Asthma

[SunnyTheConure]

Is someone has asthma but does clean the birds doesnt visit thier room and thier are 2 doors and 2 walls to stop any dust or dander spreading around the house and they spend majority of thier day upstairs can the birds really affect them.

 

[Betrisher]

I don't know. I s'pose it depends on the degree and kind of asthma you have. My asthma has become quite severe as I've grown older, but my birds don't worry me one bit. Occasionally, cat dander will trigger an attack, but the cats get much easier access to me than the birds do. I've never been one of those who allows animals to come close to my face: I believe kissing and snuggling too close with an animal to be a recipe for cross-infection. I have a family member who caught psittacosis from his budgies (he was a chronic budgie-kisser) and was left with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as a result.

I think if you simply be careful and maintain good cage and home hygiene, you should be fine.

Having said that, though, I'm not your doctor...

 

[noodles123]

depends on the bird and the person..then things like setup, hvac sysytem, presence or absence of purifiers, types of filters in your hvac/furnace.. but if someone is blaming the birds, I'd also want proof because some people might just not like having birds and other seasonal factors can also trigger asthma, as can pollution, mold etc (I'd want them to get a scratch test or something, because LOTS of people get very annoyed by birds and decide they do not like living with them..even asthmatics lol). I would say they would have to have a pretty severe sensitivity in order for this situation to impact them significantly...Now, if you had a cockatoo or something, this would be a lot more likely, but as far as I know, you do not.

 

[fiddlejen]

It depends on the asthma.

I have asthma which is caused by allergies to Cats, Dogs, Dust, and fragrances. Also to lesser extent caused by allergies to most other mammals and Some pollen. (Most pollen gives my sinus-allergies first.) Also the asthma can get going from various chemicals. SO FAR, I do Not have allergies to birds -- but this is why I did not even consider getting a cockatiel or other dust-producing bird, as I know from experience that new allergies can be acquired.

Also due to asthma, I already had air filters before I got my birds.

I canNOT Live nor Sleep in a house where a cat lives. I will wind up hospitalized. In fact I cannot spend more than a short amount of time in the presence of a cat, as much as I love them. And my asthma-allergies have actually gotten much Better than they were a few years ago! Due to the Improvement of my allergies, I can spend a Short Time near a cat. I can even pet dogs, very occasionally, without a problem.

Being in a house with either type creature is Far Easier if the house is spotlessly clean.

But I know you are asking about Asthma and Birds, not cats. IF IF someone has asthma which is triggered by an allergic reaction to birds, they MIGHT be fine as long as (1) their asthma/allergies is not too severe, (2) the birds area is kept very clean (air filters will help immensely!), AND,

(3) they have not been / are not being exposed to other allergy-sensitizers. What I mean by this -- everyone has an allergen-level. As you are exposed to various things you are allergic too, you become more sensitive to all of the allergies. For example when the pollen is high, I should not touch nor be near ANY cats or dogs, even in a spotlessly clean house or outside. But if pollen is low, my home is not dusty, and there are no other allergies, I can spend more time with allergy animals.

Some people with allergies & asthma are aware of this effect, especially those who have spent years trying to manage their allergies, and some are not.

Something to be aware of. Please respect anyone's concerns about allergies. It is Not necessarily a reflection upon your housekeeping or bird-keeping. The Asthma/Allergy sufferer is the Only One who can determine whether it is safe to be near, or in the same house, or even just somewhat close to the same airspace, as what they are allergic to.

There have been times in the past when I had to leave a friend's apartment, where No Dog lived, but a different friend had brought a dog into the room, for a short while, about an hour before I was there. A coworker left a sweater on my chair at work before I arrived (it was meant as a gift) and I went into a fairly bad fit of asthma. Turned out, her cat had slept on that sweater a few times. Once I had to leave a gathering due to sudden asthma after hugging a friend...who had petted a dog before greeting me. Etc.

But despite these occasional sudden responses, my most common asthma response is Delayed. Usually about three Days later. Saturday I could hang out in a home with friends who had pets and Seem Entirely fine. But come Tues or Weds I was calling in sick to work because I could not breathe. AFter years of this I became sensitive enough to know when I had to leave, and it is FAR FAR before anyone else can see any symptom.

Also, when I was younger some people who would actually tell me, "See, you are fine!" when I was actually struggling for every breath. And, of course, I wanted to be fine! It took me years and discipline to learn that I Must leave when I don't want to. (I LOVE cats, and dogs too.) and, that people outside of me often canNot see the problem.

Hence my very long response. My goal with my own birds is to Not induce any bird-allergies in myself. I remind myself to not breathe in when Sunny is too near my face... this is hard to stick to!

BUT if someone has asthma due to Allergies to Birds you must respect whatever boundaries they need. You can help them greatly if you go further than they need. Keep in mind that someone might be able to be around their allergen (in this case birds) one day, but cannot even be in the same house another day.

However if they have Asthma but are Not allergic to birds, then if they are confident they are fine, then they most likely will be. Although in such a case, if their asthma IS kicking up, it's best if they can avoid hanging out with the birds too much, to help Prevent Developing an allergy.

And also always run an air filter and keep the area well-cleaned, in order to help prevent / minimize allergies in anyone who will be near the birds.

 

[SunnyTheConure]

It's one of my family member they asthma is worsened by dust mites as they are allergic to them. The last time they got a prick test they weren't allergic to birds or anything for that matter apart from the dust mites. Also through thier childhood they had budgies and chickens the chickens where outside but the budgies where kept inside they never seemed to he bothered I just feel guilty when I see them coughing. They remind me that this happens every year in winter to them , but just in case they do not go into the room for more than 5 minutes before they would spend 10-20 mintues now not to long.

 

[SunnyTheConure]

Does cold weather cause asthma to worsen.

 

[fiddlejen]

Does cold weather cause asthma to worsen.

This will depend Entirely on the particular person. For myself, cold weather is better as humidity can worsen breathing, and winter dryness helps. For other people, winter dryness can exacerbate asthma. There can be many other factors as well, so it depends entirely on the particular person with asthma.

 

[SunnyTheConure]

Does cold weather cause asthma to worsen.

This will depend Entirely on the particular person. For myself, cold weather is better as humidity can worsen breathing, and winter dryness helps. For other people, winter dryness can exacerbate asthma. There can be many other factors as well, so it depends entirely on the particular person with asthma.

Okay thanks they get a lot more phlegm during winter.