How Hair and Hair Chemicals Can Trigger Asthma Attacks

Not much frightens me. When I think back to my childhood, the only time I can ever remember being truly scared (more like terrified) was when my mother had an asthma attack in front of me. I had no idea what to do and was not prepared for her actions, but I hope to help some other people out by giving hair and health tips for Asthma Awareness Month in May.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, African-Americans have the highest rates of asthma emergency visits, hospitalization and deaths. Emergency department visits are 350 percent higher, hospitalization is 240 percent higher and asthma deaths are 200 percent higher. Recent studies also report 13 million school days are missed due to asthma and one out of 10 children have asthma.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reports that $20.7 billion is spent on asthma care. In a 2006 report, 3,365 people died from asthma. While some asthma-related deaths are due to circumstances one cannot control, here are some tips to control asthma.

• Avoid spraying chemicals like hairspray and sheen spray in closed rooms, such as a bathroom. If you become irritated in a beauty salon where sprays are everywhere, ask to step outside to get some fresh air.
• Be vocal about smoking beauticians or beauty salons that have a smoking area. Although it's inconsiderate to do so, some beauticians will smoke around their customers without asking. Politely ask to step outside while your beautician smokes or ask your beautician to step outside. You don't want your hair to smell like smoke, do you?
• Sweep and vacuum hair residue regularly. Hair has chemicals on it, too, and over time it can irritate the nose. Make sure to clean up hair from your drains and bathtubs, too.
• If you are a smoker, try to quit. I know that's easier said than done, but cigarettes are brutal on the lungs. If you hang around someone who smokes, ask him or her to smoke outside or away from you until they are done. In 2005, Chicago passed a smoking ban in enclosed places like restaurants and bars.
• Dusting is not the most exciting chore in the world, but dust mites are so small that you don't really know they're there until you breathe them in. Dust rests in mattresses, carpet, furniture, windowsills, toys, basements and on home décor (ex. ceramics). Dust regularly, especially if you're living with a packrat.
• Make sure wet or damp surfaces are regularly cleaned, like kitchen counters, basement floors and around the refrigerator. The Environmental Protection Agency states that mold is most commonly found in the bathroom, kitchen and basement.
• Cockroaches and rodents (ex. mice) commonly leave urine, droppings, saliva and poisonous wastes around unsanitary homes. Exterminators may be expensive, but they are necessary. If you live in an apartment, check with your landlord to see if exterminators are covered. Nobody wants to live in a home of roaches and those no-boned, squishy gray mice, and you shouldn't have to. And if you are the one attracting the mice and roaches, don't be too ashamed to report it to your real estate company anyway. The other tenants shouldn't have to live in your filth.
• Brush your pet's fur to get the skin flakes, urine and saliva (from them bathing themselves) from their fur. The way they live is fine to them, but if you have (and want to keep) a house pet or your significant other has a house pet, make sure it's well groomed. Attend pet training sessions so the animal will go outside when it has to urinate or have a bowel movement. And if the pet does defecate in the house, make sure the cat litter or newspaper is always removed when used and fresh.
• Ask your real estate company or someone who knows about nitrogen dioxide (a reddish-brown odor gas), which comes from gas stoves, gas or oil furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, and unvented kerosene or gas space heaters.
• Keep brown paper bags handy in case the asthmatic person starts to hyperventilate. My mother could barely tell me what it was she needed after the asthma inhaler didn't work, but breathing in and out of that bag got her breathing back to normal.
• Always keep an asthma inhaler nearby, especially if you are physically active. Make sure to check with a doctor so you know what your body can and cannot handle in exercise.
• Get a cool rag and ice. If someone is having an asthma attack, she tends to go through what looks like hot flashes. My mother ripped off her shirt but minutes later wanted to be under her bedroom covers. If you really don't think an asthmatic person can handle the attack, call 911 immediately and be attentive until they get there.