Asthma

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs.

When a person with asthma comes into contact with something that irritates their airways (an asthma trigger), the muscles around the walls of the airways tighten so that the airways become narrower and the lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell. Sometimes sticky mucus or phlegm builds up which can further narrow the airways.

All these reactions cause the airways to become narrower and irritated - making it difficult to breath and leading to symptoms of asthma.

What is an Asthma trigger

A trigger is anything that irritates the airways and causes the symptoms of asthma. Everyone's asthma is different and you may have several triggers. An important aspect of controlling your asthma is avoiding your triggers.

It may be impossible to avoid all of your triggers all of the time, but once you have identified them, there are methods you can use to help you reduce unnecessary symptoms and better control your asthma.

It can be difficult to identify exactly what triggers your asthma. Sometimes the link is obvious, for example when your symptoms start within minutes of coming into contact with a cat or dog. But some people have a delayed reaction to an asthma trigger, so some extra detective work may be needed.

The RespEase unit is a great way of avoiding most common asthma triggers during a third of your life (while you are sleeping)!

How does the RespEase Sleeping Environment Help?

The RespEase sleeping environment helps you to have a better quality of life and thus more able to do the things you want to. Many problems with Asthma are a result of exhaustion:


If you can't go to work or school, this is often due to the fact that you did not sleep the night before and that your lungs are sore from coughing.

You can of course increase your medication to control your asthma but for 10% of asthma sufferers this is not enough.

The RespEase unit works by removing most of the common asthma triggers (see table below)

Asthma Triggers

Use this section to find out more about possible Asthma triggers and how the RespEase sleeping environment deals with them.

Asthma Trigger Effective? How is the RespEase sleeping environment effective at removing these triggers during sleep?
Animals Yes, very effective Animal hairs and protein are prevented from entering the unit by the RespEase HEPA filter.
Air pollutants Yes, very effective Air pollutants are prevented from entering the unit by the RespEase HEPA and Carbon filters.
Colds & viral infections Yes, very effective Bacteria and viruses are prevented from entering the bed by the RespEase HEPA filter. Also, bacteria and viruses are actively expelled from the sleeping environment.
House-dust mites Yes, effective The RespEase sleeping environment prevents mites entering the bed on dust particles. It also kills mites due to the low humidity in the bed during the day. Other measures such as the use of specialist bedding and bed clothes are necessary to further improve the reduction of symptoms.
Moulds & fungi Yes, very effective The low humidity in the unit prevents moulds and fungi growth, and the filter system prevents entry of spores to the bed.
Pollen Yes, extremely effective Pollen spores are prevented from entering the unit by the RespEase filter system. There is also some indication that the total absence of pollen during the night (when the pollencount has been high during the day) may result in a reduced immune system response during the following day.
Smoking Yes, very effective Smoke particles are prevented from entering the sleeping environment by the RespEaseTM HEPA filter.
Weather Yes, very effective Charged particulates, dust and ozone are all neutralised by the RespEase filter system.
Sex Probably Being sexually active in an environment that you consider "safe" and is free from other triggers can make you more comfortable and prevent an Asthma attack.
Exercise Probably in a small way During a night in the RespEase sleeping environment, the lungs have expelled particulates, leaving them more efficient when exercising.
Emotions Probably in a small way Asthma attacks due to stress are outside the scope of the RespEase sleeping environment. However, if the RespEase unit is somewhere you feel safe and comfortable, then it is possible that your symptoms are reduced.
Food No No, Food Allergies are outside the scope of the RespEase sleeping environment.
Hormones No No, attacks due to hormone imbalance are outside the scope of the RespEase sleeping environment.
Medicines No No, attacks due to allergies from medication are outside the scope of the RespEase sleeping environment.