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A WebMD Feature
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People with asthma can take an active role in controlling their
disease by identifying and reducing exposure to those factors
that increase symptoms or cause
asthma attacks. For example, if
allergies trigger your asthma, being aware of those
allergies and avoid them to significantly reduce the frequency
or severity of asthma attacks.
What Are the Most Common Asthma Triggers?
Upper
respiratory infections.
Cold and flu, bronchitis (infection of the large airways), or
sinus infections can cause an asthma attack.
Inhaled
allergens.
Eighty percent of people with asthma have allergies to airborne
substances such as tree, grass and weed pollens, mold, animal
dander, dust mites and cockroach particles.
Medications.
Many people with asthma are sensitive to aspirin and other
anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen
(Aleve, Naprosyn), ketoprofen (Orudis) and beta-blockers (used
to prevent migraine headaches and treat heart disease, high
blood pressure and glaucoma).
Food and
food additives.
Certain foods contain substances that can trigger asthma
symptoms.
Exercise.
Strenuous exercise can cause a narrowing of the airways in about
80% of people with asthma.
Irritants.
Many irritants, including tobacco smoke, smoke from wood-burning
appliances or fireplaces, strong odors from perfumes, and
cleaning agents, etc., are all irritants that can trigger
asthma. In addition, air pollution, occupational dust or vapors
can also trigger an attack.
Weather.
Cold air, changes in temperature and humidity can cause asthma.
Strong
emotions.
Anxiety, crying, yelling, stress, anger or laughing hard can
trigger an attack.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
How Do Triggers Make Asthma Worse?
In people with asthma, the airways are always inflamed and very
sensitive, so they react to a variety of external factors, or
"triggers." Coming into contact with these triggers is what
causes the airways to tighten, increase inflammation and become
blocked with mucus, resulting in breathing problems, asthma, or
worsening of asthma symptoms. An asthma attack can begin
immediately after exposure to a trigger or several days or even
weeks later.
There are many kinds of triggers. Reactions to them are
different for each person and vary from time to time. Certain
triggers may be harmless to some people but contribute to
inflammation in others. Some people have many triggers while
others have no identifiable ones. Recognizing and avoiding these
triggers, when possible, is an important way to control asthma.
Keep in mind, however, that the best way to control it is with
asthma medicines.
How Do I Recognize What Triggers My Asthma?
Determining what factors were present when your asthma symptoms
started is the first step to recognizing your asthma triggers.
Although there are many different triggers, you may not react to
all of them. Some people have only one trigger, while others
have many.
Many asthma triggers can be identified through a history of
reaction and skin or blood testing. Your doctor may also
recommend using a device called a
peak flow meter. The peak flow meter measures how much and
how quickly air is exhaled from the lungs. It can alert you to
changes in your breathing and the onset of asthma symptoms,
triggered by an allergen.
Ask your doctor or asthma care provider if using a peak flow
meter would be helpful to you.
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© 2006, WebMD Inc. All rights reserved. |
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What is an Asthma Attack? - Airways are
the paths that carry air to the lungs. As the
air moves through the lungs, the airways become
smaller, like branches of a tree. During an
attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs
become inflamed and swollen. Muscles around the
airways tighten, and less air passes in and out
of the lungs. Excess mucus forms in the airways,
clogging them even more. The attack, also called
an episode, can include coughing, chest
tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing.
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