Cleaning homes could be harmful for asthmatic women.Byline: ANI Washington, Jan 23 (ANI): Women with asthma should not only stay away form dusting but also from other cleaning activities, for a new research has said that such activities may worsen their condition. Led by Jonathan A. Bernstein, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Immunology/Allergy Section, University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati is a coeducational public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ranked as one of America’s top 25 public research universities and in the top 50 of all American research universities,[2] College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, the study said that cleaning activities may be linked to increased lower respiratory tract Noun 1. lower respiratory tract - the bronchi and lungs lung - either of two saclike respiratory organs in the chest of vertebrates; serves to remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen to the blood symptoms in women with asthma. In fact, the researchers noted Increased symptoms in response to cleaning agents rated mild in toxicity. Bernstein said: "Women with asthma should be routinely interviewed as to whether they clean their home and cautioned about the potential respiratory health effects of these activities." Women are usually the primary persons responsible for cleaning their homes. The 12-week, parallel-group study compared health effects of cleaning among asthmatic and non-asthmatic women who are the primary cleaners in their homes. And it was found that there was a statistically significant change in the number of lower respiratory tract symptoms for asthmatic patients compared with non-asthmatic patients, although no effect was observed on peak expiratory flow peak expiratory flow n. The maximum flow of air at the outset of forced expiration, which is reduced in proportion to the severity of airway obstruction, as in asthma. rates after cleaning between the groups. Authors said that "women in both groups exhibited increased upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms in response to cleaning agents rated mild in toxicity, suggesting a subtle but potentially clinically relevant health effect of long-term low-level chemical exposures." The authors concluded: "Longer, prospective studies of nonprofessional household cleaners are needed to determine whether there is an association between household cleaning agent exposure and the development of asthma." The study is published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI ACAAI American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology ). (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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