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Triggers: Know Your Troublemakers
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What is Asthma? | Triggers: Know Your Troublemakers Allergies | Household Products | Dust | On The Job | Weather | Air Pollution | Exercise | Infections | Nighttime | Emotions | Smoke WHAT CAUSES ASTHMA? Asthma is caused by extra sensitive lungs that over-react to certain factors. Those factors, or asthma "triggers," vary widely among people who have asthma.
An important step in getting control of your asthma is to discover those factors or combinations of factors that trigger asthma episodes in your lungs. The more you know about your own personal asthma troublemakers, the better you will be able to work with your doctor to prevent and control asthma episodes.
There is allergic and non-allergic asthma. When the cause of asthma is allergies, they usually, though not always, appear before age 35. If you have allergic asthma, your lungs will go into an asthma episode or attack when you contact things you are allergic to.
Yes. Allergies can take many years to develop. A change in your lifestyle such as a new job or a move to a new area could have exposed you to new causes. And asthma patterns can change with age.
The list is almost endless. Some common problems are the tiny particles, including pollens and mold spores, that get into the air from trees, plants, and hay. Animal skin, hair, and feathers, including wool clothing and feather pillows, also give off tiny particles that can cause allergies. Insect parts such as particles from dead cockroaches are a major problem, especially in cities. Some people are sensitive to certain substances without being allergic. For example, asthma in some people is triggered by sulfites, this preservative may be sprayed on or added to fresh fruits and vegetables, shellfish, beer and wine. Another chemical trigger for some people with asthma is aspirin.
The first thing is for you and your doctor to find out what things trigger your allergic asthma. Then, because each patient is different, the doctor may try different treatments to see what works best. He or she may ask you to try to avoid the things you are allergic to-or give you injections to help make you less sensitive to those things-or treat you with medicines that help prevent asthma episodes despite your allergies. Our homes are loaded with products that can irritate the sensitive lungs of people with asthma and bring on episodes. Try to avoid breathing vapors from cleaning solvents, paint, paint thinner, and liquid chlorine bleach. Also avoid household sprays such as furniture polish, starch, and cleaners. Personal products in the home also can irritate your lungs. Common troublemakers are spray deodorants, perfumes, hair sprays, talcum powder, and scented cosmetics. Reactions to these products may be mild or severe. Some people are helped by using baking soda in water or special baking soda cleaning products for household cleaning. Some jobs, like painting, may have to be done by someone else. Even if you notice little or no reaction from household products , it's best for everyone with asthma to avoid sprays and breathe the cleanest air possible. Many people with mild asthma need to take no special care to avoid ordinary dust. However, some people are very sensitive to dust of any kind. And certain kinds of dusts can be asthma triggers. If you have severe reactions to household dust, try to avoid breathing it by: So, all pets should be removed from the home if they trigger allergy and asthma symptoms. Pet allergens may stay in the home for months after the pet is gone because it remains in house dust. Too much dust may be raised by using a vacuum cleaner. Some people need to leave the room while this job is being done. Clean filters on hot air furnaces and on air conditioners help keep dust out of the air. Some people are helped by malting a special effort to keep a dust-free bedroom. The room can be furnished without carpeting, draperies, knick-knacks, or other dust collectors. Some people who may have no trouble with house dust can develop asthma from breathing certain dusts, gases, or vapors at work. This can happen immediately or it may take years. Work products that have been known to cause asthma in some workers include:
It can. Breathing very cold air can trigger asthma episodes in some people. Certain weather patterns known as "inversions" can cause a build-up of industrial air pollution, another lung hazard for asthma sufferers. Since each person with asthma is different, weather factors that affect others may or may not affect you. Try to notice how weather changes affect your asthma, and discuss those effects with your doctor.
