Many Americans are aware of the dangers of poor air quality from pollution in the outside world. Pollen counts and air quality index readings are reported alongside the temperature and humidity in daily weather forecasts. Warning labels and news stories have long alerted Americans to hazards found in tap water, consumer goods, and food products, some of the common means of ingesting potentially harmful biological and chemical compounds. However, surveys indicate that the general public does not share the same level of awareness with indoor air quality (IAQ). Although many Americans may feel as though the air they breathe when they are indoors is cleaner and safer than the air they breathe outside, research suggests that, in reality, the exact opposite is true. Generally speaking, indoor air contains much higher levels of toxins and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Chemicals from building products, harmful levels of mold, dust mites, indoor allergens, and other indoor pollutants all contribute to poor IAQ. Polluted indoor air is becoming increasingly damaging to the health of Americans, despite their unfamiliarity with the issue.
Showing posts with label Humidity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humidity. Show all posts
Monday, 7 May 2012
Three Steps to Reduce Humidity in Your Home
Excess indoor humidity can make life miserable. People who suffer through humid air in their homes can experience a wide range of problems—anything from frizzy hair, to sleeplessness, to respiratory system illnesses. There are many potential causes for indoor humidity, but they can be remedied rather simply. You can, and should, gain control over the humidity level in your home. Doing so could save you and your family from any number of adverse reactions caused by unwanted moisture in the air.
The first step in effectively combating any recurring problem is to determine the underlying cause. What is humidity in the first place, and why is it in your home? In the most general sense, humidity is the presence of water vapor in the air. Water vapor enters the Earth’s air, or atmosphere, in two main ways: 1) heat from the sun evaporates water from oceans, lakes, and ice, and 2) plants sweat water out in the process of transpiration. Water vapor usually doesn’t stay in the atmosphere very long. It accumulates and then returns to the Earth as precipitation.
The first step in effectively combating any recurring problem is to determine the underlying cause. What is humidity in the first place, and why is it in your home? In the most general sense, humidity is the presence of water vapor in the air. Water vapor enters the Earth’s air, or atmosphere, in two main ways: 1) heat from the sun evaporates water from oceans, lakes, and ice, and 2) plants sweat water out in the process of transpiration. Water vapor usually doesn’t stay in the atmosphere very long. It accumulates and then returns to the Earth as precipitation.
What is relative humidity and how does it affect how I feel outside?
Karl Weatherly/Getty Images
Humidity can be measured in several ways, but relative humidity is the most common. In order to understand relative humidity, it is helpful to first understand absolute humidity.
Thursday, 5 April 2012
COPD Triggers: How to Prevent a Flare
Host: Carolynn Delany
Welcome to this Everyday Health podcast, “COPD Triggers: How to Prevent a Flare.” I'm your host, Carolynn Delany. Anyone coping with chronic illness knows there are good days and bad days. We're here today to become more aware and hopefully prevent those bad days from happening as often. Joining us today is Dr. Robert Schreiber, a pulmonary medicine specialist at Nassau Chest Physicians and director of the surgical ICU at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, New York. Dr. Schreiber and Nassau Chest Physicians are also actively involved with the American Lung Association in New York. Thanks for being with us today, Dr. Schreiber.
Dr. Schreiber:
I'm very glad to be here with you today, Carolynn.
Carolynn Delany:
Dr. Schreiber, we hear the terms "trigger" and "flare" quite often. Can you please help us understand what they mean and why certain elements cause COPD symptoms to flare?
Dr. Schreiber:
Carolynn, we use the words "flare" and "exacerbation" interchangeably for our patients with COPD, and what this really refers to is a temporary worsening of their emphysema [or chronic bronchitis]. Patients will have increased shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing, and frequently we'll see increased sputum production. The sputum may change and be increased in terms of amount, thickness, color, going from clear to gray or yellow, and even sometimes bloody.
Carolynn Delany:
Dr. Schreiber, what are some common COPD triggers that can actually cause the flare‑up to happen?
Dr. Schreiber:
Carolynn, I think the number one trigger that we see would be infections. This can be anything from a cold to more serious things like bronchitis or pneumonia. Other things that we commonly see causing flare‑ups can be exposure to smoke, whether primary smoke from the patient smoking themselves or inhalation of secondhand smoke if they are out in a restaurant or some other venue where other people are smoking and they inhale other people's smoke.
