News Release: Suffering from asthma?

Combat asked Dr. Gretchen Phillips, a medical show radio host based in Minneapolis, to identify a few easy first-steps for people who think they might have or are currently suffering from asthma:

• Consult your physician.
• Avoid irritants, including pet dander, mold spores and cockroaches.
• If allergic to pets, make sure they are kept from bedrooms.
• Clean home regularly.
• Be sure to clean air vents.
• Vacuum two to three times a week.
• Reduce humidity, which helps prevent growth of mold spores.
• Avoid cold air.

Dr. Phillips is a family physician at Fairview Hospitals in Minnesota. Call for an interview.

News Release: Cockroaches Worsen Asthma Symptoms

A PDF of this file is available.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — May has been named national Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), and Combat® brand pest control is doing its part to help spread the message. Although it might seem like an unlikely connection, studies show that there is a definite link between the cockroach allergen and the exacerbation and even causation of asthma.

“During the past few years, research has shown that cockroach allergens play a big part in the daily lives of asthma sufferers all over the country,” said Dr. Gretchen Phillips, an MD with Fairview Hospitals, and a medical show radio host based in Minneapolis.

The link between cockroaches and asthma has been proven in scientific research dating back to the 1970s. Between 78 and 98 percent of urban homes have cockroaches, and 23 to 60 percent of urban residents are allergic to the cockroach allergen, according to the AAFA. The cockroach allergen is so pervasive in homes around the country, most doctors require patients with persistent asthma to be tested for cockroach allergies, in addition to other environmental factors, such as dust mites, mold and pets.

In the United States alone, more than 23 million people suffer from the chronic respiratory disease, including 6.5 million children.

Around 63 percent of all U.S. households have a detectable level of the cockroach allergen in the home, according to a 2005 study by The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

“Asthma kills. Even in 2008, people die from asthma,” Phillips said. “I always tell my patients that it is easier to prevent problems than to recover from them.”

Using Combat baits and roach-killing gels will help to kill the entire cockroach nest and ultimately improve the air quality. In addition to eliminating the problem, there are a few additional steps to help prevent cockroach infestations:

• Eliminate clutter, such as stacks of clothes or newspapers, which are perfect nesting areas for cockroaches.


• Keep food in tightly sealed plastic or glass containers, do not leave dirty dishes in the sink, vacuum regularly and don’t leave out pet food and water.


• Keep the inside of your home clean and do not leave out food or crumbs, which are attractive to ants and roaches.


• Seal the cracks and crevices in the walls of your home (including around water pipes and electrical outlets).

Combat was recently featured by the Healthy House Institute, an online resource that provides consumers with information to make their homes healthier. The HHI does not endorse specific products. Visit http://www.healthyhouseinstitute.com/ for more information.

To learn more about pest prevention and control strategies, visit http://www.combatbugs.com/. Combat® products retail from $2.49 to $14.99 and are available at most major retailers.

For more than 130 years, Henkel has been a leader with brands and technologies that make people's lives easier, better and more beautiful. Henkel operates in three business areas - Home Care, Personal Care, and Adhesives Technologies - and ranks among the Fortune Global 500 companies. In fiscal 2006, Henkel generated sales of 12.740 billion euros and operating profit of 1,298 million euros. Our 52,000 employees worldwide are dedicated to fulfilling our corporate claim, "A Brand like a Friend," and ensuring that people in more than 125 countries can trust in brands and technologies from Henkel. For more information, visit henkelna.com.

The Combat Cockroach Fact Sheet: Everything You'd Ever Need to Know

A PDF of this file is available.

Cool facts

• Cockroaches are the oldest insects and have been living with people since the cavemen.


• Cockroaches have been on earth for 350 million years and have changed little in appearance since that time.


• More than 3,500 species of cockroaches have been identified worldwide. Scientists speculate there may be 5,000 that have yet to be discovered.


• There are about 70 species of cockroaches in North America. Of these, only about 10 are common pests.


• Cockroaches will eat just about anything: human food, paper, fabric, leather, hair, plants, dead animals. They need little food to survive and reproduce.


• Cockroaches will live inside electronic equipment and can disrupt or short-circuit them or even cause electrical fires by chewing through wiring.

Two roaches to look out for in your area....

Small (German cockroach)

• About a half-inch long on average.
• Can't survive outside, they have to live inside.
• If seen in the house, homeowner should be alarmed because the probability of infestation is high.
• Adult lifespan is about four to five months.

Large (American cockroach)

• About 1.5 to 2 inches long.
• Can survive inside and outside.
• Normally when found inside, they have wandered in from outside.
• If seen, probably not a problem in the house and may just be an anomaly.
• Adult lifespan is about a year.
  

