Aug 17, 2017
Simple Changes Can Help Ease COPD Symptoms according to this article from lifescript.com. However, these are just suggestions that can be used in conjunction with treatment by a qualified medical professional.
Ridding your home of common lung irritants can help ease breathing problems. Here are 8 simple changes that you can make today...
People with breathing problems often chalk up their difficulties to getting older or putting on too much weight.
But the real issue is sometimes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an umbrella term that encompasses emphysema, chronic bronchitis and some kinds of asthma.
More than 11 million Americans have COPD; 24 million more may not know they have the disease, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).
For anyone with COPD or other breathing problems, however, their home may be a danger zone. That’s because common household items can worsen symptoms and make daily tasks more difficult.
For example, some common household cleaners can irritate lungs and trigger a response that leads to narrowing of the airways, resulting in severe shortness of breath, relentless coughing, wheezing and mucus production.
Fortunately, simple changes in your lifestyle and home can minimize fumes, allergens and other irritants that exacerbate COPD symptoms.
Here are 8 household pollutants and how to control them.
Home Danger #1: Cigarette smoke
Smoking is the No. 1 cause of COPD, accounting for 80% or more of all cases, says Donald A. Mahler, MD, emeritus professor of medicine at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine and director of respiratory services at Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont, NH.
Quick fix: The first step is to stop smoking. That’s not easy, but Lifescript has plenty of resources in our Smoking Cessation Health Center.
The second is to avoid secondhand cigarette smoke.
“If a spouse or another family member smokes, I get the patient to tell them to go somewhere else, particularly outside – even in winter,” Dr. Mahler says. “We know that it’s the total burden of inhaled irritants that contribute to COPD and its progression.”
If you’re in a public place, even outdoors, and smell tobacco smoke, move immediately, he advises.
Home Danger #2: Pet dander
It’s not so much pet hair that triggers breathing difficulties but dander. These microscopic flecks of skin shed by cats, dogs, birds and other animals float in the air and are deposited deep into the lungs, triggering allergic reactions that further impair breathing, says asthma educator Mark Courtney, a respiratory therapist at the ALA and at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL.
Quick fix: The ideal solution: Keep pets out of the house, keeping in mind that dander may remain inside for months.
If you can’t bear to banish your pet, ban them from your bedroom and keep them off furniture and carpets, the ALA recommends.
Air purifiers also help if their filters are designed to handle pet dander.
Home Danger #3: Fumes and wood smoke
Cooking produces particulate-bearing fumes that may smell good but they also irritate impaired lungs. It’s the same with the smoke from wood burned in fireplaces or heating stoves.
Wood smoke can also contain carbon monoxide.
“This is hazardous to everybody, but people with lung problems are more susceptible,” Courtney says. “That’s why we recommend having a carbon monoxide detector. They even have detectors that are more sensitive for people with lung problems.”
Painting, whether indoors or outdoors, also poses risks.
“You don't want to breathe the fumes,” Dr. Mahler says. This is true whether you use oil- or water-based paint.
Solutions: Make sure your kitchen stove has an exhaust fan that moves air to the outside, or open a window when cooking.
Avoid burning wood. If you have no choice, make sure the smoke is thoroughly ventilated outside. If you can smell smoke in the house, there’s a problem.
If you must paint or if you do household projects or hobbies that create fumes, wear a mask, open doors and windows, and place a fan behind you to blow fumes away.
“People have problems with glues from crafts, even markers,” Courtney says.
Home Danger #4: Aerosol products
When products such as cleaning solutions, cosmetics or air fresheners are emitted from pressurized spray canisters, the irritating chemicals become airborne and are inhaled.
Quick fix: Buy non-pressurized household products. Pump-style products are safe, but try natural cleaning solutions too. Most household items can safely be cleaned using baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar.
Also avoid using scented candles, air fresheners and any other products containing synthetic fragrances. Instead, use natural sources of pleasant odors, such as lemons, eucalyptus or potpourri, Dr. Mahler suggests.
If irritating odors linger in your home, install ventilation fans or open the windows.
Home Danger #5: Ozone
Ozone, a component of smog, develops in the atmosphere when combustion gases from sources such as automobile tailpipes and industrial smokestacks, come in contact with sunlight.
It’s extremely irritating to the lungs.
Quick fix: Stay inside on really smoggy days. If you must go outdoors, avoid doing so during peak smog periods — usually during the warmest times of the day, Dr. Mahler advises.
Check your local paper or news reports for “ozone action days,” when it’s particularly important to avoid outside activities, such as gardening.
Home Danger #6: Dust mites
Microscopic dust mites thrive in pillows, mattresses, carpeting and upholstered furniture. They easily become airborne when anyone vacuums, walks on a carpet or disturbs bedding.
Quick fix: Get rid of decorative pillows, stuffed animals and similar dust mite havens.
If it’s an option, replace carpets with hard flooring. A damp cloth or mop should be used for cleaning hard furniture or floors.
Wash bedding weekly in hot water (140 degrees F) and use zippered barrier devices on mattresses and pillows as well, Courtney advises.
Dust mites and other allergens are thrown into the air during vacuuming; to avoid this, use a vacuum cleaner with an HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. The same goes for air conditioners, Courtney says.
Pay attention to an air filter’s MERV rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value), he suggests. The higher the value, the more a filter can trap airborne particles but the less air passes through. The ALA recommends a MERV rating of at least 10.
Home Danger #7: Pollen
For many COPD sufferers, breathing problems worsen during allergy season. That’s because exposure to pollens can narrow airways and increase mucus production.
Quick fix: The COPD Foundation offers this advice on protecting yourself from outdoor allergens:
- Stay indoors when the pollen count is highest — usually from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. — and on hot, dry days. The National Allergy Bureau website provides reports on pollen (and mold) counts for your area.
- Keep windows closed when pollen counts are high.
- Wear a mask when doing outdoor chores.
- Change your clothes as soon as you come inside.
- Replace air conditioning and furnace filters and have ducts professionally cleaned often.
- Have someone else vacuum and shampoo carpets regularly.
Home Danger #8: Moisture
Standing water and moisture in the air create ideal conditions to breed mold, mildew and cockroaches, which are all allergens, Courtney says.
The ALA recommends keeping your indoor humidity under 50%. But they’re not huge fans of humidifiers. They spread germs if not kept clean, and they’re hard to clean.
Quick fix: Fix leaks and drips in your home promptly and use exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen.
If the air is too moist, a dehumidifier can help. If it’s too dry, add moisture by leaving bowls of water around your home.
For more information and expert advice, visit Lifescript’s COPD Health Center.
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