Health Answers

Asthma can be more controlled if asthma triggers are identified. You have to be very attentive while identifying and reducing these things that trigger asthma attacks.

Take the example of allergies. When you know what you are allergic to you can avoid that substance and reduce the allergy symptoms. In the same way, when you know what asthma triggers affect you, you can stay away from those items and enjoy better health.

List of Asthma Triggers

Some common asthma triggers are exercises, irritants, food and food additives, inhaled allergens, upper respiratory infections, weather, medications, strong emotions and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). That covers a lot of different things, so the sooner you get started figuring out which things bother you, the sooner you will experience fewer attacks.

About 80% of people with asthma suffer with asthma attacks due to streneous exercise. It can cause narrowing of the airways.

Irritants like tobacco smoke, smoke from fireplaces, air pollution, dust from industries, perfume odours, and some cleaning agents, can cause serious attack and act as asthma triggers. Certain type of foods contain substances that will trigger and asthma attack.

A large number of people have allergies from air-borne substances like trees, grass, weed pollens, dust mites, cockroach particles, mold and animal dander. Some infections like cold, flu, bronchitis, and sinus can cause asthma attacks.

Weather is also a trigger. The cold air, temperature variations and humidity can cause asthma.

Asthma sufferers can also become sensitive to medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen, and beta-blockers. Not only this, it can be triggered by strong emotions like anxiety, crying, yelling, stress, anger, and hard laughing.

Triggers Effects

The most important factor for asthmatics to keep in mind is substances in the airways. Airways substances are always inflammable and sensitive to react with a variety of asthma triggers.

These can increase inflammation and block the airways. This results in breathing problems, asthma or worsening asthma symptoms. This asthma attack can immediately start after exposure to any asthma trigger or within several days or weeks.

Triggers can be of many types. The reactions to the triggers depends on different people and can vary time to time. A trigger that is harmless to a particular person can become harmful to the another.

Some asthmatics have many triggers but others have none or very few. Therefore, identifying and recognizing triggers is very important as a way to control asthma and prevent it by taking asthma medicines regularly and on time.

Find Your Own Triggers

Asthma triggers can be identified through the blood testing, skin testing and information of the reaction. A peak flow meter can also be used to measure how much and how quickly air is exhaled from the lungs. These devices can alert you to your breathing, the onset of asthma triggers and symptoms.

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