What is asthma | Is it asthma? | Asthma triggers | Managing triggers and allergens | What is asthma control | Allergen control products | Exercise-induced asthma

 

There are four major categories of aggravating factors or triggers:

 

These are very common. Indoor allergens include dust mites, cat dander, and cockroach. Also included would be molds, both indoor and outdoor. Seasonal pollen exposures are very common and vary with the season and the geographic area. In warm winter areas, pollens may be present year round.

Early spring: tree pollens such as various oaks and box elder

Late spring and early summer: grasses such as timothy grass and Bermuda grass

Late summer to early fall: weeds such as ragweed, and Russian thistle

 

Work-related exposures can be allergens or irritants. For example, allergy to latex is a particular problem for healthcare workers; allergy to grain dust is a significant risk for bakers. Fire smoke is an irritant exposure to firemen.

 

Tobacco smoke is the most significant problem in this category, although other common irritants can include wood smoke and irritating odors such as those from cleaning products. The role of pollutants is still controversial. The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating the role of diesel fumes and tiny soot particles in asthma and other diseases.

 

A variety of other factors are implicated in aggravating or triggering asthma. A very common trigger is the common cold, particularly in children. Rhinitis and sinusitis are also implicated, as is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Beta-blocking drugs even in the tiny amounts used in eye drops for glaucoma, for example, can precipitate an asthma exacerbation. And all people with asthma, especially those with adult-onset asthma, need to use with great caution non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin--or avoid them altogether. Although allergies to foods such as peanuts can be extremely serious, food allergies in general are not significant causes of asthma. Emotional expression, such as laughing or crying can also act as a trigger. Once you have established what things seem to trigger asthma symptoms - or make them worse - you can begin to work together on trigger avoidance. Here are some of the most common triggers and strategies to avoid them.

 

House dust mite. Dust mites live in our bedding, stuffed toys, carpets, and upholstered furniture. They are usually quite happy to stay where they are, so they’re not usually airborne unless stirred up by vacuuming, fluffing up the pillow, making the bed, or beating the rug. House dust mites thrive in warm, moist environments. The best avoidance strategy is to encase the mattress, box spring and pillow in mite-proof coverings. Wash the bedding (and the stuffed toys if possible) in hot water once a week. Consider taking up the carpet if possible; use leather or plastic chairs and blinds instead of curtains.

 

Animal allergens. All animals with fur or feathers can be problematic for people with asthma. Usually it‘s the dander, urine, feces, or saliva that causes the problem. So in principal, it‘s best for people with asthma not to have these animals in their homes, or in the classroom. If there’s no way to eliminate the exposure to the animal, then try to minimize it. Some strategies include keeping the pet out of the bedroom, or washing the animal every week, but this is not always an easy option.

Cockroach allergen is a significant trigger for many people with asthma. To control cockroaches, try to keep all food in sealed containers. Use poison baits or traps rather than sprays to kill them.

 

Viral infections. It‘s very hard to avoid exposure to viral respiratory tract infections (or the common cold), but all possible efforts should be made to do so, including good hand washing and annual flu shot.

 

Pollens and molds. Molds grow in damp, dark, warm places, such as in the bathroom or under a leaky sink - so those areas need to be fixed or cleaned. Outside, leaf piles are a very common source of mold, so not playing in the leaves would be good advice. People are sensitive to different pollens that come at different times of the year, and vary by geographical area. Ragweed pollen is a common allergen in the U.S., but don’t forget the various tree pollens too. In general, pollen counts are lower in the morning, so try to do errands early in the day.

Closing the windows and turning on the air conditioner will exclude outdoor pollens and molds from the home.

Some people only have asthma symptoms during times of seasonal nasal allergy flares. In these cases, it will be helpful to start or increase the controller medicine before allergy season starts and to maximize allergy prevention and treatment. People with seasonal allergic rhinitis should start with corticosteroid nasal sprays before their allergies begin to flare. Treatment of allergic rhinitis may make a significant improvement in asthma control in some patients.