Ask Donna: Relocated to Portland & Asthma Is Exacerbated: What To Do?

 

Dear Donna,

I moved to Portland last year after 40 years livng in NYC and NJ.

I've been an asthma sufferer for most of my life, but it seems worse in S.W. Portland(zip: 97205) which surprises me because I had thought that the air quality would be much improved after living in Manhattan.

I've been diagnosed with severe allergies to dust mites especially, and also to pollens. I have no pets and have never smoked. I am considering a move to Hawaii because it seems to rank well for air quality, but for family reasons I prefer to stay in Portland. Another question is how far an indoor air purifier will help in my apartment?

I suspect serious problems with dust mites inside. My medications include Symbicort and Singulair and recently a dose of Prednisone.

Any advice that you can offer will be much appreciated.

Best wishes,

Dennis

To read a series of emails Dennis and I exchanged, continue to the final outcome.

Hi Dennis,

One of my readers told me her air purifier made all the difference. In her case, wood smoke from a neighbor. She liked Blue Air. I don't love my air purifiers, Hamilton Beach and Friedrich.

Here's air purifier info: http://www.chasingcleanair.com/chasing_clean_air/2009/02/hamilton-beach-air-purifier-review.html#comment-6a00d8345305a169e2011168423e3d970c

Hawaii I don't recommend for you. Vog is a huge problem right now. Kauai is furthest from the Big Island's active volcano, but Kauai still gets vog because winds blow. Read this:

http://www.chasingcleanair.com/chasing_clean_air/2010/03/air-quality-maui.html

If I were you, I'd try an air purifier before moving since you said there are reasons to stay in Portland. You're in an area with pollens, which may aggravate you, but other than a hot dry desert, your body may be sensitive to pollens in different areas, too.

I've thought about Portland myself. I'm very outdoorsy and love the beauty there. Unlike you, I have no ties in PNW at moment. My very favorite places are on nearby Vancouver Island... great vacation spot.

Best wishes,

Donna

Dear Donna,

It's such a relief to find a caring, informed person like you who responds immediately to my personal questions about asthma. I do appreciate, too, the links that you've given me to get further information, and I've now checked each.

I am certainly into air purifiers for our Portland apartment and will try to make them work for me. We moved to Portland from NYC just to be near our granddaughters and we have found it a terrific city--except that my asthma is worse. Maybe your valuable advice can help lead us to a more healthy response to it.

I am grateful, too, for your comment on Hawaii. We have a vacation planned for Maui and the Big Island for early next year to escape the Portland winter, but I see from your advice that we'll have to check this more closely.

One of my main questions is how much you rely on the American Lung Association Report for 2010 on air quality throughout the U.S.? We happen now to be on vacation in Palm Springs, CA., and like its sunny warm weather(in contrast to Portland now) so much that we had considered buying a place here. But the ALA's report confirms your assessment that the smog from LA ruins the air quality, so we have decided against Palm Springs.

Much of Southern CA seems polluted, but, again according to the ALA report, the Bay area around SF appears quite clear, so we might consider it next if Portland becomes unbearable.

Finally, in regard to Hawaii, is there any part of it, in your judgment, that escapes the VOG? The ALA report gives high ratings to Honolulu for both ozone and particle pollution, but do you disagree because of VOG?  Thanks so very much.

Warmest wishes, Dennis

Hi Dennis,

I'd completely avoid Hawaii. Kauai is the only island that gets a MAYBE but if vog rolls in, you're stuck indoors. Vog feels horrible to inhale, especially for asthma sufferers. Sulfur dioxide heavy in the air. That volcano on Big Island isn't going away, rather new vents have opened making situation unbearable for many, especially sensitive folks.

I don't trust the ALA for my air quality information. They have steered me wrong, and hurt my health as a result. Example, they don't consider pesticides, a huge problem in many areas. They don't consider vog. They don't consider pulp mills. They don't consider aging nuclear power plants with potential leaks.

