Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists (FLASS) send you a special alert today! Spring is coming to Orlando early this year.
Many allergy and asthma patients dread the coming of the beautiful season of spring with its flowers and grasses.
Indeed, the common pollens enjoyed by healthy people become an enemy attack if you have allergy or asthma. You might not realize that the insects of spring also trigger asthma.
Most people immediately think of yellow jackets, wasps, bees, fire ants and mosquitoes, as the worst culprits for causing allergic and asthmatic reactions. These creatures “can cause serious reactions in people whose immune systems overreact to the venom.”
Once such an asthma patient has been “stung,” symptoms can range from mild to deadly very quickly. You might register itching and hives, to shortness of breath and swelling of the mouth and throat, then wheezing.
If you know you have this sensitivity, it is hoped you carry an epinephrine pack. You do not want to go into anaphylaxis, “a potentially fatal severe allergic reaction.”
Meet An Asthma Triggering Bug You Might Not Suspect!
Most people are aware of this danger only in regard to wasps, bees and mosquitoes.
However there is another common bug that inspires a great many asthma and allergy exacerbations: the common cockroach.
Cockroaches are very messy creatures.
They have the nasty habit of shedding their skins and losing bits of body parts.
They leave copious amounts of saliva and droppings in their environment. These all spell trouble for the asthma patient.
“Cockroach droppings, saliva, shed skins and other body parts contain potent allergen proteins that cause allergic reactions and exacerbate asthma symptoms, especially in children.”
“While many homeowners know that maintaining a pest-free home has many health benefits, they may not realize that their preventive measures can
also keep them safe from the threat of asthma and allergies,” said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs, NPMA.
Do not think because you do not “see” cockroaches that they are not infesting your home. “A hidden cockroach problem could be triggering symptoms for asthma and allergy sufferers.”
Later in the spring and summer, as we enjoy more outdoor activities we see more reactions from the stinging insects.
Defend Your Home Against Pests that Inspire Asthma and Allergy!
As spring greets a new wave of insects, FLASS joins with the NPMA in making certain recommendations:
1. Seal up and put away food. Likewise, you must keep kitchen floors and kitchen food preparation counters wiped down daily. Naturally, you need to get rid of garbage
as soon as possible.
2. Entry holes for pipes and utilities are cockroach freeways! Close up the cracks and holes where bugs gain entrance into your home.
At FLASS, we know it isn’t easy, but if you have an asthmatic patient living in your home, you must keep basements and crawl spaces ventilated and dry.
You see, cock-roaches are attracted as much by water as by cookie crumbs!
3. FLASS reminds you that you can develop allergies and asthma at any time in life. If you suddenly show symptoms of “tongue and throat swelling, wheezing, dizziness, or shortness of breath, call 911.”
4. Keep Your Kit! Like we said, if you know you have allergies, your doctor may suggest that you carry an epinephrine kit. Know how to use it.
5. It is only common sense to hire a licensed pest professional to eradicate infestations, hives and nests. Bug Sprays and chemicals can be just as deadly as the insects.
Beware of Springtime “Bugs” of Every Size!
Of course, there are microscopic “bugs” that can also exacerbate asthma symptoms. So a bacterial infection, such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae or “walking pneumonia, “can instigate asthma in later life or cause an attack in the course of the illness.
Health care professionals and our deep readers might enjoy taking a look at asthma-related research concerning these micro-“bugs” as well as rhinoviruses in the ATS Journal, “Bugs and Asthma: A Different Disease.”