Of course, other things like weather, whether it be hot or cold or humid or dry air, can also affect many people. Air pollution is a common trigger for many of our patients, particularly in those hot, humid days during the summer when the air quality gets very bad. That's a frequent cause of triggers during those air polluted days. And just general stress sometimes can bring on an exacerbation.
Carolynn Delany:
Well, you know, you mentioned avoiding smoking and being around others who are smoking. Is it also important to stay away from chimney smoke and stovetop smoke?
Dr. Schreiber:
Certainly for some people this can also be an irritant and trigger for a COPD exacerbation. Smoke is composed of a variety of chemicals, including particulates of carbon and all sorts of chemicals, and may have carbon monoxide sometimes, so our patients with COPD have to be careful around any type of smoke. Usually chimney smoke and stovetop smoke aren't toxic, but they can act as irritants.
Carolynn Delany:
Well, a flare‑up can happen at any time and all of the triggers you've mentioned are good ones to look out for, but are there others that only affect some people? If so, how should they learn to identify, watch out for, and deal with them?
Dr. Schreiber:
Different people will flare up from different triggers. The most important thing that I can do as a doctor is not sit down and say to someone, “you have to avoid,” and then give them a list of things. You have to tell them, “Listen, you have to pay attention to what bothers you.”
I don't play ice hockey, but I love to watch it, and there's a phrase that you have to skate with your head up, which really means that you have to look around you and be aware of your environment and see what's going on all the time, and that's really what it's about for our patients. You have to tell them, “Pay attention to what's going on, see what bothers you, and then, of course over time, you can learn what you can and cannot be around so that you can breathe more easily.”
Carolynn Delany:
That's a good point. I mean, some people might be more sensitive to extra dust in their home or scented laundry detergents, but it may not bother anybody else.
Dr. Schreiber:
That's exactly correct. I think in general, most people need fresh, circulating air so that nothing particularly settles or irritates their lungs. Other triggers, though, you have to kind of learn about those things, as you mentioned, like the scented laundry or fragrances and stuff, and see what really bothers you or not.
Carolynn Delany:
Well, why is it important for someone with COPD to maintain his or her overall health?
Dr. Schreiber:
The current state of the art in pulmonary medicine suggests that COPD exacerbations can gradually cause further loss of lung function, and clearly as healthcare professionals we all want to preserve our patients' lung function so that they can stay healthy, remain independent, and continue to perform their activities of daily living as best as possible. I think everyone feels that that should be a goal for themselves, and we as physicians want to try to do that for our patients.
Trying to stay healthy is really the most important thing here. As I said, infections are probably the number one cause of triggers, so hand washing and sanitizers will help prevent picking up colds. Obviously, if you know somebody is sick it's best to stay away from them. And immunizations are important to try to help prevent people catching influenza and pneumonia.
Carolynn Delany:
I see. I see. All great tips. Well, if you do find yourself in a flare what's the first and perhaps best thing you can do to help treat it and get you back to feeling normal?
Dr. Schreiber:
I think we all have to think of having a plan and that life is not just full of surprises, so patients with COPD have to recognize that things are going to happen, and what am I going to do when it happens. So the first thing to do is to remove yourself from the trigger if it's possible.
There is a way of breathing we call pursed-lip breathing where you breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth with your lips together when you exhale, and this helps to control the breathing pattern. It helps you breathe more efficiently. If you do it slowly, you get actually more oxygen in with less work of breathing, and that's a very helpful technique that your healthcare provider could probably teach you to do.
When the trigger happens, I tell my patients to drink extra fluids and try to get some extra rest. I almost always will have them have available a quick‑acting medication. Usually it's an inhaler, although sometimes it's a nebulized medicine that they can inhale that should help to open up the bronchial tubes.
And of course, if these things don't help they should really get in touch with their healthcare provider to see if there can be an adjustment of their medicines, see if they need a stronger bronchodilator or an antibiotic or possibly a course of prednisone. If those things fail, sometimes emergency room treatment or hospitalization even is required, but hopefully we can cut that off at the pass and try to keep people away from the hospitals.
