As a writer, I find it important to share what I learn with others so that they also may gain knowledge needed to have more secure footing when they battle their own illness or chronic disease.

Taking my responsibility for learning as much as I can about my own COPD/Asthma is something I choose to do so to make myself more aware of what is happening now, what may happen at any moment and what may lay ahead as I travel my path of life with the companionship of COPD/Asthma.

Today we talk about part three of our four-part series titled ‘Keys to Breathing Risks’ – with part three being a short discussion about pollutants.

While many of us who already have COPD/Asthma are familiar with these keys, there is always the need to remind ourselves and other of them, and this is especially true if you know someone besides yourself who may be a risk of being diagnosed with COPD/Asthma.

POLLUTANTS!!

Pollutants alone could be discussed over several postings, but here we hit the basics and touch on the variety and styles of common pollutants that can and will upset those lungs that are already battling COPD and/or severe Asthma.

Yes, pollutants are everywhere if you really think about it, with those that will affect the lungs the most coming from factories, transportation and the gasses and mists from various cleaning chemicals.

Since those pollutants from factories and transportation are somewhat obvious, let us consider the pollutants that maybe are not so obvious or considered.

Items like the fumes from oil fryers, especially the large ones you find in the food service industry.  Even with proper ventilation, the fumes from these when they are being used will spill out into the open air.

And it’s not just when you are using the fryers that fumes are a potential hazard, consider when you are cleaning them with chemicals.  In order to clean them properly they still have to be warm to hot and when those cleaning chemicals hit the fryer, just think of the steam/smoke they through out into the air.

How about the pollutants than can be found right underneath your nose, in your home.  Over a long period of time, many of those cleaning chemicals, personal items and more can be found to be very harmful to a set of lungs, especially if you already are having problems.

Household pollutants will obviously include many of the cleaning chemicals a person may be using, but have you considered those fabric softners used with laundry or how about air freshners used to upgrade the aroma in your home?

What about the personal products you may be using for yourself such as shampoos, hairsprays, deodorant sprays and yes, those ‘what you thought smelled good’ perfumes and colognes.

While not everyone will react the same way too many of these items, over a long period of time – many of these items can and will be found to irritate the lungs and even the eyes.

If you are raising teen-age daughters or sons, they may need to be educated in the can and can’t do’s of wearing perfumes and/or colognes for the sake of others and their breathing.

PERSONAL NOTE: This writer has a lifelong history of severe asthma, many times kicked in by a person’s perfume and/or cologne, the aroma of a fabric softner or the aerosol from a can of deodorant.  This writer sits in the back, at the end of most events for a reason – in case we have a reaction to somebody sitting nearby.  Most recently my wife has finally accepted a change in fabric softner, because the one we have been using for years is now irritating my lungs like never before.

If you, or someone you know has allergies or asthma – then you need to maybe consider making the sacrifice of changing items used around the house and for your own personal grooming in order for the person or yourself can live with less reactions and live with better breathing.

One thing about COPD and/or Asthma – while many may react similarly, everyone reacts in their own pattern to each and every possible pollutant.  Sometimes you may have to just test and adjust something like fabric softners, before finding one that does not cause further harm to a precious set of lungs that may live among you.

So beware of not only the obvious pollutants around us such as factories and transportation, but also those sitting right in front of you at the restaurant you either eat or work at and most importantly, right amongst your world at home.  And most important – be willing to make the changes necessary.

REFLEDTION QUESTION – – What are the most influential pollutants that you have found that may or do cause a slight or major irritation to your importance of breathing?

As always, CrossDove Writer reminds you that if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.

ALWAYS REMEMBER > A person without good breathing, is a person without a good life’, so let’s do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can.

NOTE TO REMEMBER: We only give descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer and more medical founded information.

With that I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer)

To follow more postings written by Mr. William, feel free to check out either wheezingaway.com or on Facebook at COPD Travels.

(Information gathered from various news/health websites, COPD Foundation’s “Big Fat Reference Guide on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease” and the book “Live Your Life with COPD”)

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