Avoiding Asthma Triggers When Moving to a New Home

Moving house with asthma can be a stressful time. How will I manage all the triggers, like dust, heavy lifting, and running up and down stairs? Will all this worry cause a flare in asthma symptoms before I’ve even started packing?

Beki Tovey moved to a new home earlier this year, and she's pleased to say she managed to get through it all unscathed! Today, Beki shares four tips for avoiding asthma triggers when moving into a new home.

My year started with me and my husband moving house in February. We packed our things into many (many) boxes and went from a three-bed terrace to a lovely country village and a four-bed detached property.

I feel so lucky that we were able to make this move. It's brought us more space as we start to expand our family. My husband finally has a bigger garden to install his much-longed-for greenhouse.

Best of all, it has the immense benefits of fields and countryside right on our doorstep.

As an asthmatic, being in a more rural environment with cleaner air means a lot. I'd never say no to spending more time in nature!

But enough about that. Today, I want to share some tips I gleaned from the moving process and controlling my asthma during a stressful time.

4 Tips for moving house with asthma

1. Beware of hidden triggers when moving items and packing them up

Most of the time, packing up your home involves stirring up dust, pet hair, and pollen. Unfortunately, these can trigger asthma symptoms, such as a tight chest and wheezing.

If you've got someone who can help move dusty items (such as those stored in a loft or basement), don't turn down their help! If not, don't worry. Wearing a dust mask and opening my doors and windows for ventilation helped me.

2. Use asthma-friendly house-cleaning products

This can apply to cleaning your old house as you move out and your new home when you move in! When moving house with asthma, be mindful of fumes from cleaning chemicals that may trigger an asthmatic reaction.

Again, consider wearing a mask and leaving windows open. You can also look at more natural cleaning options, such as those without added fragrance, and avoid using aerosol sprays.

When it comes to vacuuming, I recommend one with a pet filter. Mine picks up much more dust and hair from the carpets.

3. Pace yourself when lifting and carrying heavy things

All those boxes and heavy furniture items need to be lifted and moved. Even with a removal service to help, you will find yourself getting quite a workout!

In some ways, the physical activity can help your asthma. Any exercise builds strength in your lungs!

Work within your limits and take regular breaks - especially if your property has stairs. I climbed up and down my steps too many times to count when moving in, and I struggled with some breathlessness.

Keep your prescribed medication close by, and avoid accidentally packing it in a box!

4. Check out new ways to asthma-proof your new home

I've mentioned cleaning your new property. Still, it's also worth doing a recce to see if there are any new indoor asthma triggers around that your last home didn't have. Make a list, then sit down with a mug of tea and devise plans to adapt your home into an asthma-proof haven.

We went from a house with wooden downstairs floors to a fully carpeted property. Carpets and dust go together like summer and pollen, so keeping up with the vacuuming is definitely on my weekly to-do list!

After moving house, asthma should be your first priority. Don't wait to fully "settle in" before registering with a GP in your local area. Getting settled means your asthma should be controlled, so you'll need access to your medication and regular check-ups.

Moving house can be hectic, and the anxiety and stress may cause your asthma to flare up. Take a breather and enjoy your new home before rushing to unpack all those boxes!

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Date of preparation: August 2023
D: COB-GB-NP-00136 (V1.0) / T: COB-GB-NP-00158 (V1.0) / M: COB-GB-NP-00157 (V1.0)