Carolynn Delany:
Right. Well, Dr. Schreiber, thank you for sharing great information about how to recognize and prevent a flare when you're living with COPD.
Dr. Schreiber:
Well, Carolynn, as always it's my pleasure to speak with you and help our patients. And don't forget our patients should also contact their local chapter of the American Lung Association for further tips because they're a great resource for more information, too.
Carolynn Delany:
They certainly are. You've been listening to an Everyday Health podcast, “COPD Triggers: How to Prevent a Flare.” For more information on COPD, visit EverydayHealth.com. I'm Carolynn Delany for Everyday Health. Thanks for joining us.
Guest: Robert T. Schreiber, MD
February 27, 2012
Carolynn Delany:February 27, 2012
Welcome to this Everyday Health podcast, “COPD Triggers: How to Prevent a Flare.” I'm your host, Carolynn Delany. Anyone coping with chronic illness knows there are good days and bad days. We're here today to become more aware and hopefully prevent those bad days from happening as often. Joining us today is Dr. Robert Schreiber, a pulmonary medicine specialist at Nassau Chest Physicians and director of the surgical ICU at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, New York. Dr. Schreiber and Nassau Chest Physicians are also actively involved with the American Lung Association in New York. Thanks for being with us today, Dr. Schreiber.
Dr. Schreiber:
I'm very glad to be here with you today, Carolynn.
Carolynn Delany:
Dr. Schreiber, we hear the terms "trigger" and "flare" quite often. Can you please help us understand what they mean and why certain elements cause COPD symptoms to flare?
Dr. Schreiber:
Carolynn, we use the words "flare" and "exacerbation" interchangeably for our patients with COPD, and what this really refers to is a temporary worsening of their emphysema [or chronic bronchitis]. Patients will have increased shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing, and frequently we'll see increased sputum production. The sputum may change and be increased in terms of amount, thickness, color, going from clear to gray or yellow, and even sometimes bloody.
Carolynn Delany:
Dr. Schreiber, what are some common COPD triggers that can actually cause the flare‑up to happen?
Dr. Schreiber:
Carolynn, I think the number one trigger that we see would be infections. This can be anything from a cold to more serious things like bronchitis or pneumonia. Other things that we commonly see causing flare‑ups can be exposure to smoke, whether primary smoke from the patient smoking themselves or inhalation of secondhand smoke if they are out in a restaurant or some other venue where other people are smoking and they inhale other people's smoke.
Of course, other things like weather, whether it be hot or cold or humid or dry air, can also affect many people. Air pollution is a common trigger for many of our patients, particularly in those hot, humid days during the summer when the air quality gets very bad. That's a frequent cause of triggers during those air polluted days. And just general stress sometimes can bring on an exacerbation.
Carolynn Delany:
Well, you know, you mentioned avoiding smoking and being around others who are smoking. Is it also important to stay away from chimney smoke and stovetop smoke?
Dr. Schreiber:
Certainly for some people this can also be an irritant and trigger for a COPD exacerbation. Smoke is composed of a variety of chemicals, including particulates of carbon and all sorts of chemicals, and may have carbon monoxide sometimes, so our patients with COPD have to be careful around any type of smoke. Usually chimney smoke and stovetop smoke aren't toxic, but they can act as irritants.
Carolynn Delany:
Well, a flare‑up can happen at any time and all of the triggers you've mentioned are good ones to look out for, but are there others that only affect some people? If so, how should they learn to identify, watch out for, and deal with them?
Dr. Schreiber:
Different people will flare up from different triggers. The most important thing that I can do as a doctor is not sit down and say to someone, “you have to avoid,” and then give them a list of things. You have to tell them, “Listen, you have to pay attention to what bothers you.”
I don't play ice hockey, but I love to watch it, and there's a phrase that you have to skate with your head up, which really means that you have to look around you and be aware of your environment and see what's going on all the time, and that's really what it's about for our patients. You have to tell them, “Pay attention to what's going on, see what bothers you, and then, of course over time, you can learn what you can and cannot be around so that you can breathe more easily.”
Carolynn Delany:
That's a good point. I mean, some people might be more sensitive to extra dust in their home or scented laundry detergents, but it may not bother anybody else.
