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Ventilation and Asthma

Air quality is a major factor affecting asthma sufferers. Many asthmatics experience more difficulty breathing in locations with poor air, such as smoky bars. Therefore, homes and other locations without sufficient ventilation can cause harm to asthmatics and can cause other people to contract asthma. Some severe asthmatics also require mechanical ventilation to breathe easily.

  1. Poor Ventilation as a Cause for Asthma

    • Over the past century, humans have shifted from spending the bulk of their time outdoors to spending it indoors. In fact, most humans now spend 80 percent of their time indoors, both for leisure and work. Therefore, ventilation--or lack thereof--has become an increasingly important health factor. Clean air and proper ventilation are essential for the health of children, pregnant women and the elderly. Researchers discovered that a lack of ventilation can cause asthma in both adults and children. It can also exacerbate symptoms in people who already have asthma.

    Ventilation Standards for Residences

    • Though commercial buildings are subject to strict government ventilation standards, residential homes are not. New homes often have airtight windows and doors that keep the house insulated but offer no ventilation. As a result, many homes contain levels of carbon dioxide and water vapor that far exceed healthy limits. Such a climate creates a breeding ground for dust mites. Dust mites can seriously aggravate symptoms in asthmatics and can cause otherwise unaffected people to develop asthma.

    Ventilation to Ease Mild Asthma

    • Symptoms of mild asthma can be significantly reduced with proper home ventilation. Dehumidifiers and indoor-outdoor ventilation systems can help reduce the dust mite population and ease asthma symptoms. Home ventilation systems improve overall air quality and help all people breathe easier. According to a 2009 study by Dr. Neil C. Thomson of the University of Glasgow, asthma sufferers who live in ventilated homes reported easier breathing, especially in the evenings.

    Severe Asthmatics

    • Severe asthmatics, however, require more assistance than standard home ventilation systems can provide. These sufferers often need to be hooked to mechanical ventilators to breathe well. Dr. Kristiina Malstrom and a team of seven other doctors conducted a 2001 study in Finland that showed that over the past few decades, the number of children suffering from severe asthma has increased. About 10 percent of these children required mechanical ventilation to recover from an asthma attack. The reliance on mechanical ventilation has decreased over the last 30 years, though, as other medical options are now available for treatment.

    Levels of Mechanical Ventilation

    • As a result of a 2004 study conducted at the Monash Medical Centre in
      Victoria, Australia, doctors learned that there are three types of asthmatics most at risk for needing mechanical ventilation: patients with steadily deteriorating breathing, patients with unstable asthma followed by an attack and patients who have unexpected attacks. Those with steadily worsening asthma need mechanical ventilation for the longest periods of time. Those with unstable asthma and attacks need it for shorter periods of time, and those with stable asthma but sudden attacks need ventilation for the shortest amounts of time.

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