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Topic Name: Removing Indoor Mould Improves The Symptoms Of People With Asthma

Category: Biomedical

Research persons: Dr Michael Burr

Location: Cardiff University,Centre of the Capital City of Wales., United Kingdom

Details

A Cardiff University study has found that removing indoor mould improves the symptoms of people with asthma. Asthma UK figures show the prevalence of asthma in Wales is among the highest in the world, with 260,000 people receiving treatment for their asthma and with the rate of hospital admissions for adults 12 per cent more than anywhere else in the UK. Researchers in the School of Medicine asked patients with asthma living in two areas of South Wales if they noticed mould growing inside their houses which was then confirmed by a trained observer. In half of the houses with mould (chosen at random), the mould was removed (using a fungicidal wash to kill any remaining mould) and ventilation was improved by means of a fan in the loft. In the other houses, mould removal was delayed for twelve months. Dr Michael Burr, School of Medicine’s Department of Primary Care and Public Health said: “In the houses where mould was removed, the symptoms of asthma improved and the use of inhalers decreased more than in the other houses. Removing mould also led to improvements in other symptoms: sneezing, runny or blocked noses, and itchy-watery eyes. “There was no clear effect on measurements of breathing, but this may have been because patients used their inhalers as needed so that they could always breathe freely.” Jenny Versnel, Asthma UK’s Executive Director of Research and Policy said: “The publication of this study adds to the increasing bank of research that indoor mould may have a link with asthma, however more work is needed in this area before definitive conclusions can be drawn. “Research into this area does, however, highlight the importance of keeping your house dry and well ventilated. This can reduce exposure to certain asthma triggers such as mould spores which are found in damp places.” The study was funded by the charity Asthma UK, the Medical Research Council, and the Wales Office of Research and Development. The research is published in the September edition of the medical journal Thorax. Note for Asthma Asthma is a chronic illness involving the respiratory system in which the airway occasionally constricts, becomes inflamed, and is lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. These episodes may be triggered by such things as exposure to an environmental stimulant (or allergen), cold air, warm air, moist air, exercise or exertion, or emotional stress. In children, the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The airway constriction responds to bronchodilators. Between episodes, most patients feel well but can have mild symptoms and they may remain short of breath after exercise for longer periods of time than the unaffected individual. The symptoms of asthma, which can range from mild to life threatening, can usually be controlled with a combination of drugs and environmental changes. Public attention in the developed world has recently focused on asthma because of its rapidly increasing prevalence, affecting up to one in four urban children. History The word 'asthma' is derived from the Greek aazein, meaning "sharp breath." The word first appears in Homer's Iliad;[3] Hippocrates was the first to use it in reference to the medical condition, in 450 BC. Hippocrates thought that the spasms associated with asthma were more likely to occur in tailors, anglers, and metalworkers. Six centuries later, Galen wrote much about asthma, noting that it was caused by partial or complete bronchial obstruction. In 1190 AD, Moses Maimonides, an influential medieval rabbi, philosopher, and physician, wrote a treatise on asthma, describing its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.[4] In the 17th century, Bernardino Ramazzini noted a connection between asthma and organic dust. The use of bronchodilators started in 1901, but it was not until the 1960s that the inflammatory component of asthma was recognized, and anti-inflammatory medications were added to the regimens. Signs and symptoms In some individuals asthma is characterized by chronic respiratory impairment. In others it is an intermittent illness marked by episodic symptoms that may result from a number of triggering events, including upper respiratory infection, stress, airborne allergens, air pollutants (such as smoke or traffic fumes), or exercise. Some or all of the following symptoms may be present in those with asthma: dyspnea, wheezing, stridor, coughing, an inability for physical exertion. Some asthmatics that have severe shortness of breath and tightening of the lungs never wheeze or have stridor and their symptoms may be confused with a COPD-type disease. An acute exacerbation of asthma is referred to as an asthma attack. The clinical hallmarks of an attack are shortness of breath (dyspnea) and either wheezing or stridor. Although the former is "often regarded as the sine qua non of asthma, some patients present primarily with coughing, and in the late stages of an attack, air motion may be so impaired that no wheezing may be heard. When present the cough may sometimes produce clear sputum. The onset may be sudden, with a sense of constriction in the chest, breathing becomes difficult, and wheezing occurs (primarily upon expiration, but can be in both respiratory phases). Signs of an asthmatic episode include wheezing, rapid breathing (tachypnea), prolonged expiration, a rapid heart rate (tachycardia), rhonchous lung sounds (audible through a stethoscope), and over-inflation of the chest. During a serious asthma attack, the accessory muscles of respiration (sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles of the neck) may be used, shown as in-drawing of tissues between the ribs and above the sternum and clavicles, and the presence of a paradoxical pulse (a pulse that is weaker during inhalation and stronger during exhalation). During very severe attacks, an asthma sufferer can turn blue from lack of oxygen, and can experience chest pain or even loss of consciousness. Just before loss of consciousness, there is a chance that the patient will feel numbness in the limbs and palms may start to sweat. Feet may become icy cold. Severe asthma attacks, which may not be responsive to standard treatments (status asthmaticus), are life-threatening and may lead to respiratory arrest and death. Despite the severity of symptoms during an asthmatic episode, between attacks an asthmatic may show few or even no signs of the disease. About Asthma UK Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma. We work together with people with asthma, health professionals and researchers to develop and share expertise to help people increase their understanding and reduce the effect of asthma on their lives. Our vision is 'control over asthma today, freedom from asthma tomorrow'. The history of Asthma UK goes back to 1927 when the Asthma Research Council (ARC) was founded to research into the ‘cause and cure of asthma from a firm scientific foundation’. By 1972 the Friends of Asthma Research Council was set up to raise funds for the ARC. In 1989 the two merged to form the National Asthma Campaign. In May 2004 we became Asthma UK. Asthma UK Is the only charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of people with asthma Brings together the views of people with asthma and professional experts to address the key concerns over asthma Is the source of independent advice and information on asthma for everyone Funds approximately £3 million of asthma research each year Is funded by voluntary donations Registered charity number: 802364 Asthma UK works with people with asthma In the development of information materials and research studies Providing opportunities for them to voice their concerns to the people who matter Raising awareness of the seriousness of asthma On how to control asthma more effectively Asthma UK works with and supports asthma researchers Helping them make their research relevant to the hopes and aspirations of people with asthma Identifying priorities for research by bringing expert opinions together Supporting innovative research ideas Funding research and research fellowships to find out more about asthma Asthma UK works with the NHS, healthcare professionals and government To develop and implement the Asthma Charter To provide in-depth information to influence healthcare policy for asthma To raise the awareness among healthcare professionals and politicians of the seriousness of asthma. About Researchers Dr Michael Burr, School of Medicine’s Department of Primary Care and Public Health. About Cardiff University Cardiff is one of Britain’s major teaching and research universities. Located in the centre of the capital city of Wales, it has an international reputation for the quality of its work which attracts staff and students from around the world.