Asthma and the Home Environment

Excerpt

The american thoracic society defined asthma as "a disease characterized by an increased responsiveness of the trachea and bronchi to various stimuli and manifested by a widespread narrowing of the airways that changes in severity either spontaneously or as a result of therapy" (1). Asthma is a common disorder that afflicts almost ten million Americans (2). In the evaluation and management of the individual asthmatic patient, it is important for the physician to recognize and treat or alter the initiating, aggravating, and perpetuating factors that contribute to the asthma (3). These may include immediate hypersensitivity (IgE-mediated) reactions, aeroirritant exposures, exercise,