Goals: Identify and avoid your asthma triggers, avoid emergency room visits, reduce or avoid side effects from drugs, less medication, reduce symptoms, prevent symptoms, reduce frequency of attacks.
Common Non-Allergic Triggers of Asthma
Changes in humidity, respiratory irritants such as sulfur dioxide, ozone, smog, carbon dioxide, perfumes, chemical odors (cleaners, nail polish, paint, gas, kerosene, propane, air fresheners, colognes, perfumes), wood and tobacco smoke, upper respiratory infections, gastrointestinal reflux, emotional stress.
Common Allergic Triggers of Asthma
Dust mites, cockroaches, animal dander (dog, cat, etc.) dog hair and saliva, mold growth and other fungi, food additives and preservatives (MSG, sodium benzoate, sulfites, yellow dyes especially #5), foods (eggs, wheat, milk, peanuts, soy, yeast, citrus), aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (ibuprofen, etc.), pollen, ragweed, dusty environment. Many of these items can be tested to see if they are an issue for you. Please contact us for information.
Items to be answered, investigated or done:
- Identify workplace, school, home and personal care chemical and particle exposure
- Check for dental problems, including mercury fillings and root canals
- Test drinking water for toxic metals, bacterial contamination and chemicals
- Is carpeting a source of exposure? Pull up if old
- Check blown hot air ducts for contamination
- Is humidity adequate?
- What type of vacuum cleaner do you use?
- Is there outgassing from building materials?
- Any gas appliances leaking?
- Do you live on a busy street, any diesel exposure, carbon monoxide level?
- Identify types of trees in the area – terpene exposure
- Ozone exposure?
- Residential wood combustion?
- ALL paints, chemicals, solvents stored outside (not garage if attached)
- No pets in the bedroom
- Toothpaste with additives and preservative may trigger asthma.
- Avoid swimming in a chlorine pool, put filter on home shower.
- Use a peak flow meter to monitor.
- Use an air cleaner and purifier
