What are Asthma Triggers?
There are several things or “triggers” that may cause an asthma attack. These may include viral infections, allergen exposure, irritating gases, and particles in the air. Other factors that may trigger an allergy attack are vigorous exercise, sleep, cold air, emotional stress or excitement, and medications. Identifying and controlling triggers can help lessen the frequency and severity of attacks. Your health care provider can provide helpful advice.
An asthma trigger is a factor that can decrease lung function and lead to sudden difficulty breathing and other symptoms of an asthma attack. When you are around a trigger, you are at increased risk for an asthma attack. A severe attack may mean you have to go to the hospital. Some triggers are substances you may be allergic to (allergens). These triggers may include: • House dust mites. • Cockroaches. • Animal dander. • Indoor mold. • Pollen. Other triggers are not allergens—they can cause asthma symptoms, but you are not allergic to them. These include: • Cigarette smoke and air pollution. • Upper respiratory infections such as colds, influenza (flu), and sinusitis. • Exercise. Many people with asthma have symptoms when they exercise. • Dry, cold air. • Medicines, such as beta-blockers, aspirin, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). • In adults, hormones, including those involved in pregnancy and menstrual periods. Your symptoms may change just before or during per
An asthma trigger is a factor that can decrease lung function and lead to sudden difficulty breathing and other symptoms of an asthma attack. When you are around a trigger, you are at increased risk for an asthma attack. A severe attack may mean you have to go to the hospital. Some triggers are substances you may be allergic to (allergens). These triggers may include: House dust mites.Cockroaches.Animal dander.Indoor mold.Pollen. Other triggers are not allergens—they can cause asthma symptoms, but you are not allergic to them. These include: Cigarette smoke and air pollution.Upper respiratory infections such as colds, influenza (flu), and sinusitis.Exercise. Many people with asthma have symptoms when they exercise.Dry, cold air.Medicines, such as beta-blockers, aspirin, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In adults, hormones, including those involved in pregnancy and menstrual periods. Your symptoms may change just before or during periods.Gastrointestinal reflux d
Asthma is a disease of airway inflammation generated by sensitivity to certain substances or activities. These are referred to as triggers. Different asthmatics are sensitive to different triggers. Common triggers include viral infections, dust, tobacco smoke, cold air, pollens, exercise, animal dander, emotional states, odors, gastroesophageal reflux. When the airways are exposed to these triggers, they generate inflammation and irritation and bronchospasm.
” section to see if they are triggers. Record your PEF in your asthma diary. • Be tested for allergies. Skin or blood testing may be used to diagnose allergies to certain substances. Skin testing involves pricking the skin on your back or arms with one or more small doses of specific allergens. The amount of swelling and redness at the sites where your skin was pricked are measured to identify allergens to which you react. If your PEF drops when you are near an allergen, consider being tested for this allergen. • Share your trigger record with your health professional. After you have found some things that may trigger your asthma, you and your health professional can devise a plan for how to deal with them.
