Simple tips for Living with
Pets When You Have Severe Asthma
If you have severe asthma, your flare-ups may be
more resistant to traditional asthma medications. This can make it even more
important to avoid your triggers whenever possible. But if animal dander is one
of your primary asthma triggers, this could include your pets.
Animal
dander is made up of small skin cells shed by dogs, cats, and other pets that
have fur or feathers.
It’s
also possible to be allergic to your pet’s saliva, faeces, and urine. These can
emit microscopic dust that becomes airborne, which can then trigger your asthma
and decrease your overall lung function.
If
pets trigger your asthma, you may experience any of the following symptoms:
- wheezing
- shortness of breath
- coughing
- chest tightness
- sneezing and runny nose
- nasal congestion
- itchy skin and eyes
Experts recommend re-homing pets or refraining from
adopting them at all.
But
even if you make the difficult decision to find a new home for your pet, you
may still experience asthma symptoms due to dander for several weeks or months
after.
By
taking extra precautions, it may be possible to manage your severe asthma while
living with pets. Learn how you can embrace your furry loved ones without
necessarily compromising your lung function.
As
a general rule of thumb, your pets should stay off surfaces with fabrics on
them. Animal dander can easily cling to these types of surfaces in your home.
Some
of these areas include:
- carpets
- rugs
- furniture
- bedding
It
can be challenging to keep your pets off of all the above surfaces, especially
if your home is mostly carpeted. Instead, focus on areas you can control, such
as your bedroom and any couches in your living room.
While
animal dander can still be airborne, minimizing its presence from the surfaces
you sit and lie down on can help reduce your exposure.
It’s
especially important to keep your pets out of rooms you spend most of your time
in, like your bedroom.
For
added protection, you can place your mattress and pillows in allergen-proof
covers. This helps to prevent any airborne animal dander from sticking to these
surfaces, which helps reduce your chances of asthma flare-ups.
Clean your home
regularly
Designating
“no-pet” zones in your home can help, but animal dander will still be in your
household. This is why it’s important to clean your home regularly, especially
any fabrics or upholstered furniture that dander may stick to.
At
a minimum, you should do the following once a week:
- Wash your bedding in hot water.
- Vacuum all rugs and carpeting. Use a vacuum
that’s equipped with a high-efficiency particular air (HEPA) filter to
further trap pet dander and other allergens.
- Vacuum upholstered furniture, including
underneath cushions and pillows.
- Dust mop uncarpeted floors, as well as
baseboards and walls.
- Use a damp cloth to wipe down furniture and
other surfaces in your home. Don’t use scented spray cleaners, as these
can further exacerbate respiratory symptoms.
When
you have severe asthma, it may be helpful to ask a loved one to do the dusting
and vacuuming for you when you’re out of the house, if possible. This reduces
your exposure to any dander that may become airborne during the cleaning
process.
Keep
your pets clean
Aside
from keeping your home clean, you can help minimize animal dander by keeping
your pets clean, too. This helps to remove excess fur and skin cells that can
contribute to airborne dander.
You
can bathe and brush dogs and cats once per week. You may not be able to bathe
hamsters, birds, rabbits, and other smaller animals. But you can minimize
dander by cleaning their habitats at least once a week.
You’ll
also want to clean all of your furry friend’s bedding and toys regularly.
Ideally, you may want to enlist the help of a loved one to get this job done so
that you can minimize your exposure as much as possible.
Adjust
your treatment plan
The
only way to know if your pets are worsening your asthma symptoms is to get
tested.
Allergy
tests can provide insight into which animals you’re allergic to, if any. It’s
possible to mistake pet allergies for other causes, such as dust mites, mold,
and pollen.
Also,
consider getting allergy testing before taking in any more pets. Cats and dogs
are the most allergenic, but it’s also possible to be allergic to birds and
rodents.
Unfortunately,
nonallergenic cats and dogs don’t exist. Even certain breeds without fur emit
dander.
If
your pets are indeed causing asthma flare-ups, try the above steps along with
following your asthma action plan. Take your medications as directed and talk
to your doctor about adding antihistamines or other medications to your
treatment plan.
If
you find yourself needing your quick-relief medications more than 2 times per week, it may be time to adjust your treatment.
See
your doctor if your asthma symptoms are also interfering with daily activities,
such as walking your dog, or if flare-ups keep you up at night.
Living
with pets when you have severe asthma can be challenging if you’re allergic to
animal dander. But there are steps you can take to minimize exposure and
prevent it from affecting your lung function as much as possible.
Aside
from regular house and pet cleanings, work with your doctor to see if any
adjustments to your asthma medications can help.
Brought to you by:
ETHNIC & PURE OIL AND FOODS
Chennai, INDIA
91-98844 29812
91-98417 62617
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