Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath to flare up every few weeks or months. It can be very disruptive to your daily life and interfere with your ability to participate in activities you enjoy. Even though it has no cure, there are many things you can do to manage your asthma symptoms.
You probably already know that it worsens in places with high levels of contaminants such as dust, pet dander, mold, or pollen. You may not have known that it also worsens at night when the pollutants settle in hard-to-access places in your home.
The pollutants and temperature inside our homes at night tend to be cooler than during the day. A study was conducted by MIT researchers on asthmatic air quality in homes at night. Here is what you should know about asthma attacks at night
What is an asthma attack?
An asthma attack is a sudden and intense bout of coughing and breathing difficulties. These attacks can be triggered by different triggers such as allergens, infections, or exercise. When you have an asthma attack, your airways narrow and you cannot breathe properly.
You may notice that your breathing feels like it is rasping when you have an asthma attack. You may also experience tight chest muscles, a sensation of choking, and a feeling of nausea. Other symptoms of an asthma attack could be dizziness, nausea, fatigue, weakness, a faster heartbeat, and a headache. Asthma attacks are usually very frightening and can make you feel very anxious. You may feel like you are about to die. There are many reasons why you may experience an asthma attack. A common trigger for asthma is allergens such as dust, pet dander, mold, or pollen.
You may experience an asthma attack if you are also suffering from an infection such as a cold or flu. Stress and anxiety can also cause you to have an asthma attack. Other factors that may contribute to an asthma attack include genetics, a medication you are taking, or an inhalant such as tobacco that has been sitting in your home where the air quality is poor. A study was conducted by MIT researchers on asthmatic air quality in homes at night. Here is what you should know about asthma attacks at night.
Asthma and air quality
Air quality in your home can influence your asthma. The air in your home is exposed to a variety of pollutants, including dust, mold, chemicals, and bacteria. Allergens, dust, and chemicals in your home can trigger asthma symptoms.
The air quality in your home is determined by the temperature and humidity levels. Both temperature and humidity are important factors that affect the quality of air in your home. The temperature in your home affects the amount of moisture in the air.
Moisture is important for maintaining the level of oxygen in your home. As the air temperature in your home decreases, the humidity in the air also decreases. This change in moisture levels causes the air to become less dense. This makes it harder for the air to hold oxygen and makes it easier for pollutants to become airborne.
Strategies to reduce air quality during night time
It is important to keep the temperature and humidity levels of your home at a suitable level to prevent asthma attacks. Try to keep your home temperature below 72 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity level below 50%. If you experience asthma symptoms at night, try to keep the air quality in your home as good as possible by opening the doors and windows to let fresh air in. You can also use an air purifier to clean the air. If possible, sleep with the windows and doors open at night to let in fresh air.
If you are using a humidifier, make sure you keep the water levels low and clean the filters regularly. Keep your home clean and free of allergens such as dust, dander, and allergens. Clean your home regularly to remove dust, dander, and other allergens.
Changing your bedsheets regularly can also help to clean the air in your home. When you have allergies, try to stay away from areas that have pollen. If you have a dust allergy, try to stay away from dust-rich areas such as construction sites and grain fields.
Key takeaways
Asthma is a lung disease that causes symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath to flare up every few weeks or months. It can be very disruptive to your daily life and interfere with your ability to participate in activities you enjoy. The air quality in your home can influence your asthma.
It is important to keep the temperature and humidity levels of your home at a suitable level to prevent asthma attacks. It is also important to change your bedsheets regularly and keep your home clean to prevent allergens from settling in.
Make sure your home has good indoor air quality to prevent and manage asthma symptoms. Good indoor air quality means the temperature is kept below 72 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity is kept below 50%. If you have asthma, it is important to keep your indoor air quality in your home as good as possible. This will help you prevent and manage your symptoms better.
