Asthma, a respiratory disease, according to a 2009 report, affects over 25 million Americans including almost 8 million children. Advancements have led to treatments allowing many  affected to lead normals lives including the likes of US Olympians Jackie Joyner-Kersee & Amy Van Dyken as well as former NFL All-Pro Jerome Bettis and NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman. Creating an environment at home that reduces the possibility of an attack is important. The South Florida Asthma Consortium provides many guidelines for how to prepare your home for an asthmatic.

What are some of the things that I can do to help prevent an asthma attack?

• Avoid the use of cleaning products that have strong or caustic odors.
• Use hypoallergenic pillows, with a  dust mite proof cover.
• Wash bed linens weekly, in hot water.
• Use an impermeable mattress cover.
• Remove all dust buildup and maintain a strict dust free environment.
• Have hard surface flooring instead of carpet.
• Regularly mop your floors, wipe window ledges and wash all surfaces with water and detergent.
• Use a vacuum equipped with a  HEPA filter, 1-2 times each week.
• Do not use perfumes, colognes, or room fresheners.
• Avoid cooking foods with strong odors when the house cannot be aired out.
• Check your child’s school to see if any triggers are present in their classrooms.
• Do not house any pets or allow your animals to come into contact with pet dander.
• Follow your daily action plan and use your peak flow meter.
• Reduce the humidity of the home to below 60%