COMMON ASTHMA TRIGGERS
- Tobacco Smoke
- Strong Odors and Sprays
- Cold and Infections
- Animal Dander (tiny pieces of skin that
flake off)
- Indoor Molds
- Pollens and Molds (Outdoor)
- House Dust Mites
- Feathers and Bedding
- Weather. Exercise, Irritants
- Cigarette smoke, air pollution, strong
odors, aerosol sprays and paint fumes are some of the substances
which irritate the tissues of the lungs and upper airways.
- The reaction (cough, wheeze, runny
nose, watery eyes) produced by these irritants can be identical
to those produced by allergens.
Infections
Respiratory infections frequently trigger
severe episodes of asthma. Research indicates that these infections
are most frequently produced by viruses, rather than bacteria.
Antibiotics are of no benefit for viral infections and thus may
be of little value in an asthma episode
Allergy
Asthma symptoms of many children with asthma
are triggered by allergies. Allergic children suffer reactions
to ordinarily harmless material (pollen, mold, food, animals).
A person must be exposed to the allergen
before he or she becomes allergic to it. If the exposure is long
enough or occurs often enough, he or she may be sensitized (allergic)
to that substance, and have an allergic response on subsequent
exposures.
The allergens involved are common indoor
inhalants (house dust, feathers, molds, pets), outdoor inhalants
(molds and pollens), or ingested foods (milk, soy, egg, etc.).
These allergens may produce low-grade reactions which are of no
obvious consequence; however, daily exposure to these allergens
may result in a gradual worsening of asthma.
Exercise
Running can trigger an episode in over
80 percent of children with asthma. Most children with asthma
can participate fully in physical activities. Please make sure
your physician and you develop a control plan.
Weather
Children with asthma have cited a number
of climatic conditions as trigger factors. Many identify cold
air as triggering asthma. Pulmonary studies demonstrate that breathing
cold air provokes asthma in most children with asthma.
There does not seem to be one best climate
for all children with asthma, and moving to a new area to reduce
asthma severity often is met with disappointment.
