Asthma

“Asthma is chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role. The chronic inflammation is associated with airway hyperresponsiveness that leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing particularly at night or in the early morning. These episodes are usually associated with widespread, but variable airflow obstruction, within the lung that is often reversible either spontaneously or with treatment.” GINA, 2012.

Asthma is often caused by allergic inflammation, which is due to sensitization to indoor allergens (house dust mites, molds, animal dander, feathers), sometimes by pollens, food, medicines, irritants. Avoiding the allergen which causes the exacerbations and asthma attacks may alleviate or even heal the allergic inflammation and plays significant role in the treatment and prevention of this disease.

Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is clinically defined as a sypmptomatic disorder of the nose induced after allergen exposure by an IgE-mediated inflammation. Allergic Rhinitis is subdivided to IAR and SAR disease. The severity of Allergic Rhinitis can be subdivided to ‘mild’ or ‘moderate/severe’. Allergic Rhinitis impairs the quality of life, sleep, school and work. Many non-allergic triggers induce nasal symptoms which mimic allergic rhinitis. They include drugs (aspirine and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents), occupational agents, foods, physical, emotional and chemical factors and viral infections. ARIA 2008

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis refers to an inflammation of the lungs caused by repeated breathing in of a foreign substance, such an organic dust, a fungus, or a mold. The body's immune system reacts to these substances, called antigens, by forming antibodies, molecules that attack the invading antigen and try to destroy it. The combination of antigen and antibody produces acute inflammation, or pneumonitis (a hypersensitivity reaction), which later can develop into chronic lung disease that impairs the lungs' ability to take oxygen from the air and eliminate carbon dioxide.

Atopic Dermatitis

“Atopic dermatitis: A skin disease characterized by areas of severe itching, redness, scaling, and loss of the surface of the skin. Atopic dermatitis is the most common of the many types of eczema. Atopic dermatitis is frequently associated with other allergic disorders, especially asthma and hay fever. A defect of the immune system within the skin has been detected in patients who have atopic dermatitis, but the reason for the defect is unknown.” MedicineNet.com

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is the name for any skin inflammation that occurs when the skin's surface comes in contact with a substance originating outside the body. There are two kinds of contact dermatitis, irritant and allergic.

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a preventable and treatable disease with some significant extrapulmonary effects.
The pulmonary component is characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. 
The airflow limitation in COPD is usually progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles and gases
Severe COPD leads to respiratory failure, hospitalization and eventually death from suffocation.
Main risk factors: tobacco smoke, occupational pollution, indoor and outdoor allergens and irritants, respiratory infections, poor financial status.

• Ventilate your dwelling. During the ventilation it we recommend to make a brief draught for about 10 – 15 min.
  
  
• Do not close / block the ventilation of uour bathroom.  Turn on the aspiration in your kitchen before and during the all coocking time.
  
  
• Do not dry the loundry inside the dwelling. This increases very much the indoor humidity
  
  
• After having bath: wipe the tiles in the bathroom, turn on the aspiration (if there is such) and close the bathroom door.
  
  
• Do not heat a cold room by opening the door to a warm room. The vapors from the worm air will condense on the cold surfaces.
  
  
• Avoid covering the heating and the termostates with curtains or to put furniture infront the heating radiators.
  
  
• Do not attach furniture to the outer walls. Place it at at least 10 cm  distance of them to avoid condensation on the wall which is a predispositon for grwing molds.
  
  
• Do not stop completely the heating of the premises when you stay long time out of your dwelling.
  
  
• Do not drow flowers in the sleeping rooms. Dig at least once or twice a week the upper layer of the soil in order to prevent mold growth.

Bacteriaare single-celled organisms. There are thousands of types of bacteria, and they live virtually anywhere. Bacteria are much bigger than viruses. Bacteria are much more complex than viruses. Bacteria have the tools to reproduce themselves, by themselves. They are filled with fluid, and may have threadlike structures to move themselves, like a tail. Examples of common bacteria include ecoli and salmonella.

Virus. A virus may have a spiny outside layer, called the envelope. Viruses have a core of genetic material, but no way to reproduce it on their own. Viruses cannot reproduce on their own. They infect cells and take over their reproductive machinery to reproduce. Examples of viruses include the flu and MRSA.

Diseases and pathologic conditions caused or exacerbated by impaired indoor ecology.

·     Sick building syndrome and building-related asthma

Experts coined the term "sick building syndrome" to describe acute symptoms that occur only during time spent in a particular building and that cannot be explained by any specific illness or cause. Symptoms include headache, dry cough, dry or itchy skin, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, sensitivity to odors, and irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat. Typically the symptoms improve after you leave the building.

Poor ventilation that restricts fresh air flow inside can be a cause of sick building syndrome. Carpet, adhesives, upholstery, manufactured wood, pesticides, and cleaning fluids can give off volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde. High concentrations of VOCs can cause cancer. Unvented gas and kerosene space heaters, woodstoves, fireplaces, and gas stoves can produce carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.

Outdoor sources of chemicals can also cause sick building syndrome. Pollutants from cars and trucks and exhaust from plumbing vents and building machinery can enter a building through vents.

Building-related asthma is the term used when symptoms of a diagnosed illness can be linked directly to airborne contaminants within a building. Symptoms include cough, chest tightness, and wheezing. Leaving the building may not immediately improve the symptoms.

Nowadays most people spend more than 90% of their lives indoors. Over the past 30 years, the home environment has changed enormously with the introduction of soft furnishings, fitted carpets, and central heating. Indoor ventilation has decreased—the rate at which indoor air is exchanged for fresh air is now 10 times lower than it was 30 years ago, with a considerable increase both in humidity and in concentrations of indoor pollutants and airborne allergens. As exposure to allergens is an important cause of symptoms in sensitised patients, reducing exposure should improve disease control

Every home harbors potential allergens, from the rare to the ubiquitous, but these five are the most common triggers for indoor allergies:

• Dust: Dust can be made up of dozens of things, including tiny bits of plants, skin, soil, insects, food, fibers, and animal matter. Any one or more of these minute substances could trigger indoor allergies.
  
  
• Dust Mites: As you may have guessed, dust mites thrive on dust. And, dust mite droppings are the most common trigger of allergy and asthma symptoms, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Although you’ll find dust mites all over the house, they concentrate in areas rich with human dander (dead skin flakes) and high humidity: bedrooms, carpets, bathroom rugs.
  
  
• Mold: Mold and mildew thrive in high humidity, such as your steamy bathroom or chilly, damp basement. Once they take hold, mold and mildew shed tiny spores -- and these spores trigger indoor allergy symptoms.
  
  
• Pet Dander: If you have pet allergies, you’re not actually allergic to cat or dog hair. Instead, the allergic reaction is caused by a tiny protein in an animal’s saliva. Even homes without pets may contain dander. That’s because pet dander is sticky and light. It clings to clothes, shoes, and hair. Thus, pet dander can be found in boardrooms and classrooms, as well as at home.
  
  
• Cockroaches: Like dust, roaches can be found almost everywhere. As with pets, it’s not the roach itself that triggers indoor allergies. Instead, the potential allergen is a protein found in the cockroach’s droppings