Beverly Health Department

What is asthma?
asthma is a lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. Airways that carry air in and out of the lungs become swollen and tight. people who are having an asthma attack often cough, wheeze and feel that the need to catch their breath.

How do I know if I have asthma?
Talk to a doctor if you or someone in your family has trouble breathing. The cause of asthma is not known, and there is no cure. A serious asthma attack can even result in death.

What are environmental asthma triggers?
Asthma triggers are chemicals or allergens that make you have an asthma attack. Strong chemical smells, dust, pets, extremes in temperature, or vigorous activity can also trigger an asthma attack. Your asthma triggers may be very different than other people with asthma. Not all asthma triggers affect people the same way. Environmental asthma triggers can be found both indoors and outdoors. Use the following tips to help you and your family avoid asthma triggers.

Environmental Chemicals and Pollutants

• Strong smelling household cleaners or any product with a strong odor like paint, perfume, hairspray, air fresheners, bug-sprays, moth balls, bombs or foggers.
• The fumes from your car (lawnmowers, snow blowers) when idling in the garage or near your house or apartment. Iding is leaving your car engine on when the car is not moving.
• Vapors and/or fumes/odors from gas, oil or kerosene stoves.

What you can do:

• Open a window when you use household cleaners or cook to allow fresh air into the house or apartment.
• Do not stay in the area of a car or bus that is idling.
• Vent furnaces, electrical ranges, space heaters, gas, wood and coal stoves to the outside.
• Use air conditioners (or dehumidifiers) whenever possible.

Secondhand Smoke

Smoke from a burning cigarette, pipe, cigar, etc.

What you can do:

• If you smoke, quit.
• if you do not smoke, avoid places where other people smoke.

Pets and Bugs

• Dander from birds, cars, dogs, gerbils, rats and mice can remain in the house or apartment dust long after the animal has left.
• Cockroach droppings can also affect asthma.

What you can do:

• keep pets away from fabric-covered furniture (especially your bed), carpets and stuffed toys.
• Wash your hands, face and arms after playing with your pet.

Molds

• Molds live in warm, moist places such as basements, kitchens, bathrooms, under old carpets, ceiling tiles, or any place that collects water.

What you can do:

Prevent mold by repairing leaks and areas with moisture.

• Wash all surfaces with vinegar (do not use bleach, it can trigger an asthma attack)
• Repair/replace moldy ceiling tiles and carpets to keep mold away.
• Use a dehumidifier, if possible.

Household Dust Mites

• Dust mites are tiny insects that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
  
• Dust mites can be found in any fabric covered item in your home (mattresses, sofas, clothes, stuffed toys, carpets).

What you can do:

• Frequently wash bed sheets pillowcases and blankets in hot water.
• Wear a mask when vacuuming and replace bags often.
• Use dust mite covers on your pillows and mattresses

Some Outdoor Asthma Triggers:

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Ozone (O3), and Dust

• Sulfur Dioxide is a common air pollutant that results from coal and oil-burning power plants.
• Ozone, also known as smog, is one of the most common air pollutants that can trigger asthma attacks.
• Dust is made up of solids (e.g., street sand from construction work, paint chips, smoke) or liquids (vehicle exhaust, etc.)

Action Steps

Controlling outdoor triggers can be difficult. Here are some steps to reduce your exposure.

• Consider staying indoors when ozone or other pollutant levels are high.
• Pay attention to air pollution warnings in local newspapers, online, or on television and radio.
• Close windows and use air conditioning.
• Limit outdoor activities to early in the morning or later in the evening.
  
• Consider removing your shoes at the door
• Protect respiratory passages with a scarf in cold weather.
• Use inhaler at first sign of respiratory difficulty.

Where can I find more information about Asthma?

Massachusetts Resources:

American Lung Association of Massachusetts

Phone: 508-947-7204
Fax:508-947-7208
Email: info@ala-ma.org

www.lungusa.org/massachusetts

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

New England Chapter

Tell and TTY: 617-965-7771
Toll Free: 1-877-2-ASTHMA
Fax: 617-965-8886
Email: info@asthmaandallergies.org
www.asthmaandallergies.org

Boston Urban Asthma Coalition

c/o Massachusetts Prevention Center

Tel: 617-279-2277
Fax: 617-282-3950

www.buac.org

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Asthma No Attacks Hotline

Tel: 866-662-8822

www.epa.gov/asthma


For More Information, Contact:

Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Center for Environmental Health
250 Washington Street, 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
617-624-5757

www.epa.gov/asthma