The Cockroach-to-Asthma Connection

• Around 63 percent of all U.S. households have a detectable level of the cockroach allergen in the home. (Source: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
• The cockroach allergen has the highest rate of occurrence in apartment buildings.
• Allergens come from saliva, fecal material, secretions, cast skins and dead cockroaches. (Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America)
• The National Institutes of Health found that the cockroach allergen worsens asthma symptoms more than dust mites or even pet allergens.

Preventing Cockroach Infestation

• Eliminate clutter, such as stacks of clothes or newspapers.
• Keep food in tightly sealed containers.
• Keep inside of home clean and do not leave out food or crumbs.
• Seal cracks and crevices in walls of home.
• Check items such as shipping boxes, school bags, grocery bags before bringing them indoors.
• Avoid using thick mulch within at least one foot of home. Mulch retains moisture and creates attractive habitat for roaches.
• Reduce amount of water available by repairing water leaks and not over-watering plants.
• Use baits and gels.
  

How do cockroaches get inside a home?

• Cockroaches can slip in through cracks in your dwelling.
• If your neighbors have roaches then your general space is at risk. Cockroaches commonly infest adjacent apartments.
• Shopping bags, shipping boxes, or anything that has been transported from one location to another can potentially bring roaches into your home.
  

Can you handle an infestation yourself?

• Probably! Many infestations can be controlled using baits like Combat.
  Place baits around house, specifically where you see cockroaches and give the process two weeks.
• Even though you may be desperate, DON'T mix sprays and baits. The sprays will repel or kill cockroaches on the spot. The key to baits is that infected cockroaches take the poison back to the nest and kill the group.
• If you are battling a large infestation, you can use a vacuum to remove many of the cockroaches you see. Be sure to use a vacuum with a bag and immediately seal and dispose of the bag in the outdoor trash after vacuuming.
• If after two weeks there are no positive results, call an exterminator.

What's the difference between bait and spray products?

Baits (attractant)

• Provides long-term control for your roach problems by targeting the nest.
• Only offers short-term results and is limited to the pests you see.
• You don't have to see the roaches to kill them, and the bait can be placed in multiple locations simultaneously.

Sprays (repellant)

• You need to come face-to-face with the pest to kill it.
• Simple to use and no mess
• After use, you must extensively clean the area where the pesticide was sprayed and dispose of the dead pests.

Where to place your baits

• Baits must be placed where cockroaches are likely to be found.
• In the kitchen and bathrooms, near dark, damp places (cockroaches need water to survive), under the sink, inside cabinets, under the refrigerator, behind the garbage can.
• Cockroaches tend to walk along the walls and cabinets, rather than in the middle of open rooms. Place bait stations so that at least one edge is in contact with a vertical surface and you'll increase the chance that cockroaches will find it.
• For baits to be most effective, all other food sources should be eliminated. Don't leave any food lying around and clean the house thoroughly.

Are sick schools, poor results linked?

A letter-writer to The Boston Globe suggests unhealthy indoor air quality in public schools might contribute to lack-luster results.

It's no fa-la-la-la-la: Tis the season for asthma

Some winter tips for asthma suffers, particularly children from InsideBayArea.com.

THE NUMBER of children with asthma continues to rise; it is now considered the
most common cause of childhood hospitalization and school absences — an
estimated 14 million lost school days. With the arrival of winter, the estimated
6 million children who suffer from asthma face numerous triggers of the disease.

Breathing in cold winter air can provoke asthma symptoms, as can the
increase in viruses and upper-respiratory infections this time of year. However,
what most people don't know is that there are a host of indoor irritants that
can bring on symptoms as well, such as dust, mold and mildew that accumulate on
holiday decorations during storage, fireplace fumes and scented candles or
potpourri.

'Tis the Season For Allergy, Asthma

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology is offering holiday allergy tips:

The stress of the holiday season can sometimes trigger an asthma attack. Monitor your stress levels. If you do feel stressed, deep breathing and relaxation may
help.

If you're sleeping away from home, bring your own pillow with an allergen-proof cover. Ask for down-free pillows.

Avoid wood smoke, which can trigger an asthma attack.

Tackling air quality

The Arizona Daily Star examines indoor air quality:

The costs of indoor pollution are skyrocketing, several studies show.

It costs about $15.9 billion and perhaps up to $20 billion annually nationwide to
prevent and clean up indoor air pollution, says a 2005 EPA study.