According to the American Lung Association's State of the Air reports,

The State of the Air 2010 report looks at levels of ozone and particle pollution found in monitoring sites across the United States in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

In California, you might consider Marin County. (In winter some neighbors may burn wood so you'll want your air purifiers) I'd consider it myself. You might consider Central California, but in San Luis Obispo there are pollens (rated 3 in country) and an aging nuclear power plant near a fault-line. I really loved Morro Bay, but then I love kayaking. People speak well of Cambria. Santa Cruz is pretty nice, too though pesticides are around... so check where farms are and which ways winds blow if picking any "country".

I hope that gives you a start to think about.

Regarding dust mites, you probably know there are special sheets you can buy.

Thanks for acknowledging that you appreciate my help. It means a lot. I wish I'd had someone like me who cares and is responsive, so I become that person for others.

Best wishes,

Donna

Dear Donna,

Many thanks for your continuing concern and insights. I had no idea about the dangers of Vog. I have seen great ratings for the Bay area, and we may consider it if we could find affordable housing there. Again, though, proximity to our family is of utmost importance to us so Portland continues to have primary appeal. I need to assess its desirability after I've given air purifiers a fair chance in our apartment. The building's forced air heaters might be a problem because dust and mold collect in the forty year old units. I have top of the line air purifiers that should handle the small area but I'm unsure of whether this alone will be sufficient. I've read your comments on air purifiers and evaluations of brands, but how much faith do you place in them for the type of home I've described?

Best wishes, Dennis

Dear Dennis,

Personally, I'd consider never using your heater or air conditioner at home to avoid dirty vents blowing crap in. I avoid both. I have air purifiers; one in bedroom, one in living room. I have a portable heater and air conditioner. Many times these are inefficient but I choose heat and cold over chances of what comes through vents. Sometimes I'm wearing a parka indoors. 

With your family near and dear it sounds like improving your home is your best bet. Or moving within Portland to a cleaner and newer building. First, I'd talk to different people about best air purifiers, and make sure you don't get one with ozone.

Best, Donna

Dear Donna,

I think that you may have spotted a big problem about my building's old and dirty vents. They are a very suspicious source of my problem. We happen to like the building a lot, even if it is old, but we could still consider finding another newer place as you suggest. In the meantime, we will refrain from using a/c because Oregon's weather is OK for that, but it will be harder to supply another source of heat. The thought of you wearing parkas, though, is an inspiration if that will help my asthma.

I must investigate and test the actual capacity of air purifiers to determine how much they can do to eliminate or limit the dust coming from the vents. I have heard about Blue Air but I need an objective source, perhaps Consumers Guide, to give me a more reliable assessment. Can you recommend a good source to evaluate such cleaners? Also,  if you don't trust the ALA report on air purification, then what source can we rely on for information about air quality throughout the U.S.? Thanks once again for considering my case and barrage of questions!

Best wishes, Dennis

Hi Dennis,

I trust no one but readers and bloggers like me, folks not profiting or cozy and or uncaring in their tunnelvision jobs.

Some people check out these guys too:

http://www.mercola.com
http://www.drweil.com/

I bought Consumer Reports top rated, at the time, air purifier, Friedrich but it makes a smell I don't like. The Hamilton Beach I have is ok, no smell but I must buy filters, which is okay. 

I guess Consumer Reports and talking to folks is how I'd start, and what I did. Next time I'd consider Blue Air based on my reader's experience.

I think it's a big deal not to use your vents.

I hope that does the trick for you. And just maybe, hopefully, you'll be happy staying where you are.

Portland is very pretty.

Let me know if it works.

Best wishes,

Donna

Dear Donna,

I will follow your suggestions and in any case I sincerely appreciate your thoughtful concern and attention.

This matters a great deal. Let's stay in touch.

Best wishes, Dennis

Dear Donna,

I do hope that sharing our correspondence will help people as you have helped me, I believe, with your advice. Since my return to Portland, I've tried to fortify our small apartment with  more and better air purifiers as well as stopping the old forced air heaters as you suggested by replacing them with portable electric ones. All of my tests, as I mentioned before, have shown allergies to dust mites and animal dander, so we are doing our best to eliminate these sources, taking great precautions. So far it seems that breathing is easier after taking more of the steps that you advocated. Let's stay in touch.

Best wishes, Dennis

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