Staying In Too Much Unhealthy For Kids

[Guest guest]

Staying In Too Much Unhealthy For Kids

Asthma Increase Linked To Indoor Humidity, Experts Suggest

By Tony Cappasso, Contributing Writer

If your child is wheezing, can you blame your Playstation?

As cases of asthma in children continue a recent trend of increasing,

experts at the University of Illinois Extension Service are suggesting that

one reason may be that kids are spending more time indoors.

Asthma affects 14.6 million people in the United States. Of that number,

4.8 million are under the age of 18.

Many indoor " triggers " -- environmental factors that can bring on

attacks, such as mold, mildew and fungi -- grow in high-humidity

environments. Dust mites, which have been implicated in childhood asthma,

also thrive in humid conditions.

How To Check Your Home

Winter is usually a period of low humidity, but some household areas

such as bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements can have moisture problems

all year round. In addition, the high cost of energy for heating in recent

decades has led many people to insulate their homes very efficiently,

allowing humidity to build up.

While there are no easy tests for detecting biological contaminants in

your home, the Illinois experts recommend that you try the following:

Look for mold colonies growing on damp surfaces such as basement or bathroom

walls.

Mold and mildew can also thrive in carpets and rugs. Remove these as much as

possible.

Dust mites thrive on dead human skin cells and in bedding, carpeting or

upholstery. Vacuums with high-efficiency filters can help remove the dust

that they float on through the house.

Keep bathroom surfaces clean and dry.

Clean dehumidifiers and humidifiers regularly to prevent mold growth.

A device called a hygrometer can measure humidity in key rooms in your home.

The University of Illinois Extension offers a 300-page book entitled " 57

Ways to Protect your Home Environment and Yourself. " The book costs $8 and

can be ordered by calling toll-free (800) 345-6087. For more information on

asthma in children, visit this page on the Web site of the American Lung

Association.

[Guest guest]

I am trying not to be a nag but talk about mis-info! I want to get

one of those vacuums that grab the dust mites as they float through

the air? Dust mites don't float through the air. They are deep in

the fabric of your favorite chair, carpet, or mattress. The airborne

allergen is the fecal pallet. It doesn't float far. When distrubed

by compression of the carpet or etc., it rises in the air enough tobe

inhaled and quickly settles to the floor. The way to control them is

keep the relative humidity below 50%. Sound familar? Its the same

as controlling mold. WOW! Get a RH meter and dehumidify.

> Staying In Too Much Unhealthy For Kids

> Asthma Increase Linked To Indoor Humidity, Experts Suggest

>

> By Tony Cappasso, Contributing Writer

>

> If your child is wheezing, can you blame your Playstation?

> As cases of asthma in children continue a recent trend of

increasing,

> experts at the University of Illinois Extension Service are

suggesting that

> one reason may be that kids are spending more time indoors.

>

> Asthma affects 14.6 million people in the United States. Of

that number,

> 4.8 million are under the age of 18.

>

> Many indoor " triggers " -- environmental factors that can bring

on

> attacks, such as mold, mildew and fungi -- grow in high-humidity

> environments. Dust mites, which have been implicated in childhood

asthma,

> also thrive in humid conditions.

>

> How To Check Your Home

>

> Winter is usually a period of low humidity, but some household

areas

> such as bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements can have moisture

problems

> all year round. In addition, the high cost of energy for heating in

recent

> decades has led many people to insulate their homes very

efficiently,

> allowing humidity to build up.

>

> While there are no easy tests for detecting biological

contaminants in

> your home, the Illinois experts recommend that you try the

following:

>

> Look for mold colonies growing on damp surfaces such as basement or

bathroom

> walls.

> Mold and mildew can also thrive in carpets and rugs. Remove these

as much as

> possible.

> Dust mites thrive on dead human skin cells and in bedding,

carpeting or

> upholstery. Vacuums with high-efficiency filters can help remove

the dust

> that they float on through the house.

> Keep bathroom surfaces clean and dry.

> Clean dehumidifiers and humidifiers regularly to prevent mold

growth.

> A device called a hygrometer can measure humidity in key rooms in

your home.

>

> The University of Illinois Extension offers a 300-page book

entitled " 57

> Ways to Protect your Home Environment and Yourself. " The book costs

$8 and

> can be ordered by calling toll-free (800) 345-6087. For more

information on

> asthma in children, visit this page on the Web site of the American

Lung

> Association.