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Creating a Safer Living Environment
For people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the role of the home often changes; some areas take on new meaning as they find themselves spending more time inside while others present new challenges or dangers. Further, poor indoor air quality can exacerbate COPD symptoms and affect how a person with COPD feels in their home. Thus, it’s important for caregivers and their loved ones to work together to manage indoor irritants and pollutants, avoid second- and third-hand smoke and even test for radon.
To help those with COPD and their caregivers create a safer home, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), recently published the COPD Caregiver’s Toolkit to share tips for creating a safer home for those with COPD. In addition to patient stories, the toolkit is designed to help “develop a new eye for the home environment. It can also help you anticipate new difficulties that arise as people with COPD negotiate new limitations.”
Managing Indoor Triggers
Managing and reducing contact with indoor irritants and pollutants is vital for reducing the COPD flare-up they can lead to. Among the most common indoor triggers are tobacco smoke, pet dander, dust and mold, tree and plant pollen, and strong odors (e.g., household cleaning products, perfume, etc.).
To manage these indoor triggers, avoid using smoke-producing items such as fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, and candles, and any products with strong odors, such as bleach, cleaning products, air fresheners, perfumes, etc. Reduce mold by repairing any water leaks, reduce dust and dust mites by vacuuming and dusting frequently, and keep pets out of sleeping areas.
Windows should be kept closed on high allergen days – information you can track with your local news station. Air conditioning should be used whenever possible, and heating and cooling systems should be inspected yearly. Finally, if you live in an area where wildfires are common, speak with your healthcare provider about ways to protect your home and loved ones against wildfire smoke.
Maintain a Smoke-Free Home
When it comes to smoking, secondhand and thirdhand smoke – the residue of tobacco smoke that builds up on surfaces, fabrics, and people after someone smokes – the goal should be a smoke-free home. While smoking and breathing in secondhand smoke is harmful for everyone, it is far more dangerous for those with COPD.
To eliminate or drastically reduce exposure to smoke inside the home and other places, forbid smoking inside. By extension, don’t allow smoking in your vehicle and only visit smoke-free businesses and restaurants.
In terms of thirdhand smoke, the harmful chemicals in thirdhand smoke can remain in the home for years on walls and floors; carpets, rugs, and curtains; counters and appliances; and pillows, blankets, and bedding. It can also be found on a person’s skin, hair, and clothing; hotel room walls and bedding; and inside cars.
The solution, writes NHLBI, is to “create a smoke-free environment by saying no to smoking in and around the home. Of course, it is best that any smokers in your household quit smoking. Otherwise, maintain a smoke-free home by asking smokers to ‘take it outside’.”
Radon and its Health Effects
Radon is present in as many as 1 out of every 5 homes in the U.S. It is a gas that comes from uranium in the ground that cannot be seen, nor does it have a smell or taste.
Radon exposure – which most often happens by inhaling it – is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., behind only smoking. If you smoke and live in a home with high radon levels, you’re at an even higher risk for developing lung cancer.
Since people living with COPD already face an increased lung cancer risk, reducing radon is critical. It gets into the home through cracks in solid floors and walls; construction joints; gaps in suspended floors and around service pipes; spaces inside walls; and/or a groundwater supply.
Per NHLBI: “Testing your home for radon is the only way to determine if you and your family are at risk for radon exposure. Home radon tests are inexpensive and easy. It is important to test your home every two years. You can do it yourself by purchasing a radon test kit from your local hardware store. Or you can hire a licensed radon measurement professional.”
The full COPD Caregiver’s Toolkit can be accessed here.
