Endotoxins in Dust – Asthma Triggers

It turns out that dust mites, mold, and pet dander are not the only allergens in houshold dust…

New research reveals that endotoxins produced by bacteria in dust can inflame airways and trigger asthma, according to ScienceDaily.

What are endotoxins?

Peter Thorne, environmental toxicologist at the University of Iowa explains, “If you think of a bacterium as an orange, the endotoxin is the material that makes up the peel. It’s the outer layer. And this becomes shed from bacteria, and it’s everywhere in the environment.

“Endotoxin in the home is related to higher rates of asthma.” Read more about asthma triggers in dust

Back to School Asthma Checklist

Asthma affects 11% of school-age children, and it will cause them to miss some 13 million days of school this year!

The American Lung Association has released the following back to school asthma checklist to help parents ensure that their child’s asthma doesn’t interfere with academics:

• Schedule an asthma check-up: Even if your child’s condition is well controlled, meeting with your pediatrician is also an opportunity to evaluate medications and physical activity restrictions.

Read more about being prepared for child asthma attacks

Olympic Athletes with Asthma Faced Special Challenges in Beijing

As the Olympics draw to a close today, many asthmatic athletes head home after facing special challenges because of the poor air quality in Beijing.

Up to 20 percent of elite athletes have some type of asthma, depending on the sport, according to the The Sacramento Bee.

With their lungs already prone spasm and irritation, asthmatic athletes had to perform at their peak in air pollution well outside international health guidelines. Haile Gebrselassie, a well-known runner from Ethiopia, decided not to compete in the marathon because the pollution could hurt his health. Read more about Olympic athletes with asthma

Roomba Vacuum Review: Don’t Waste Your Money

I recently attended my grandmother’s 90th birthday party (Happy Birthday, Grandma!) at my aunt and uncle’s house. I noticed that they had an iRobot Roomba vacuum, and being in the business of indoor health products, I just had to inspect the little robot.

I remember the first time that I saw the Roomba in a magazine. An intelligent, robotic vacuum that does the work for you! What could be better? “The future has arrived,” I thought. “Before long, we’ll all be living like The Jetsons.”

Well… Not quite. Read more about Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners

How to Clean Grout like a Pro – with No Chemicals

If you do an Internet search on how to clean grout, you’ll find all sorts of different methods involving harsh, toxic chemicals. These chemicals not only irritate asthma and allergies, but they also leave behind microorganisms in tiny cracks and crevices.

Vapor steam cleaners spray hot vapor deep inside cracks and indentions to kill all microorganisms – without any chemicals! A steam cleaner works much like an espresso machine; it heats water in a boiler to produce a “dry” steam vapor that dries in seconds. Read more about how to clean grout without chemicals

Antibiotics for Newborns Linked to Wheezing

Medical News Today reports that children who are given antibiotics during their first three months of life often wheeze at 15 months. However, researchers are not sure if antibiotics actually make children more prone to asthma since it’s difficult to distinguish between asthma and respiratory infections in young children. Read more and antibiotics and asthma

Childhood Asthma Symptoms

Most people recognize wheezing as a possible sign of childhood asthma, but there are other signs that may not be so obvious.

According to the American Lung Association, common symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest tightness, frequent coughing, and frequent respiratory infections.

A persistent nighttime cough is a common sign of asthma, as asthma usually gets worse at night. Any child with recurrent coughing or respiratory infections should be evaluated for asthma. Read more about childhood asthma symptoms and risks

Ground-Level Ozone Can Cause Asthma & Trigger Attacks

Ozone is a molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms that exists as an invisible gas. Ozone in the Earth’s upper atmosphere protects us from harmful solar radiation; however, ground-level ozone is an air pollutant that damages the respiratory system.

Repeated exposure to ozone can permanently scar your lung tissue and lead to asthma. Ozone inflames the lungs and makes them more responsive to allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust mite allergen. Read more about ozone and asthma