Do you cook with your gas stove? Your child could be at risk of asthma. According to a study published in the journal Environmental Health, lack of ventilation while cooking with a gas stove could trigger asthma in kids.
They study, carried out by researchers at Oregon State University, analysed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, or NHANES, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics from 1988-1994. Data collected for NHANES is a nationally representative sample of the U.S. population. The data involved details about 7,300 children aged 2-16 who had asthma, wheezing or bronchitis and whose parents reported using a gas stove in the home.
The study showed that out of those who reported using no ventilation, 90 percent indicated they did not have an exhaust system or other ventilation in their homes, Children who lived in homes where ventilation such as an exhaust fan was used when cooking with gas stoves were 32 percent less likely to have asthma than children who lived in homes where ventilation was not used.
Although the researchers can’t say that gas stove use without ventilation causes respiratory issues, this study clearly shows an association between development of asthma and use of ventilation.
Children in homes where ventilation was used while cooking with a gas stove were 38 percent less likely to have bronchitis and 39 percent less likely to have wheezing. The study also showed that lung function, an important biological marker of asthma, was significantly better among girls from homes that used ventilation when operating their gas stove.
Many people in the study also reported using their gas stoves for heating, researchers found. That was also related to poorer respiratory health in children, particularly when ventilation was not used. In homes where the gas kitchen stove was used for heating, children were 44 percent less likely to have asthma and 43 percent less likely to have bronchitis if ventilation was used. The results did not change even when asthma risk factors such as pets or cigarette smoking inside the home were taken into account, said the authors.
The third edition of the survey is the only one in which questions about use of gas stoves were asked, said co-author of the study, Eric Coker. Participants were interviewed in their homes and also underwent physical exams and lab tests.
Even though the study relies on older data, the findings remain relevant because many people still use gas stoves for cooking, and in some cases, for heat in the winter, the researchers said. Researchers suggest that future health surveys would include questions about gas stove and ventilation use. That would allow them to see if there have been any changes in ventilation use since the original data was collected.
Here are 8 steps to manage asthma in children better
Step 1: Know what triggers asthma in your child.
It could be airborne irritants like pollen, house dust mites, animal dander (from dogs and cats), mould, spores etc. Viral or bacterial respiratory infections like common cold, flu, bronchitis and sinus infections could worsen it. Foods like milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, fish and preservatives like sodium bisulphite, potassium bisulphite, etc. can also trigger asthmatic episodes. Once you figure out the culprit, you can prevent attacks to a large extent.
Step 2: Minimize your child’s exposure to allergens
Change bed sheets and pillow covers regularly. Wash the bed and pillow covers in hot water. Keep your kitchen and bathroom clean. Keep them dry to prevent mould and cockroaches. Replace carpeted floor with hardwood floors or tiles.
Avoid pets with fur or feathers in the house or keep them outdoors. Avoid stuffed animals, or only buy washable ones. Eliminate tobacco smoke from the home.
If food is the trigger for your child’s asthma, get allergy skin tests done to determine the offending food. Avoid the ones that trigger your child’s asthma.
Certain medications like aspirin, pain killers (NSAIDs), etc. may trigger an asthmatic attack. Such drugs should be avoided. Talk to your child’s doctor about switching to alternative medicines.
Step 3: Monitor your child’s lung function
Lung function measures how quickly you child can move air out of his/her lungs and it usually decreases a couple of days prior to an asthma attack. It can help you see if an attack is coming so that you can take actions accordingly. Read more about 8 steps to manage asthma in children better
With inputs from ANI
Photo source: Getty images
You may also like to read:
- Could your child’s cough be a symptom of asthma?
- 8 steps to manage asthma in children better
- Complications of asthma
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