively with soap and water.
  • Make a list of the urgent care or health facilities near you that provides nebulizer/asthma treatments and keep it close to your phone.
  • If you have an asthma attack, move away from the trigger, such as the cleaning agent or disinfectant or the area that was disinfected. Follow your Asthma Action Plan. Call 911 for medical emergencies.
  • The person cleaning and disinfecting should:
  • Choose disinfectants that are less likely to cause an asthma attack, using Environmental Protection Agency s list of approved productsexternal icon, such as:
  • Products with hydrogen peroxide or ethanol
  • Products that do NOT contain peroxyacetic acid or peracetic acid.
  • Limit use of chemicals that can trigger asthma attacks, such as bleach or quaternary ammonium compounds , and do not use them in enclosed spaces.
  • Follow additional precautions for cleaning and disinfecting places where people with asthma might be, to reduce exposure to asthma triggers.
  • Use products safely and correctly:
  • Always read and follow the directions on the product label to ensure you are using it safely and effectively.
  • Make sure there is enough air flow .
  • Don’t Miss: Epidemiological Statistics Of Asthma

    How Can I Save Money On Home Insurance

    Shopping around for your home and contents insurance is a surefire way of saving a few extra pounds. Fortunately, there are a number of comparison sites that allow you to compare home insurance however, it is worthwhile doing your research as some providers have exclusive offers that are not on price comparisons websites.

    Establishing A Link Between Asthma And Indoor Combustion

    New Hope for Severe Asthma Sufferers

    For asthma sufferers, even the slightest change in environment can trigger a respiratory attack.

    The role that home stoves and heating systems may play in the onset of asthma and its severity has been much studied and debated. Two researchers from the Yale School of Public Health, Kathleen Belanger, Ph.D., and Elizabeth W. Triche, Ph.D., reviewed dozens of unrelated international studies on the topic and found that most research supports a link between indoor combustion sourcesfireplaces, woodstoves, kerosene heaters, gas stoves and flued or nonflued gas heatersand asthma, particularly in children.

    The Yale researchers reviewed published studies done in Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States. And while there were some discrepancies in their conclusions, most of the research found that repeated exposure to an indoor combustion source appeared to put both adults and children at greater risk of asthma or exacerbated existing symptoms. Indoor combustion produces a variety of gases and particulate matter in a house that residents end up inhaling.

    Exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine particles in inner city homes can exceed levels allowable in outdoor air by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the population exposed is the most vulnerable: asthmatics, infants and the elderly, Belanger said.

    In particular, the Yale researchers drew the following conclusions from the research papers surveyed:

    Read Also: What Triggers And Asthma Attack

    Whats The Connection Between Cold Weather And Asthma

    When you have asthma, your airways swell up and become inflamed in response to certain triggers. Swollen airways are narrower and cant take in as much air. Thats why people with asthma often have trouble catching their breath.

    Winter is an especially hard time for people with asthma. A Chinese study from 2014 found that hospital admissions for asthma increased during the winter months. And in the cold climate of the north of Finland, up to 82 percent of people with asthma experienced shortness of breath when they exercised in cold weather.

    When you work out, your body needs more oxygen, so your breathing speeds up. Often, you breathe through your mouth to take in more air. While your nose has blood vessels that warm and humidify the air before it reaches your lungs, air that travels directly through your mouth remains cold and dry.

    Exercising outdoors in cold weather delivers cold air rapidly to your airways. It also appears to increase your likelihood of having an asthma attack. What is it about the cold air that triggers asthma symptoms?

    Cold air is hard on asthma symptoms for several reasons.

    Keep Your Home Well Aired

    Keeping your home well aired can help to reduce exposure to some common indoor triggers. It means any fumes from fires, cookers, cleaning products, paints, aerosols and sprays are cleared away more quickly. And it helps prevent problems like damp and mould.

    It also helps keep humidity down which is good news if youre worried about dust mites which like humid conditions.

    Opening windows, using fans

    Opening windows and doors is important for helping indoor fumes and dust escape. Some windows have small vents built into them known as trickle vents, which you can keep open. But it can also let in outdoor triggers like pollen and air pollution.

    Weather and season can affect indoor and outdoor pollution. So take care on high pollution or pollen days if these are triggers for your asthma. And remember to open windows in winter, when there are typically higher levels of pollutants in your home because of using gas appliances and fires more.

    Watch out for dusty fans or extractors or youll end up blowing dust all round the room.

    Air filters

    Some people tell us having an air filter or air purifier helps them with their asthma symptoms. However more research is needed to show whether this works.

    Air filters cant remove all allergens and even a few left behind can trigger asthma symptoms, says Dr Andy. And for something like second hand cigarette smoke, the best advice is always not to smoke in the first place, particularly around children.

    De-humidifiers

    Also Check: What Happens After An Asthma Attack

    How Your Home Heating System Can Impact Your Asthma

    Moving into winter, its important to consider various factors when looking for a home heating system. Something that often gets overlooked during the decision making process is the impact your heating system has on your allergies and asthma. In Australia today one in nine or 2.3 million individuals have asthma. Although asthma cannot be cured, for most people it can be well managed.

    Is Heater Good For Asthma

    Are Ionizers Bad for Asthma? (Should You Avoid Ionizers as ...

    asthma

    . In this way, does heating affect asthma?

    Central heating won’t make your asthma worseAccording to an article on Allergy Clean Environments by Jim Rosenthal, CAFS, central heating and air conditioning systems do not aggravate or trigger asthma. At least not directly.

    are fans good for asthma? Lung experts warn that using electric fans overnight can circulate dust and pollen and worsen some patients’ asthma symptoms. If you have fans going all night long, allergens that cause symptoms get swirled around in the air before you eventually breathe them in, which makes the inflammation worse.

