Environment
What are some common signs and symptoms of poor indoor air quality?
Headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath
Worsening allergy and asthma symptoms
Sinus congestion, cough, and sneezing
Eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation
Dizziness and nausea
You don’t have to suffer from poor indoor air quality… If you learn about air pollutants you’ll understand how to spot them and get rid of them. This is so important because we often spend 90% of our time indoors.
How do you relieve shortness of breath?
Tripod position AND
Pursed lip breathing
What is pulmonary fibrosis?
Pulmonary fibrosis is a long term disease where the lungs become scarred (fibrosis). The scarring causes parts of the lung where oxygen is moved into the blood to become thick and stiff. It is hard to expand the lungs when taking a breath in.
What are some ways we can prevent lung disease for ourselves?
Stop smoking and avoid smoke
Teach kids smoking stinks
Wash your hands
Cover your coughs
Convert your fireplace
Clean house
Check your home for radon
Wear a mask
Talk to your doctor
Take the stairs
Be aware of the air
Don’t idle your car
What are some common air pollutants that we should avoid if possible?
Cigarette smoke
Mould or mildew
High humidity
Household cleaners
Scented Products
Pesticides
Radon Gas
Wood smoke
What are things to avoid when you are on oxygen therapy?
No perfumes
No smoke
No open flames
No candles
No lighters or matches
No vaporizers or cigarettes
Stay away from BBQs and furnaces
No Vaseline
Avoid heat!
Have a fire extinguisher close
What is COPD?
COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is a long-term lung disease often caused by smoking.
How can we protect ourselves from the cold, flu, and other viruses?
Cover your coughs
Hand washing properly
Fight germs by disinfecting
If you’re sick, stay away from other people
Get vaccinated: if you are over 65 get the pneumonia vaccine
Get the flu vaccine each year
How can scented products affect your health?
Severe Headaches
Dizziness
Feeling tired or weak
Shortness of breath
Nausea
Cold like symptoms
Worsening asthma symptoms
What amount of smoking is safe? What is first-hand, second-hand, and third-hand smoke?
NONE!
First hand: inhaled by the smoker themselves
Second hand: the smoke exhaled by a smoker or released from the end of a burning cigarette
Third hand smoke: tobacco smoke residue and gases that are left after a cigarette has been smoked (this is why we should never smoke in the house or in the vehicle!) Also we should change our clothes and wash our hands if we are going to pick up a baby or toddler.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic (lifetime) disease that makes your lungs very sensitive and hard to breathe.
How can you prevent an asthma or COPD attack?
Get vaccinated for influenza and pneumonia
Avoid asthma triggers
Monitor your breathing
Identify and treat attacks early
Take medications
Pay attention to increasing quick-relief inhaler use