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Products and services My daughter has asthma Should we replace the carpeting in our home with vinyl or wood flooring
Answer From James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D. Carpeting can be a reservoir for allergy-causing substances (allergens) that trigger asthma. Carpeting in the bedroom can be especially problematic because it exposes you to carpet dust throughout the night. Hard-surface flooring such as vinyl, tile or wood is much easier to keep free of dust mites, pollen, pet dander and other allergens. Steam cleaning carpet on a regular basis can help reduce the presence of dust mites and other allergens in your home. If that isn't enough, replacing carpeting with hard flooring may be a good idea. If you do put in hard flooring, keep in mind that all synthetic flooring initially releases gasses known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can worsen asthma. In most cases, products stop releasing VOCs after several days. However, some products release more VOCs than others do. You may want to look into low-VOC flooring if this is a concern. It might be worthwhile having your daughter see an allergist for allergy skin testing. There may be individualized steps you can take to reduce allergen exposure once you know exactly what your daughter is allergic to. With James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D. Hygiene hypothesis ShareTweet May 28, 2021 Show references What is indoor air quality? Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. https://www.aafa.org/indoor-air-quality/. Accessed April 19, 2021. Platts-Mills TAE. Allergen avoidance in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed April 19, 2021. Volatile organic compounds in your home. Minnesota Department of Health. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/toxins/voc.htm. Accessed April 19, 2021. Miller RL. Trigger control to enhance asthma management. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed April 19, 2021. Burks AW, et al. Allergen control for the prevention and management of allergic diseases. In: Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 19, 2021. See more Expert Answers Products and Services
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