Main Menu
Asthma Management
Another area on which HFCY focuses is asthma management education. Volunteers visit people's homes and attend community meetings in order to present information about asthma triggers as well as the ways to reduce occurances of attacks.
Asthma is a serious lung disease whose symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. During an asthma attack, the airways become narrow, making it difficult to breathe.
There are over 300 environmental triggers that may induce an attack, and it is necessary to identify those that affect the asthmatic since exposure to them impacts each person differently. Of the 300, there are five frequently found in homes:
Secondhand Smoke:
Asthma can be triggered by the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette,
pipe, or cigar as well as the smoke breathed out by a smoker.
To help prevent asthma attacks: Eliminate secondhand smoke
Do not smoke inside; Do not smoke in the car; Do not smoke around the person with
asthma
Dust
Mites:
Although dust mites are too small to be seen, they are found in every
home. They live in mattresses, pillows, bedcovers, carpets, fabric-covered
furniture, clothes, and stuffed toys
To help prevent asthma attacks: Eliminate dust mites
Use impermeable mattress and pillow covers; Wash bedding each week in hot water;
Dust and vacuum frequently; Wash stuffed animals; Wash plastic toys
Pests: Rodents and Cockroaches
Droppings or body parts of pests can be asthma triggers.
To help prevent asthma attacks: Eliminate pests
Do not leave food and water out; Control moisture (fix leaks);
Clean the house; Store food in airtight containers; Take out garbage regularly;
Use pesticides only as a last resort
Mold:
Molds grow in damp areas so the key to mold control is moisture control.
To help prevent asthma attacks: Eliminate mold
Control moisture (fix leaks); If mold or mildew is on a non-porous item, wash it
with a mild bleach and water solution; If mold or mildew is on a porous item, throw it out
Pets:
A pet's skin flakes, urine, and saliva can be asthma triggers.
To help prevent asthma attacks: Reduce exposure to pets
Keep pets outside; Keep them out of bedrooms and off of furniture; Bathe pets
regularly (as often as recommended by a veternarian); Use air filters
HFCY representatives are available to give free presentations to educate parents on how to reduce these asthma triggers in their homes. For more information, please contact us:
Healthy Futures for Camden Youth
311 N. 5th St.
Camden, NJ 08102
856-225-6482
Other important phone numbers:
Indoor Air Quality Information
Hotline: 800-438-4318 (Monday-Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm EST)
Clean Air Council: 215-567-4004
American Lung Association: 800-LUNG-USA
Carpet and Rug Institute, Indoor Air Quality Testing Program: 800-882-8846
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: 202-466-7643
Consumer Products Safety Commission: 800-638-2772
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 800-638-2772
Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes: 406-994-3451
Important Web Sites:
HeliosHealth.com
- Asthma: A Complete Guide
Children's
Medical Center of hte University of Virginia - Asthma Tutorial
Kids Health.Org - Asthma
Better Health - Asthma
Profiles