10 Ways to Keep Air Clean at Home - Article Health

Fresh, healthy air
Pollution is hazardous for your heart and can wreak havoc if you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Avoid wood-burning fireplaces
Wood-burning fireplaces—charming and romantic as they may be—produce particulate matter that can get into your lungs and make it harder to breathe.

Steer clear of smokers
Smoking causes about 85% of COPD cases in the United States, says Dr. Edelman. But whether or not you smoked before you were diagnosed, you’ll need to stay away from secondhand (or firsthand) smoke.

Keep the dust mites away
Like humans, dust mites like to burrow into mattresses and bedding. “Dust mites are a trigger for asthmatics and people with COPD and should be kept to a minimum,” Dr. Horovitz says.

Cut the chemicals
It’s a bit of a conundrum. You need to clean up dust and pet dander, but strong-smelling cleaning products can be lung irritants.

Control pet dander
Pet dander is less of a problem for COPD than for asthma, because dander particles are usually too big to penetrate deep into the airways, says Dr. Edelman.

Filter your air
Air filters can cut down dramatically on the fine particles that irritate the lungs. “It’s always better to ventilate through a system that has a filter,” Dr. Edelman says. “You want to filter as many particles as you can.”

Close your window
Ozone and other forms of air pollution, as well as outdoor allergens and dust, can affect your lungs. This can be especially troublesome if it’s allergy season, if the winds are howling, or if you live in a place (like New York City or New Mexico) prone to dust accumulation.

Fight mold and mildew
Good ventilation systems in both the bedroom and bathroom can cut down on molds, another potential trigger of lung trouble.

Check your stove
Like fireplaces, wood-burning stoves can pose problems unless they are completely enclosed and come with a good ventilation system, Dr. Edelman adds.



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