In California alone, crummy indoor air costs the state's economy $45 billion
annually due to premature deaths, medical costs, lost worker productivity and
other impacts, says the state's Air Resources Board.

Nationwide, just taking care of childhood asthma caused by indoor pollution costs about $2.3 billion a year.

If society could come up with ways to improve indoor air quality, the
savings would reach $125 billion annually, said the federally financed Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory.

The newspaper also looks at "asthma-proofing the home" and offers advice:

Asthma accounts for more lost school days than any other illness. Its
incidence is far higher today than a generation ago, although asthma rates have
stabilized since 1995 after vaulting 75 percent nationally overall and 160
percent among children under 18 since 1980. The disease has struck about 20
million people in the United States, including about 6.2 million kids 18 and
under, says the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the disease commonly stems from a genetic predisposition, research has linked individual attacks, and sometimes the onset of asthma, to a range of triggers:
cigarette smoke, dog and cat hairs and dander, cockroaches, dust mites, mold and
air pollution.

Bug bits: News from around the 'net

• The Oklahoman: Homeowners usually can control light infestations of pests in house
• ScientistLive.com: Protein serves as asthma biomarker
• The Hindu (India): ‘Cockroach is the cause in 25 per cent of asthma cases’
  

BANGALORE: Twenty-six per cent of children aged below 18 in Bangalore
suffer from asthma, the causes varying from air pollution to pets and
cockroaches, H. Paramesh, director of Lakeside Medical Centre and Hospital, has
said.

[...]

Interestingly, 25 per cent of the cause for asthma was
because of cockroaches while only 7.5 per cent of asthma cases could be
traced back to pollen and fungi in the city, Dr. Paramesh said.

Asthma and exercise

From the Nashau Telegraph:

The question: Youngsters with asthma sometimes shrink from exercising, out
of fear it will exacerbate their breathing problems. Are they correct?

Allergists Highlight New National Asthma Guidelines: Emphasis On Prevention, Avoiding "Attacks"

New guidelines regarding living with asthma were released today by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Here are a few of the findings:

• All patients with asthma should be monitored by a doctor every one to six months, regardless of how severe their condition is and whether they are experiencing symptoms.
• Every patient should have a written asthma action plan with instructions for daily treatment and what to do if symptoms become worse. The action plan should be developed by a doctor or nurse, with input from the patient, and shared with all those who interact with the patient such as family members, teachers and coaches.
• Education that takes into account cultural background and literacy should be part of asthma care, and patients should play an active role in managing their condition.

Link to press release.

What is asthma?

The New York Times has a fantastic backgrounder on asthma, complete with definitions and illustrations.

For Minority Kids, No Room to Breathe

This article in The New York Times is from August 2007, but it has excellent information on childhood asthma, especially as it pertains to minority kids. According to the article, as many as one in five Puerto Rican children have asthma in the United States, and 13% of African American children have asthma:

Several factors contribute to the disparity. Socioeconomic status is certainly central, particularly in terms of environment. Children in poor inner-city communities are disproportionately exposed to both indoor and outdoor allergens — cockroaches, mice, mold, dust, cigarette smoke, automobile exhaust, soot — that can trigger breathing problems.

Mom's Asthma Affects Breastfed Babies

A new study from the American Thoracic Society has found that children whose mothers have asthma and breastfeed are more likely to have breathing problems.

Study looks at asthma and absenteeism

A new study from the American College of Chest Physicians reports that people who actively work to manage their asthma are more likely to have better attendance at work and school.

Children with uncontrolled asthma missed more than six school days in a six-month period compared to just 2.6 missed school days for their healthier peers, the study found. Adults with poorly managed asthma missed almost five days of work versus an average of 1.5 days for their counterparts with well-managed asthma.

"I wasn't surprised to see there was a difference in absenteeism, but I was a little surprised at the magnitude of the difference," said the study's lead author, Dr. David Tinkelman, a professor of pediatrics and vice president for health initiatives at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver.

Climate Change and Asthma

A new posting on About.com's asthma page suggests that global warming is exacerbating asthma for sufferers:

Research suggests that these changes might be contributing to an increased incidence and severity of asthma and asthma symptoms. Not a great combination, is it? For the first time, new asthma treatment guidelines released during the summer encourage health professionals to seek out environmental influences on asthma control.

Most Asthmatics Don't Have Illness Under Control

Interesting recent news article on the state of asthma in the United States. According to the research, the cockroach allergen has correlation to asthma, especially among inner-city youth.

Most Asthmatics Don't Have Illness Under Control

Two-thirds of the survey respondents said they have their asthma symptoms under control, but more than half reported experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and/or phlegm production at least once a week.