Can Air Conditioning Trigger Asthma?
There can be plenty of triggers of asthma, depending on what type of asthma you have, but many of those triggers can be from indoor air sources. When someone breathes in a trigger, the airways swell up and they can start to wheeze or cough.
What Are Some Asthma Triggers?
People with asthma should learn what their individual triggers are, but there are some common ones:
- Tobacco Smoke: Smoke can cause wheezing and an asthma attack in many people. The smoke can stay in the air long after the cigarette has been put out.
- Nitrogen Dioxide: This gas is given off by many indoor appliances, such as gas stoves and gas space heaters. This gas can make asthma symptoms worse.
- Dust: This can be anything from smoke to pet dander. Small particles of dust can remain in the air for long periods of time. Large particles can settle but then go back to the air if disturbed in heavy traffic areas. These particles can make asthma flare up.
- Chemical Odors: These orders are given off from a number of materials, including pesticides, adhesives, and paints, and cleaning agents can cause an asthma attack in those that suffer from the condition.
How Your Air Conditioning Affects Asthma
Removing allergens from the indoor air in the home is a way to help reduce asthma attacks.
Your air conditioning can help with asthma attacks because they are designed to filter out air. Not all air conditioners are the same though. Newer air conditioners are designed to be more energy efficient and constantly run at a lower level in order to keep your home at the desired temperature. Constantly running the air conditioner can help decrease the number of allergens in the air. These air conditioners also run better when doors and windows are closed, and that’s important to note. By closing doors and windows, not only will your air conditioner be more efficient, but you will also prevent more allergens from entering the home. It’s also necessary to invest in a good filter that you replace every month to help clean the air.
Air conditioning may not be the cure for asthma if it’s not properly maintained. Air conditioner ducts should be cleaned regularly, in order to prevent mold and other allergens that are dangerous to asthma suffers from circulating in the house. Indoor air quality can sometimes be more dangerous than outdoor air because the air circulates through a dirty air conditioning system.
Contact Patterson Air Conditioning in Mansfield and serving the surrounding areas to find an air conditioner solution for your needs.