Dr. Schreiber:
That's exactly correct. I think in general, most people need fresh, circulating air so that nothing particularly settles or irritates their lungs. Other triggers, though, you have to kind of learn about those things, as you mentioned, like the scented laundry or fragrances and stuff, and see what really bothers you or not.
Carolynn Delany:
Well, why is it important for someone with COPD to maintain his or her overall health?
Dr. Schreiber:
The current state of the art in pulmonary medicine suggests that COPD exacerbations can gradually cause further loss of lung function, and clearly as healthcare professionals we all want to preserve our patients' lung function so that they can stay healthy, remain independent, and continue to perform their activities of daily living as best as possible. I think everyone feels that that should be a goal for themselves, and we as physicians want to try to do that for our patients.
Trying to stay healthy is really the most important thing here. As I said, infections are probably the number one cause of triggers, so hand washing and sanitizers will help prevent picking up colds. Obviously, if you know somebody is sick it's best to stay away from them. And immunizations are important to try to help prevent people catching influenza and pneumonia.
Carolynn Delany:
I see. I see. All great tips. Well, if you do find yourself in a flare what's the first and perhaps best thing you can do to help treat it and get you back to feeling normal?
Dr. Schreiber:
I think we all have to think of having a plan and that life is not just full of surprises, so patients with COPD have to recognize that things are going to happen, and what am I going to do when it happens. So the first thing to do is to remove yourself from the trigger if it's possible.
There is a way of breathing we call pursed-lip breathing where you breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth with your lips together when you exhale, and this helps to control the breathing pattern. It helps you breathe more efficiently. If you do it slowly, you get actually more oxygen in with less work of breathing, and that's a very helpful technique that your healthcare provider could probably teach you to do.
When the trigger happens, I tell my patients to drink extra fluids and try to get some extra rest. I almost always will have them have available a quick‑acting medication. Usually it's an inhaler, although sometimes it's a nebulized medicine that they can inhale that should help to open up the bronchial tubes.
And of course, if these things don't help they should really get in touch with their healthcare provider to see if there can be an adjustment of their medicines, see if they need a stronger bronchodilator or an antibiotic or possibly a course of prednisone. If those things fail, sometimes emergency room treatment or hospitalization even is required, but hopefully we can cut that off at the pass and try to keep people away from the hospitals.
Carolynn Delany:
Right. Well, Dr. Schreiber, thank you for sharing great information about how to recognize and prevent a flare when you're living with COPD.
Dr. Schreiber:
Well, Carolynn, as always it's my pleasure to speak with you and help our patients. And don't forget our patients should also contact their local chapter of the American Lung Association for further tips because they're a great resource for more information, too.
Carolynn Delany:
They certainly are. You've been listening to an Everyday Health podcast, “COPD Triggers: How to Prevent a Flare.” For more information on COPD, visit EverydayHealth.com. I'm Carolynn Delany for Everyday Health. Thanks for joining us.
COPD Triggers in Your Home
Are your COPD symptoms acting up at home? Explore the COPD-friendly house to find out how to rid your home of allergens and other lung irritants.
By Erica Patino
http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease
By Erica Patino
COPD Blog: COPD During the Dog Days of Summer
Robert T. Schreiber, MD, an American Lung Association in New York expert
1: Be aware. You can follow the air quality index on your iPhone with the Everyday Health COPD Tracker, or by watching your local weather forecast, reading the newspaper, or going to a Web site such as www.stateoftheair.org by the American Lung Association. Based on the air quality where you live, you can take actions to protect yourself.
2. Stay indoors. If the air pollution levels are high, try to stay indoors and avoid breathing the noxious gases out there. You can limit the time you spend outside by only doing things that “have to be done” on bad air quality days. Put off errands and visits that can wait. Shop for food and go to doctor’s appointments early in the day (best choice) or late in the day (second choice) when it’s not as hot. Air pollution levels usually are lowest in the mornings, so if you have to go out, get up early.
3. Run your air conditioner. Some people don’t like to use air conditioners since it makes them feel cold, or they might be trying to keep down the electric bill. But air conditioners aren’t just for lowering the temperature; they remove humidity and filter the air, keeping the air clean. They can be kept on a low setting (preferably with an energy saving model), and the living area doesn’t have to be cold — the air conditioner should be used to keep the home free of hot, humid, polluted air.
