Your Asthma Triggers and How To Avoid Them
Your Asthma Triggers and How To Avoid Them-Avoiding the things that bring on your asthma symptoms—your asthma triggers—is another important part of your asthma action plan.
Some of the most common things that bring on asthma symptoms are allergens, irritants, viral infections, and exercise.
Allergens are substances that can cause you to have an allergic reaction. That is, in some people, the immune system sees them as “foreign” or “dangerous” and reacts in an exaggerated way to protect the body against them.
Some of the most common allergens for people with asthma are:
• Animal dander—scales or dried saliva from the hair, skin,
or feathers of animals
• Dust mites—tiny bugs that thrive
in mattresses, upholstered
furniture, carpets, and stuffed
animals
• Cockroach droppings
• Pollen from trees and grass
• Molds, both indoor and outdoor
Irritants are things in the environment
that may irritate your lungs. Some of
the most common lung irritants are:
• Cigarette smoke
• Air pollution, including ozone
• Cold air or changes in weather like freezing temperatures,
high humidity, and thunderstorms
• Strong odors or sprays, such as perfumes, household cleaners,
cooking fumes—especially from frying—paints, or varnishes
Other things that bring on asthma symptoms in some people
include:
• Exercise (See pages 28 and 29.)
• Respiratory infections, such as colds or viral pneumonia.
Also sinusitis and rhinitis.
How To Control Your Asthma 25
• Medicines, such as aspirin or other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory
drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen, and beta-blockers,
which are used in high blood pressure and glaucoma medicines
• Sulfites in food (dried fruit, processed potatoes, or shrimp)
or beverages (wine or beer)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a medical condition
that causes heartburn
• Strong expressions of emotion (including laughing hard
or crying)
This is not a complete list of all the things that can bring on
your asthma symptoms. It is important for you to learn what
causes problems for you.
The guide on pages 26 and 27 suggests ways to help you stay
away from some common asthma triggers. Look at the things
listed in dark print and put a check next to the ones that you
know make your asthma worse.
Ask your doctor to help you find out what else makes your
asthma worse. Then decide with your doctor what steps you
will take.
You do not need to do all of the things listed in this guide.
A good place to start is with the things in your bedroom that
bother your asthma. Try something simple first.
Your Asthma Triggers and How To Avoid Them-How To Control Things That Make Your Asthma Worse
Allergens
Animal Dander:Some people are allergic to the flakes of skin or dried saliva from animals
with fur or feathers.
The best thing to do:
• Keep furred or feathered pets out of your home.
If you can’t keep the pet outdoors, then:
• Keep the pet out of your bedroom and other sleeping areas at all times,
and keep the door closed.
• Remove carpets and furniture covered with cloth from your home.
If that is not possible, keep the pet away from fabric-covered furniture
and carpets.
Dust Mites
Many people with asthma are allergic to dust mites. Dust mites are tiny bugs that are found in every home—in mattresses, pillows, carpets, upholstered furniture, bedcovers, clothes, stuffed toys, and fabric or other fabric-covered items.
Things that can help:
• Encase your mattress in a special dust-proof cover.
• Encase your pillow in a special dust-proof cover or wash the pillow each
week in hot water. Water must be hotter than 130º F to kill the mites.
Cold or warm water used with detergent and bleach can also be effective.
• Wash the sheets and blankets on your bed each week in hot water.
• Reduce indoor humidity to below 60 percent (ideally between 30—50
percent). Dehumidifiers or central air conditioners can do this.
• Try not to sleep or lie on cloth-covered cushions.
• Remove carpets from your bedroom and those laid on concrete, if you can.
• Keep stuffed toys out of the bed or wash the toys weekly in hot water or
cooler water with detergent and bleach.
Cockroaches
Many people with asthma are allergic to the dried droppings and remains
of cockroaches.
The best thing to do:
• Keep food and garbage in closed containers. Never leave food out.
• Use poison baits, powders, gels, or paste (for example, boric acid).
You can also use traps.
• If a spray is used to kill roaches, stay out of the room until the odor
goes away.
Indoor Mold
• Fix leaky faucets, pipes, or other sources of water that have mold
around them.
• Clean moldy surfaces with a cleaner that has bleach in it.
p Pollen and Outdoor Mold
What to do during your allergy season (when pollen or mold spore counts
are high):
• Try to keep your windows closed.
• Stay indoors with windows closed from late morning to afternoon,
if you can. Pollen and some mold spore counts are highest at that time.
• Ask your doctor whether you need to take or increase anti-inflammatory
medicine before your allergy season starts.
Irritants
Tobacco Smoke
• If you smoke, ask your doctor for ways to help you quit. Ask family
members to quit smoking, too.
• Do not allow smoking in your home or car.
Smoke, Strong Odors, and Sprays
• If possible, do not use a wood-burning stove, kerosene heater, or fireplace.
• Try to stay away from strong odors and sprays, such as perfume, talcum
powder, hair spray, and paints.
Other things that bring on asthma symptoms in some people include:
Vacuum Cleaning
• Try to get someone else to vacuum for you once or twice a week,
if you can. Stay out of rooms while they are being vacuumed and for
a short while afterward.
• If you vacuum, use a dust mask (from a hardware store), a double-layered
or microfilter vacuum cleaner bag, or a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.
p Other Things That Can Make Asthma Worse
• Sulfites in foods and beverages: Do not drink beer or wine or eat dried
fruit, processed potatoes, or shrimp if they cause asthma symptoms.
• Cold air: Cover your nose and mouth with a scarf on cold or windy days.
• Other medicines: Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.
Include cold medicines, aspirin, vitamins and other supplements, and
nonselective beta-blockers (including those in eye drops).
Next up Monitoring Your Asthma
Thanks for reading Your Asthma Triggers and How To Avoid Them.