Cleaning Sprays May Increase The Risk Of Developing Asthma

We know that asthma can have a serious detrimental effect on wellbeing, but now it seems that domestic cleaning products can put us more at risk than previously realised. A study has found that women who use two or more types of cleaning spray are making themselves much more likely to develop asthma. Specifically, the study looked at women using standard household sprays on a weekly basis.

The researchers indicated that the use of the sprays was associated with a higher asthma symptom score. This in itself is linked not only with higher degrees of current asthma, but also poorly-controlled asthma in women. Detailed information for the study was collected in regards to exposure to cleaning sprays, specifically in the domestic environment. The study looked at 683 women with a mean age of 44, of which 244 had current asthma.

It has been well established that extensive use of cleaning sprays in the workplace can put people at a higher risk. Cleaners working in offices and hospitals were known to have a tendency of developing asthma. But this study confirmed that using cleaning sprays at home can cause problems too.

Women who cleaned their home once a week were 1.85 times more likely have a high asthma symptom score than a null score. However, women who used two or more cleaning sprays once a week were found to be 2.5 times more likely to register a high score than a null score.

Also, women who used two different types of spray weekly were 1.7 times more likely to currently have asthma. They were also twice as likely to have poorly-controlled asthma which can cause even more problems for the wellness of an asthma sufferer. Women who used only one spray did not see any similar rises in the likelihood of developing these symptoms.