Asthma in children connected to poor ventilation for gas stoves
Many individuals who suffer from asthma developed the condition when they were a child.
Many individuals who suffer from asthma developed the condition when they were a child. While taking symptom-relieving medications such as Advair is highly recommended to help reduce respiratory complications, identifying and cutting out certain triggers that can produce a lifetime of dealing with asthma can start at a young age. One study has recently pointed out an unforeseen provoker of asthma that could even be found in your home right now.
Researchers from Oregon State University have reviewed how poor ventilation in homes that contain a gas stove could be a trigger for asthmatic symptoms in children. As childhood asthma remains an ailment that affects approximately 7.1 million children, according to the American Lung Association, the researchers also reported that nearly 50 percent of American homes feature a gas stove. To test this hypothesized correlation, the colleagues assembled 7,300 children between the ages of 2 and 16 who had a diagnosed respiratory condition and had a gas stove in their home.
Out of the parents that reported to using no ventilation when using their gas stove, 90 percent also indicated that they did not possess an exhaust system or other ventilation services. When homes with gas stoves used ample ventilation, children were 32 percent less likely to have asthmatic symptoms than those living in homes that didn't use ventilation. In addition, proper ventilation during gas stove usage also decreased childhood cases of bronchitis by 38 percent and wheezing episodes by 39 percent.
Dr. Ellen Smit, an associate professor at Oregon State University and co-author of the study, warned that parents who have gas stoves in their homes need to be more aware of efficient ventilation practices to reduce the risk of childhood asthma.
"In homes where a gas stove was used without venting, the prevalence of asthma and wheezing is higher than in homes where a gas stove was used with ventilation," Smit said in a statement. "Parents of all children should use ventilation while using a gas stove."
Other causes of childhood asthma
While researchers have yet to find fully conclusive evidence as to what the primary causes of childhood asthma are, there are a number of triggers that are believed to be involved. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of these factors include:
- Inherited genes and traits
- Severe immune system sensitivity
- Secondhand smoke
- Exposure to polluted air environments
- Allergies to pollen or mold
- Excess physical activity
Advair and other popular medications have been approved for children age 4 and older, so if you're noticing potential symptoms, it's time to see if a prescription is the right move for your child.
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