    Keeping this in view, what is the best room temperature for asthma?

    The researchers found that a room temperature of about 71 degrees Fahrenheit did not trigger asthma symptoms, but breathing in super-hot air at 120 degrees F did.

    Can humidifiers help asthma?

    Humidifiers, asthma and allergiesIncreased humidity may ease breathing in children and adults who have asthma or allergies, especially during a respiratory infection such as a cold. But dirty mist or increased growth of allergens caused by high humidity can trigger or worsen asthma and allergy symptoms.

    Also Check: Diy Salt Inhaler

    What Can You Do To Protect Yourself From Extreme Weather Conditions

    If its very hot and humid or very cold outside, heres what you can do to reduce your risk of asthma symptoms:

    • Stay inside when the air quality is poor. Check your local levels of pollen and pollution, which can trigger asthma symptoms. Avoid going outside when these levels are high.
    • Wear a face mask or scarf. When the weather is cold, cover your nose and mouth. This will help humidify the air you breathe in.
    • Keep warm in cold weather. Stay warm by wearing a hat, scarf, and gloves in cold weather.
    • Carry your rescue inhaler. Bring your rescue inhaler in case you experience symptoms while youre outside.
    • Follow your treatment plan. Youre more likely to experience symptoms if your asthma isnt well managed. Follow your doctors recommendations for treating and managing asthma.

    Smoke Bad For Other Groups As Well

    Dr Blakey said wood heaters could be damaging to the lungs of those who own them, their neighbours, the pregnant, elderly and children.

    The fires emit small particulates known as PM 2.5s which are small enough to penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream.

    “In terms of the particulates they emit, having a wood-fired stove in your front room is many times more damaging to your lungs than having a truck in your front room running all the time,” he said.

    Many of these microscopic particulates exit through the flue or chimney but they could still be sucked back inside through bad seals, as well as affect neighbours.

    “The effect on the ground for the next-door neighbour is far worse than living next to a coal-fired power station.”

    And, if people could smell smoke in their homes, then he said these particulates were going into their lungs.

    Dr Blakey said wood smoke was linked to lung and esophageal cancer as well as other health effects, depending on the duration of exposure.

    “You’re more likely to have angina and heart attacks. People are more likely to have mini-strokes and strokes, and people are more likely to have poorer control over other conditions such as diabetes,” he said.

    “There is no safe lower level for a lot of these exposures.”

    Recommended Reading: Does Weight Gain Make Asthma Worse

    Your Hvac System And Asthma

    We often take the air we breathe for granted. If youre asthmatic, though, you know every breath is precious.

    According to recent studies by the American Lung Association, there are around 17 million asthma sufferers in the United States. Additionally, asthma represents the most serious chronic health concern among children and kills more than 5,000 Americans every year.

    This is daunting news. However, there are some things we as a society can do to improve the lives of asthma sufferers, such as cutting down on air pollution and increasing the number of studies into asthma prevention and treatment.

    Here at Smart Touch Energy, we know HVAC, and we want to do what we can to help people who are already asthma sufferers or who are concerned that young children might develop the disease. Thats why were turning our attention to the connections between HVAC and asthma. We want you as a homeowner and potential allergy and asthma sufferer to have the necessary tools to ease asthma with your HVAC system.

    Asthma Triggers: Pets Cockroaches And Mold

    Asthma Treatment Medical Course

    Many kids with asthma also have allergies to pets, bugs, and mold, which are common asthma triggers. If your child is allergic, you can reduce your childâs exposure to these triggers by following these tips:

    ⢠Keep pets off of furniture, beds, and carpets, where their fur or dander can build up. And donât let pets sleep in your childâs bedroom.

    ⢠Make sure your child washes their hands and face after playing with pets.

    ⢠Wash sheets and other bedding in hot water at least once a week to limit dust mites. You can also cover pillows and mattresses with special dust-proof covers.

    ⢠Limit your use of pesticide sprays when you can. Keep cockroaches out of your home by keeping food in airtight containers or in the fridge and keeping your trash tightly covered. Seal up any cracks where roaches can get in. Use baits and traps to kill roaches. If you do use spray pesticides, keep your child out of the area for several hours after spraying.

    ⢠Prevent mold by repairing any leaks or areas of excess moisture in your home, and by replacing any moldy carpets or ceiling tiles.

    ⢠Open windows or use exhaust fans when cooking or showering to help prevent mold.

    Recommended Reading: Can Allergies Cause Asthma Attacks

    Humidity And Heat Are Just The Beginning

    “When you have an increase in humidity, the humidity itself can trigger asthma,” says asthma expert Susan S. Laubach, MD, an associate physician at the Allergy & Asthma Medical Group and Research Center in San Diego.

    Add some heat to that humidity and you have a fertile breeding ground for allergens such as dust mites, which thrive in humid air, and mold. “Mold thrives in moist, warm, dark environments,” says Dr. Laubach. “In the summer, we see an increase in mold.” These allergens also worsen the impact of environmental pollutants, such as exhaust fumes and ozone. A study published in the journal Asthma looked at hot temperatures and asthma exacerbations and found that when the temperature is about 86 degrees, pediatric hospital visits for asthma symptoms increase in proportion with the amount of elemental carbon in the air.

    For some, summer heat and humidity may be complicated by seasonal irritants such as smoke from fires. Research published in Environmental Health Perspectives revealed an increase in doctor visits because of respiratory symptoms in a Canadian community surrounded by several forest fires.

    RELATED ARTICLES

    Most Popular