Asthma is no fun. If you are asthmatic, your lungs will often be inflamed — when an attack occurs, the inflammation gets worse causing your airways to tighten.

Though nobody really knows what causes asthma, there are several well-known factors that can aggravate the condition, such as:

• Some medications
• Stress
• Tobacco smoke
• Cold and damp
• Allergens, like dust mites, animal fur, moulds, pollens and insect droppings.

Can a home ventilation system help?

If you suffer from asthma, no doubt you’ve developed plenty of strategies to avoid bringing on an attack. There are obvious steps you can take, like declaring your home smoke and animal free or avoiding certain medications. What about a home ventilation system, though? Can having one fitted in your home help your asthma?

Well, it won’t cure your asthma, but it will certainly help.

Let me explain …

Some facts

Do you know that half the air we breathe is made up of toxic substances? It’s true. And to make matters worse, these toxins can be found in your home — isn’t your home supposed to be a safe place?

Here’s another statistic for you: On average, we each produce 30 litres of moisture a day. Where does it come from? Well, moisture is generated when you cook, when you shower or when you wash your clothes. It also rises from the ground-level of many homes. This, along with moisture already in the air, creates a cosy environment for nasties, like mould and dust mites. Moisture will also make your home cold inside and harder to heat. All these things, of course, can aggravate your asthma.

How does a home ventilation system work?

Home ventilation systems remove toxins from the air in your home. They also keep it warm and dry in the winter and cool in the summer.

Removal of toxins

Home ventilation systems are fitted in the roof space of your home. Incoming air, either from the roof space or from outside, is filtered of toxins — moulds, pollens and dust mites, etc. This filtered air is then distributed throughout your home’s living areas. Positive pressure is applied, which drives out existing air through gaps around windows and doors or specially-installed vents.

Removal of damp and cold

The air in your home’s roof space is naturally drier. It’s also warmer thanks to the daily sunshine that radiates on your roof. So, the air distributed throughout your home is not only cleaner, it’s also drier and warmer.

So, will a home ventilation system help your asthma? It certainly will.