The Importance of an Asthma-Friendly Bedroom
Making your bedroom asthma-friendly is very important for anyone who suffers from the condition or any similar breathing difficulties. This is because many asthmatics find that they are particularly at risk of an attack during the night. This is not only dangerous for the person involved, but it also regularly disrupts their sleep.
This sleep disruption can often leave asthma-sufferers tired and under slept as they have been awake during the night. To avoid these unwanted nighttime disturbances, it is important to make your bedroom as asthma-friendly as possible.
Removing Asthma Triggers from the Bedroom
Asthma attacks can be triggered by a wide variety of things. These include all manner of stimuli from temperature, to dust and allergens.
Temperature
These include temperature-related triggers such as as a sudden change in temperature, or exposure to the cold for an extended period of time. Therefore, you should make sure that your bedding is appropriate for the time of year. You should also make sure that your chest area is covered during the night, to prevent it’s temperature from dropping too low. On the other hand, it is important not to overheat your room as the air will become stuffy, making it difficult to breathe.
Allergens
Allergens are a major asthma trigger and can be found in a variety of places. Try to make sure that your bedroom is well ventilated so that the air is fresh and free of dust.
You can do this in a number of ways, the first of which is to keep a window open if the weather permits. This is a great method as it is free and has a quick and immediate effect. However this is not suitable all year round and is especially problematic for hay-fever sufferers, as an allergic reaction could trigger an asthma attack.
An alternative to simply opening the window is to use an air filter or purifier. These have varying effectiveness and will only remove certain allergens from the air, so it is important to research them thoroughly before purchasing one. In terms of generally improving the air quality, having plants in the room can make the air more oxygen-rich. For more information on how to generally improve the air quality of your bedroom, click here.
You can also prepare your room to harbour less allergens by removing places for them to gather. A great way of doing this is to choose hard flooring instead of carpets, reducing the area in which allergens can lurk in your room. In the same way, you should try and limit the amount of soft furnishings as much as possible. For example, choosing to have blinds instead of curtains as less dust and allergens can cling to them.
You should also keep on top of the general tidiness and maintenance of the room. Regular vacuuming of the floor and mattress is great for removing allergens from the environment. You should also make sure not to leave clothes out on the floor and to dust regularly in all the nooks and crannies. Also, do not allow any pets into the bedroom, as pet dander is an asthma trigger and they can bring all manner of dirt from the outside.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are tiny insects which live in the dust that accumulates in your house. The droppings of these insects contain a chemical which can trigger asthma attacks. This chemical is released when the dust in which they live is disturbed. Therefore, the best way of avoiding these critters is to prevent a build-up of dust from occurring.
To fully protect your bedroom against dust mites you should avoid feather pillows and carpets, as these provide ideal habitats. Also, choosing wooden bed-frames as opposed to upholstered ones reduces their available living space.
You should also definitely invest in a mattress protector if you haven’t already. A mattress protector is a great way of keeping your mattress clean and allergen free, while also extending the life of your mattress. For more information on mattress protectors, click here.
To view our rang of mattress protectors available at Prestige Beds, click here.
Humidity
You should also consider the humidity levels in your bedroom to make it an asthma-friendly environment. High humidity can act as an asthma trigger, and makes the air thicker so it is more difficult to breathe. Lower humidity also means less dust mites, as they thrive in warm, humid conditions. This makes humidity an important issue to tackle. Therefore, it is important to try and reduce the humidity level. There are several ways of reducing humidity, the simplest of which is to open the window. However, this is not always an option. Poor weather or having a ground-floor bedroom could mean that other options are more suitable.
One way to tackle this is to buy a dehumidifier. This is a great way of reducing humidity but there are many models to choose from. For some guidance, check out the dehumidifiers that are recommended by Which? by clicking here.
Important
While these measures should help to make your bedroom much more asthma-friendly, they are in no way a replacement for asthma medication. Do not change your medication without first seeking professional medical advice.