The majority of people with asthma, or allergies like hay fever, tend to think of their homes as a safe haven free from the elements that aggravate their condition. The fact is that indoor allergens are prevalent in most people’s homes. This is because homes actually trap in the allergens, and therefore they are unavoidable.

A few facts about indoor allergens and allergies:

• Allergy symptoms are often aggravated in the winter because people tend to keep their windows closed, thereby trapping the allergens indoors.
• Having windows open during high pollen and mold count seasons can worsen allergy symptoms because high concentration allergens are able to enter your home.
• If you experience allergy symptoms due to indoor allergens, you will continue to be symptomatic as long as exposure continues.
• Indoor allergen sensitivity is extremely common and can occur at any age.

The effects of indoor air pollution are vast in America:

• It is estimated that over 15 million Americas including 1-in-13 school-age children have asthma.
• Over 28 million Americans suffer from allergies such as hay fever.
• The number of people with asthma has gone up almost 60% in the last 30 years.
• Kids inhale 50% more air per pound of body weight than adults. This is because they breathe faster, and it causes them to be especially sensitive to the effects of indoor air pollution.
• Asthma related illness accounts for around $6.2 billion per year in America.
• An estimated 1.8 million people that suffer from asthma require emergency room treatment each year, resulting in about 500,000 hospitalizations.
• Kids under 18 years of age make up 47.8% of the emergency room visits and 34.6% of the hospitalizations due to asthma attacks.
• Asthma accounts for more hospitalizations in kids than any other chronic ailment.
• Asthma causes more school absences than any other chronic ailment.

• There are various sources of indoor air pollution that trigger asthma symptoms. Common symptoms are wheezing, chest tightness, breathlessness and coughing. Children are especially susceptible because their airways are overly sensitive, or hyper reactive, to asthma triggers.
• Indoor allergens (a common type of indoor air pollution) can trigger asthma symptoms. Examples of indoor allergens are pet dander, mold, insect debris, dust, dust mites, and tree and flower pollen. Other triggers are irritants such as tobacco smoke, chemicals, paint odors, perfumes and hair spray.

• With the movement towards energy efficiency, sometimes a house can be air tight. This might save on the energy bills but it can seriously affect the indoor air quality.
• Molds, mildew, fungi and bacteria are just a few of the biological contaminants that could be found in wet or moist walls, ceilings, carpets or poorly maintained air conditioning units.
• Radon is an odorless, tasteless gas that can seep into homes from the soil.
• Pressed wood products like hardwood plywood wall paneling may contain Formaldehyde and it can also be found as an ingredient in some durable press drapes.

Sinusitis can lead to secondary infections because the sinus openings become blocked, mucus builds up, and this turns into a breeding ground for bacteria.

Symptoms of acute sinusitis often follow a cold that doesn’t get better, or gets worse after a few days. Some of these symptoms are congestion, nasal discharge, headache, post-nasal drip, sore throat, cough (commonly worse in the evening), and fatigue.

COPD is a very prevalent condition. Approximately 80 million people have at least moderate COPD, according to the World Health Organization. It is predicted to become the fourth leading cause of death, globally, by 2030.

In medium to highly developed countries, the main factor in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder is tobacco smoke; however other factors are exposure to indoor air pollution, asthma, respiratory infections, and certain genetic conditions.

• Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the United States. In 1987, it surpassed breast cancer to become the leading cause of cancer deaths in women.
• Lung cancer causes more deaths than the next three most common cancers combined (colon, breast and prostate). An estimated 162,460 deaths from lung cancer will occur in the United States during 2006.
• Between 1979 and 2003 lung cancer deaths increased by 60 percent. The age-adjusted death rate for lung cancer in males was 74 percent greater than the rate seen in females. The age-adjusted death rate in the black population was 12 percent greater than the rate in the white population.
• Smoking is the most important cause of lung cancer in the United States. It is estimated that 90 percent lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. Other causes include radon, asbestos and air pollution.

Chemical Sensitivity
Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a condition where a person suffers adverse physical reactions to even low-level exposure to common chemicals. Reported symptoms include sneezing, congestion, rashes, breathing problems, and even worse. It is highly debated whether multiple chemical sensitivity should actually be classified as an illness, because no scientific causes can be found.

Common chemicals that can cause reactions in MCS sufferers include formaldehyde, and other volatile organic compounds like household cleaners, pesticides, off-gassing from synthetic carpets, furniture and mattresses, fabric conditioners, air fresheners, paint and many other sources. These chemicals can cause sore throats, digestive tract problems, allergic reactions, headaches, nervous system problems and more, even in normally healthy people. Even low level exposure can cause these effects for sufferers of multiple chemical sensitivity.

Most documented cases suggest that MCS developed later in life, however these cases also indicate that there was significant exposure to chemicals in childhood. (Read why children are more sensitive to chemicals than adults are.)

Children are especially susceptible to secondhand smoke because their lungs are still developing; they breathe much faster than adults do, and they do not have any control over their indoor environment. Secondhand smoke can increase:

• New cases of asthma in kids who have not previously shown symptoms,
• Asthma attacks, and
• The severity of asthma attacks in children that currently have the disease. The risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) The chance that children will develop middle ear infections The risk of developing lower respiratory tract infections like bronchitis and pneumonia in children younger than six years old

Asthma is a major health issue related to indoor air pollution. It is a growing concern among parents today. It’s estimated that about 20 million Americans have asthma, and 6.3 million of them are children. The largest growth in asthma cases is children under five. If you have children, you should be very aware of the health effects of indoor air pollution.

65 percent of asthma cases among elementary school-age kids could be prevented by controlling children’s’ exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and indoor allergens, according to a recent study.

Indoor air pollutants like ETS can cause higher incidences if sudden infant death syndrome, middle ear infections, lower respiratory infections, and can also slow the development of children’s lungs.

For the elderly, just small changes in respiratory function may have a critical impact on their quality of life. Health effects of indoor air pollution such as asthma, allergies, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder are usually much more debilitating for the elderly.