I’ve been writing about my asthma lately through posts on www.DianeKidman.com, through my Facebook page, and in my upcoming book, and it’s lead me to think a lot about what triggers asthma. If you or someone you love has asthma, there are some things you may not have thought about, things right under your nose waiting to trigger the next attack. What are they?
Any doctor will tell you that major asthma triggers are contained in household chemicals. Cleaners, scrubbers, sprays, etc. Look under your kitchen cabinet. Unless you already knew about it and were watching out for it, most of the stuff under there can cause an attack for an asthmatic. In my own experience, powdered cleansers are a major problem. I now use natural cleansers and special nontoxic sponges to scrub my bathtub and sinks. Glass cleaner? I use vinegar and water with a few drops of essential oil to add a nice fragrance. To clean the stove, I use wet cloth dipped in some baking soda. (It works amazingly well!) And I don’t spray any gobble-dy-gook around the house and on the furniture to make it smell “breezy.” Instead, I use the actual breeze, such as opening the windows or pulling cushions and pillows off the furniture and putting them outdoors to air out.
Anything with fragrance is often harmful to the asthmatic. Fabric softeners, laundry soaps, plug-in room deodorizers, and room sprays are all bigtime offenders. Instead, try essential oils and/or vinegar added to your rinse cycle. Alternative laundry soaps like Soap Nuts or the Wonderball are excellent. And instead of plug-ins, just blend several drops of your favorite essential oil with some distilled water in a spray bottle. You’ll save a ton of money and your lungs!
This definitely isn’t an exhaustive list of what trigers asthma, but it gives you a good idea of what to look for and what to replace – do yourself and your loved ones a favor!
