
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC lists people living with moderate to severe asthma as high risk individuals who can get very sick from COVID-19.
"COVID-19 can affect your nose, throat, lungs (respiratory tract); cause an asthma attack; and possibly lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory disease," said the CDC in an article about asthma in relation to COVID-19.
Staying at home and social distancing remain as one of the best ways to steer clear from the virus. However, despite all the efforts to keep the threat of the current pandemic at bay, the risk of triggering an asthma attack still persists.
So, how does one living with asthma navigate throiugh the new normal?
The CDC suggests keeping at least a 30-day supply of your asthma medication. With the quarantine rules changing regularly, who knows when a major lockdown might happen again, which might prevent you access to medicine and other essentials.
They also warn people with asthma to avoid their triggers such as dust, smoke, and pollution. Another common asthma trigger to be wary of are cleaners and disinfectants which can also lead to an attack.
Before using cleaners and disinfectants, make sure to check its ingredients. According to CDC, choose products that are less likely to cause asthma attacks such as "products with hydrogen peroxide (no stronger than three percent) or ethanol (ethyl alcohol). Ensure that products with hydrogen peroxide or ethanol do not contain other chemicals that can cause an asthma attack such as peroxyacetic acid or peracetic acid."
Kapuso singer-comedienne Denise Barbacena recently shared her home-cleaning hacks on Mars Pa More to keep her place asthma trigger-free.
Denise said that she regularly wipes down surfaces around her house that collect dust with a damp rag or wet wipes. Just using a damp piece of cloth eliminates the use of extra disinfectants since the particles easily cling to it in just one pass.
Aside from flat surfaces, dust also tend to gather on curtains which she cleans again using a damp rag.
Another tip Denise added was to always wear a face mask when doing these chores to prevent inhaling more dust that can trigger asthma.
Watch Denise's asthma trigger-free cleaning hacks in her Mars Pa More video below:
Aside from these tips, it's also important to maintain a good physique and strong immune system.
Lastly, make sure to contact your health care provider when you're feeling ill or are exhibiting symptoms of asthma or COVID-19.