Comments on: Making My Fireplace Asthma-Friendly

By: Virginia

Virginia — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:25:27 +0000

We just moved into a house with a fire place . . . and wouldn’t you know it, my daughter’s asthma started flaring up. We are now looking into the correlation between wood burning and asmtha. thanks for you input.

By: Asthma Tips for Thanksgiving

Asthma Tips for Thanksgiving — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:20:41 +0000

[...] the holidays, or any other time. Holiday air freshener vs. asthma, plus some alternative solutions. The elusive asthma-friendly fireplace, and the effect of woodburning fireplaces on outdoor air quality. Holidays, stress, and asthma [...]

By: Asthma Mom’s 10 Rules to De-Trigger Your House

Asthma Mom’s 10 Rules to De-Trigger Your House — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:36:30 +0000

[...] I can, however, tell you to use fireplaces around asthma kids wisely. [...]

By: Asthma Mom » Happy Flare-Free Holidays

Asthma Mom » Happy Flare-Free Holidays — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:53:53 +0000

[...] does, though, and I do use it occasionally. If you do, too, here are some ways to mitigate your fire’s affect on indoor air quality. You could also try burning some of these wood alternatives, but they don’t come [...]

By: Asthma Mom » I Got Your Holiday Trigger Info Right Here

Asthma Mom » I Got Your Holiday Trigger Info Right Here — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:21:37 +0000

[...] to use your wood burning fireplace around a lung-challenged member of the family? You want to go here and [...]

By: Asthma Mom » Through Another Manufactured, Asthma-Friendlier Log on the Fire

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:04:19 +0000

[...] using my wood burning fireplace more than I should. And no, I haven’t installed one of those EPA modifications to make it more efficient, either, since I’m moving after [...]

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:44:52 +0000

Hi and welcome!

Burning coal and burning wood both release particles and chemicals into the air, and any ashes/dust can irritate asthma, too.

We have a woodburning fireplace, and I can tell you that my daughter CANNOT be anywhere nearby when we’re cleaning the ashes whether cool or still warm. She immediately starts coughing when the ashes get stirred up, and coughing is her major flare symptom.

Hope that helps!

By: Corrina

Corrina — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:38:30 +0000

Just a quick query really, just regarding asthma and fireplaces we have a coal fire and this evening when i was cleaning it out the ashes were still hot i carried them out on the fire tray but must have breathed some in I became really short of breath and tight chested is related to my asthma ( i did wonder if it may have been carbon related ) just to put my mind at ease if anyone has had the same syptoms i would love to hear

By: Asthma Mom

Asthma Mom — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:16:16 +0000

Andie, I know just what you mean. There’s nothing quite like a wood fire, unfortunately.

Since my daughter was diagnosed at 2, we’ve been dealing with asthma for almost 7 years now and I STILL have to stop and think, *Oh, wait a minute. This might set off her asthma* practically on a daily basis…….

The fun just never ends, lol. Good luck this weekend! I hope he DOESN’T flare and you guys can enjoy the visit.

By: AndieBeck

AndieBeck — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:51:51 +0000

Thanks for this. I love, Love, LOVE wood fires. We don’t have a wood-burning fireplace at our current house, sadly. But if/when we move or build it is on my list of must-have or must-be-able-to-do.

Now that my 3-yr old apparently has “RAD” – which may or may not progress/be asthma – that could affect the whole wood fire thing. I hadn’t thought of that. (I know it’s obvious, but still I hadn’t put the two together in my head).

This weekend we’ll be at my parents for Christmas tree decorating and chances are there will be a wood fire burning. I’ll watch to see how it goes, and be sure the pack the flovent & rescue inhalers.

Andie