4. Change your exercise routine. Exercising increases your respiratory rate and depth of breath, increasing your minute ventilation, or the amount of air you breathe in a minute. This means your lungs are exposed to more air, and if it’s polluted, you’re more likely to have a difficult time breathing. Medical studies have shown that people who exercise in air pollution have a drop in lung function. So, keep your workouts indoors (at a gym or with home equipment) in air conditioning, and if you want to exercise outside, go early in the morning when the air quality is usually best.
5. Drink fluids. Many people don’t realize that your body loses a lot of fluid to stay cool in the heat, even when you don’t feel sweaty. This is especially true for older people, who may be even less aware of becoming dehydrated. You can also lose extra fluid while staying indoors in air conditioning. It’s a good idea to increase your liquid intake by at least an extra two glasses a day on very hot days, even if you’re inside.
It’s not easy getting through the hottest days of the year if you have COPD. Hopefully, these tips will make it easier for you to breathe well during the summertime, until the air quality improves and the temperature moderates.Dr. Schreiber is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a member of Nassau Chest Physicians, P.C., who are actively involved with the American Lung Association in New York. Schreiber is director of the SICU at St. Francis Hospital, medical director of the Oyster Bay Cove Village Police Department, and a member of the Nassau County Medical Reserve Corps. He is on the professional staffs of St. Francis Hospital, North Shore University Hospital (Manhasset and Plainview), and St. Joseph Hospital.
How Weather Can Affect Your COPD
Weather and temperature changes can trigger COPD symptoms. Here's what you can do.
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD
Weather changes are one of many factors that can trigger your COPD symptoms. Symptoms of COPD, which include shortness of breath, cough, and phlegm production, tend to get worse for some people when the air is very cold and when it is hot and humid.
"Weather extremes are not good," says Barry Make, MD, co-director of the COPD program at National Jewish Health and professor of medicine at the University of Colorado in Denver. Dr. Make says that temperatures below freezing or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit tend to cause COPD symptoms to flare up.
COPD and Weather: When It's Cold and Windy
Cold air and strong winds are known triggers for the worsening of COPD symptoms. Many people with COPD find that cold air can make it harder to breathe, leading to shortness of breath and wheezing. Frigid temperatures can also cause fatigue. "COPD patients just feel like they are more tired after they've been in the cold," explains Make.
Windy days can be practically problematic. "If COPD patients go out when it is windy and have to walk against the wind, there is more resistance," says Make. Therefore, it requires more exertion to walk, which can be difficult for someone with COPD.
If cold and windy climates bother you, try wearing a scarf or face mask loosely over your nose and mouth, and breathe through your nose on wintry days. The winter muffler and breathing through your nose warms the air before it enters your lungs, which can help prevent your symptoms from worsening.
Dealing With Hot, Humid Air
While there are a few people whose COPD symptoms improve in humid weather, most people's symptoms flare up on days of high heat, humidity, or smog. This can especially be an issue when a front moves in that brings humidity, says Make. "A lot of people with COPD tell you that they know when a front is going to come because of a change in their symptoms," he says.
To prevent a flare-up on the hottest and most humid days of the year, stay indoors in an air-conditioned room. "If it is a high-pollution day, we suggest that our COPD patients stay inside and limit their activities," notes Make. "If it is really hot or really cold, we would say the same."
Should You Move?
Seasonal exacerbations of COPD symptoms can be so bad that people will move across the country in an effort to manage their condition. "One of the most common questions we get is what part of the country is best to live in because of the weather," says Make.
In the past, physicians commonly recommended moving to the western United States, where the air is less humid. But it is now known that the COPD-weather connection is very individualized. "It is variable from person to person," says Make. "Some people prefer more humidity and some less."
It is usually not necessary to move when you have COPD, but if you live in a climate with extreme weather changes and moving is an option for you, talk with your doctor. If you decide to move, spend an extended vacation in the new area before you permanently relocate there.
"If people are going to think about moving somewhere for the weather," Make says, "be there during each season of the year." That way you will know if the move will provide year-round improvement of your symptoms.
The best advice for people with COPD is to pay attention to your symptoms during different weather conditions. With help from your doctor, you can learn how to minimize weather-related flare-ups.
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