IN principle, the best preventive measure for asthma attacks is to avoid the allergy triggers in the outside environment and reduce indoor allergens whenever possible.
Asthma is a persistent public health issue that industrial progress can only exacerbate with time and never prevent. Thus, it is important for people with asthma to take control of the situation and go where the battle of breathing is likely to be won.
Six researchers (Brian Leas, Kristen D’Anci, Andrea Apter, Tyra Stephens, Karen Schoelles and Craig Umscheid) from the United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported a consolidation of all studies pertaining to interventions used in effectively managing indoor allergen levels to prevent asthma attacks. They published it in February 2018 as AHRQ Report Number 18-EHC002-EF. Here are their findings:
(1) Dust mite pesticides did not improve pulmonary function.
(2) Air purification devices (alone) improved the asthma patient’s quality of life but did not reduce complications or doctor visits. It also did not improve pulmonary function. Thus, they reduced school absenteeism among children with asthma but did not improve control of asthma attacks, or reduce complications, or improve the quality of life.
(3) Impermeable mattress covers, which aim to prevent dust mite triggers, did not show effect in asthma attack control, complications or doctor visits.
(4) High-efficiency particulate air-filtration vacuums (not studied alone, but as part of a multiple component approach) reduced complications and improved quality of life for children with asthma.
(5) Mattress cover techniques (as part of a multi-component strategy) reduced school absenteeism, but had no effect on asthma attack (i.e. emergency visits) frequency, hospitalization rate or quality of life.
(6) Pest control (as part of a multi-component strategy) reduced complications, improved quality of life, and reduced school absenteeism. However, it did not reduce emergency visits, hospitalization and worker absenteeism due to asthma attacks.
Studies that used a choice of a single intervention to test effects on asthma attacks did investigate such interventions as carpet removal, high-efficiency particulate air-filtration vacuums, mold removal, pet removal and pest control. Meanwhile, multi-component studies, involving carpet removal, mold removal and pet removal have been inconclusive.
Breathe deep and easy then!