Give asthma patients a "desensitized" home

The onset of asthma is closely related to environmental factors. It can be said that a healthy home environment is the first line of defense against asthma attacks. Yin Kaisheng, chief physician of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital, reminds that in order to stay away from several common allergens, asthma patients should pay attention to the following points at home.

Regularly clean items that are prone to breeding dust mites. Dust mites are the most common allergens in the home. They are very small and difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. Pillows, sofas, carpets, thick curtains, plush toys, etc. are all their "base camps". Their secretions and corpses are inhaled into the respiratory tract and can trigger asthma. It is recommended to use cotton fabrics instead of plush, down and other products as much as possible; promptly clean or throw away all waste items in the home that may breed dust mites; do not lay carpets at home; families with children should clean plush toys frequently, and it is recommended to freeze them for 24 hours and then rinse them with cold water; fabric curtains can be replaced with blinds; regularly wash and expose bedding to the sun.

Try not to keep flowers, plants, or pets. Pollen, pet hair, and dander can cause discomfort to asthma patients. If you must keep pets, consult a doctor first and learn how to properly clean and care for them.

Keep the kitchen clean. A warm kitchen with plenty of food and many cracks and corners is not only prone to mold growth, but also conducive to the reproduction of cockroaches, which may induce asthma. Be careful to store food in different categories: clean the food in the refrigerator in time, put grain and dry goods in sealed food storage boxes; do not pile up kitchen garbage and throw it away in time.

Eliminate dust. Clothes, books, etc. should be placed in cabinets with doors as much as possible to avoid dust. Dust accumulated under the bed should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Do not pat the quilt after drying it in the sun. For air conditioners that have been idle for a long time, clean the filter and blades before using them. In addition, asthma patients should not use brooms, dusters, or other tools that easily raise dust when cleaning. It is recommended to use vacuum cleaners and wet rags.

Avoid irritation from special smells. Studies have shown that the fragrances in perfumes have a greater impact on asthma patients, so it is best not to use them. In summer, do not use mosquito coils or other products with pungent smells to repel mosquitoes. Try to use mosquito nets or electric mosquito swatters. Paints, adhesives, etc. contain harmful chemicals that can also induce asthma. A renovated room needs to be ventilated for more than 6 months before people move in.

Keep the room dry and ventilated. Humid air is not good for lung health, so it is not recommended to use a humidifier. In a humid environment, such as the bathroom, a dehumidifier should be placed. If there is an asthma patient at home, it is best to always have a hygrometer and keep the humidity at 25%~50%. When the weather is good, open windows more often for ventilation, which can not only effectively reduce the relative humidity in the room, but also prevent the breeding of dust mites and bacteria.

To understand the triggering factors of personal asthma, you can keep a diary to record what you did when your asthma attacked, the environment you were in, and your own disease attack situation. Some triggering factors are more secretive and usually need to be recorded for 7 days to 1 month. If a suspected asthma-causing factor is found, it is necessary to conduct an experimental "isolation". For example, if you suspect that a pet triggers asthma, you can use the experimental method of isolating it for a week before contacting it. (Reporter Li Shuang)