Asthma And Humidity

Why do some asthma and allergy sufferers flee to Arizona? It's the lack of humidity there. High humidity attracts dust mites and mold, both of which cause major problems for asthmatics because they dramatically increase the severity of asthma symptoms and reduce lung function in sensitized individuals. Keeping your home's humidity level between 30 and 50 percent can help you breathe. Air conditioners work wonders in the summer to keep humidity low, whereas in the winter humidity can be controlled with a dehumidifier. You may also want to consider installing a dehumidi-fier in your HVAC system.

 

A Danish study examined the impact of humidity control and ventilation on dust-mite concentrations in the home. At the beginning of the study, the dust-mite concentration was 110 mites per gram of mattress dust compared to 20 mites per gram after 4.7 months of routine ventilation. The authors concluded that "reduction of air humidity through an increased supply of fresh air may significantly diminish and, in some cases even eliminate, dust mites in homes."

 

There are specific areas of your home that are prone to excess humidity. A damp basement is the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Keep your basement clean and dry with a humidity level below 50 percent. You can place a dehumidifier in the basement or use a desiccant like Damp Check Dome Moisture Absorber that absorbs moisture. To determine whether your basement has a moisture problem, commercial kits can test for mold and mildew. If your home has a mold or mildew problem, there are many excellent anti-mold and -mildew products on the market like NAS-12, a remover, and No More Mildew, an inhibitor (both made by National Allergy Supply; 800-522-1448). Treat trouble areas with NAS-12 followed by a protective coating of No More Mildew. For do-it-yourself types, if you finish your basement, make sure the walls and floor are watertight and you have adequate ventilation and heating.

 

The bathroom is another humidity trouble spot, so it is especially important to thoroughly ventilate the bathroom daily, especially after a shower or bath. Also, regularly empty air conditioner, refrigerator, and dehumidifier water trays to keep your home's humidity levels low. This is especially important for air conditioners. While air-conditioning can significantly reduce mold and dust-mite concentrations in the home, an improperly maintained air conditioner can act as a breeding ground for mold and cause serious trouble for sensitized asthmatics.

 

There are some parts of the country where the air is too dry. If you regularly use a humidifier, make sure to clean all its parts according to the manufacturer's recommendations and change the water daily. It is possible to catch some serious lung diseases from improperly maintained humidifiers. In fact, humidifiers have their own disease named for them— "humidifier fever."