By Rachd E. Butler symptom-free!

Holiday travel can

expose the asth-

matic to allergens

and irritants that

can trigger an

asthma episode.

T he holidays are quickly approaching, and with them come the anticipa-

tion of more time to spend with family and friends. It is a time of family vacations, travel and visiting relatives. For asthmatics, however, the holidays also bring concerns of the coming events being spoiled by asth- ma that gets out of control.

Although the change of environment that comes with holiday travel is often wel- come, it also increases the asthmatic's risk of being exposed to allergens and irritants that can trigger an asthma episode. Other people's homes, hotels, different weather conditions and outdoor environments can all contain asthma triggers that may not be present in one's own home. Many asthmatics have devoted a great deal of time and energy to reducing environmental asthma triggers in their own surroundings. How does one maintain asthma control and simultaneously enjoy all that the holidays offer.

First and foremost, the answer lies in advanced planning. Much can be accom- plished by anticipating possible problems and making preparations that will either reduce the risk of these problems or avoid them all together.

The first area to consider is the actual trip to your destination. If you plan to fly, call the airlines ahead of time to see if smoking will be permitted on your flight. If so, make sure your seats are well away from the smoking section. (Now many flights are non-smoking.) Cigarette smoke in such an enclosed space can be a pervasive asthma trigger. In addition, the close proximity to other passengers increases the likelihood of exposure to other triggers, such as perfume or pet dander on the clothes of adjacent passengers. If flying, make sure you pack your asthma medication (and antihista- mines if required) in the bags you plan to carry on board. Such a simple step can

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make the difference between a flight of comfort or distress.

Depending on your accommodations once you reach your destination, different issues may need to be addressed in your advanced planning. Know your itinerary and plan accordingly.

If your plans include a hotd sta> there are several steps you can take to increase your comfort level. First, older hotels or inns con- tain allergens similar to those in older homes. Dust, mo/dand mildew tend to be more prevalent. The heating systems tend to be older, often increasing the amount of dust being circulated through the building. The ventilation systems in the bathrooms tend to be less effective (if they exist at all), causing the ideal environment for mold and mildew growth. Newer hotels are usually the better choice for allergic asthmatics. Additionally, when selecting a hotel, ask about whether pets or smoking have been permitted in your room. Both of these asthma triggers can linger in the room for months.

If an allergy to dust mites is a trigger for your asthma, it is helpful to bring along dust mite mattress and pillow covers for your hotel room bed. You also should bring along your own blanket that you have washed in hot water to dispose of dust mite residue. Bringing your own blanket may also be a good idea if you have a sensitivity to perfumes or deodorants. Although the housekeeping staff washes sheets between guests, they wash the bedspreads and blan- kets less frequently. Pervasive odors may linger there from previous guests. If you bring your own items for the bed, be sure to notify the housekeeping staff to ensure that they are not carted away to the bowels of the hotel laundry, never to be seen again.

Another helpful device to bring with you when you travel is a HEPA room air purifier.

An air purifier, powerful enough to purify the air in a typical hotel room, is quite small and can be packed easily in a suitcase or a canvas tote bag. These small room air puri- fiers fit easily on a dresser top. They are quite effective in reducing the number of airborne triggers in an indoor environment.

For many during the holidays, travel plans include staying with relatives. Managing asthma in the home of a relative can be even more challenging. Relatives may have pets to which you are allergic. There may be smokers in the house. Additionally, where guests tend to only be in their hotel rooms at night, one spends much more time in the house when visiting family. Finally, there are personality issues and feelings to consider. The challenge is to limit your exposure to asthma triggers without incon- veniencing or offending your hosts. Again, the key is pre-planning.

The steps outlined above for making a hotel stay more comfortable are just as important when staying with relatives. Call ahead to ask what your sleeping arrange- ments will be, and bring the appropriately sized mattress and pillow covers and blan- kets. Bring along your HEPA air purifier. If your hosts have a pet and you are allergic to pet dander, you need to take steps to reduce your exposure. There are several possible options. The pet may be able to stay with a neighbor during your visit or perhaps be boarded at a kennel. If neither of these options are palatable to your hosts, then the pet should at least be kept out of the room where you will be sleeping. Once the pet is

Travel w i th a smal l

HEPA a i r f i l ter. The

Mode l Shown at lef t

(Manufac tured by

Holmes) can clean air

in a room up to 109

sq. f t . , removing up

to 9 9 percent of dust

and pol len part ic les.

t o s u b s c r i b e c a l l 1 . 8 0 0 . 5 2 7 . 3 2 8 4 ASTHMA [ 2 1

Planning activities

that take you out

of the house may

not just help to

control your asth-

ma, but may also

increase your

enjoyment of the

holidays.

removed from the house, or at a minimum from your bedroom, a thorough vacu- uming and dust- ing with a damp cloth will remove a great deal of the dander. Steam cleaning the car- pe t is an addition- al step that fur-

ther reduces pet dander. Is this asking a lot of your relatives? Yes. However, spending the holidays wheezing and uncomfortable, and possibly in the emergency room, is no way to celebrate. If you communicate to your hosts the seriousness of the problem. you may be surprised by the level of their cooperation. If the accomodatioI necessary for your health and comfort are too much trouble for them, then you should consider sleeping in a hote and visiting your relatives in their hon during the day.

Another helpful step you can take during your holiday is to plan activiti~ that take you out of the house. Allergi triggers are progressive. The more tim~ you spend exposed to the triggers, the more trouble they will cause you. If, o the other hand, you can limit your ex t sure to short intervals, the effects will have less of a chance to build in your body. Before you leave on your holida I you may want to call ahead to see wh~ kind of activities are available. Researc local tourist sites, museums or events t children (if applicable). There are ofte] special events planned during the holi- days. Once at your destination, spend time outside (if the air is cold, beware this can be a trigger for your asthma), for walks or do activities in the snow (if there is any where you are headed). Engage in indoor activities, such as go to malls or movies. The malls will be c rated for the holidays and often will h; special activities for the children at thi time of year. Planning activities that t a ~ you out of the house may not just help to control your asthma, but may also increase your enjoyment of the holidays.

Holidays are a time of great joy and excitement. They can also be a period of comfort and good health. All you need is some forethought and pre-planning. It is certainly no fun to be wheezing your way through the celebrations. It is important to pack what you need to reduce the prob- lems caused by unfamiliar triggers, and plan events which will reduce exposure to your known triggers. Polite communica- tion with relatives prior to your visiting them can be extremely helpful in both fos- tering understanding as well as attaining their help. So in the busy season of holiday preparations, set aside a bit of time to make the preparations required to spend your holidays symptom-free!

Rachel Butler is an asthmatic, a mother of an asthmatic and Editor-in-Chief of Asthma Magazine.

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