Some asthma triggers can be seasonal. Pollens and mold spores can cause seasonal problems in the spring, summer or fall, and, in some locations, in the winter. Summer heat or air pollution may trigger episodes in some people. In late fall and early winter, when the heat is turned on and the windows are closed, house dust and smoke can build up to cause more severe problems. Dirty furnace and air conditioner filters should be replaced. If you use a home humidifier, make sure to keep the water reservoir clean so you will not be circulating mold spores throughout the house. If your lungs are sensitive to cold air, winter could be your worst time. That problem can be relieved by breathing through your nose rather than your mouth and covering your nose and mouth with a warm scarf. Or you can use a special cold-weather mask available at your drug store.
Moving won't cure your and it seldom brings improvement. Some people get temporary relief from allergies to local plant products, but new allergies often develop. You may get some relief if local factors such as big city pollution or cold air are major problems for you. But new drugs and regular medical care mean most people with asthma can gain control of their disease wherever they live. Before planning a long distance move for your health, discuss your choices with your doctor. Air pollution means dirt and vapors are added to the air you breathe. Much of that pollution comes from industrial smokestacks, automobiles, and trucks. Cigarette smoke is a dangerous indoor air pollutant. Dirt, gases, vapors, and smoke in the air can irritate your lungs, leading to an asthma episode. Some dirt from polluted air stays in your lungs and builds up over time. It can cause infections and lung damage. In polluted air, some gases, such as carbon monoxide, are poisonous and can rob your blood of oxygen. Some pollutants such as ozone and sulfur dioxide may be far more irritating to your sensitive lungs than to normal lungs.
With regular medical care, most people with asthma are able to carry on a normal schedule in spite of air pollution. But days when the air is hot and dirty can slow down anyone. If heavy pollution tends to trigger your asthma episodes, discuss this problem in advance with your doctor. Plan to prevent an episode from happening. Your doctor may recommend extra medicine for those times, or a change in activities. You will breathe in less pollution if you stay indoors with the windows closed, and circulate air with a fan or air conditioner. Relax and avoid heavy work and dust-raising activities until the excess pollution lifts. Avoid strenuous outdoor exercise during periods of heavy air pollution, if pollution is one of your triggers. It is for some people. Some people with asthma begin wheezing after they overexert themselves-running upstairs too fast, carrying heavy loads, jogging, bike riding, or playing team sports, for example.
Your goal should be to live a normal life. Exercise is important for your general health and for your lungs. If the form of exercise you enjoy triggers asthma, ask your doctor about taking medicine before exercise to prevent episodes. You may need to adjust your pace a bit, taking the stairs a little slower, or trying out a different sport. Swimming works especially well for many people with asthma. Colds and infections can make asthma worse. Viral infections, especially, are known asthma triggers. You can't avoid coming in contact with germs that may cause infection, but you can help your body fight them off if you follow these steps:
Suspect an infection, and call your doctor if you notice one of these:
Nighttime asthma is common. While you sleep your airways may become narrow and collect mucus. This kind of asthma responds to treatment and may be prevented by taking medicine before bedtime. Another nighttime problem for many people with asthma is bringing up stomach contents into the throat. This can be helped by raising the head of the bed, eating small meals, avoiding excess alcohol, and avoiding lying down for two hours after eating. Taking antacids at night may also help. Your doctor can advise you on ways to manage your nighttime asthma problems. At one time it was commonly believed that asthma was the body's way of expressing an emotional problem. But now we can say for sure that asthma is not caused by emotions or by mental problems. However, emotions can play a role, as they can in almost any illness
Strong emotions can affect anyone's breathing. You've heard people say, "I was so scared I couldn't breathe," or, "She was breathless with excitement," or perhaps you've used the term "breathing easier" to express the feeling of relief. For some people with asthma, strong emotions can cause trouble in several ways. For example:
First, follow your doctor's instructions and the steps outlined in this booklet to gain control of your asthma. When you know how to prevent and control your asthma episodes, you will feel far less frightened and frustrated. When you feel excited, try to think about your breathing. Make an effort to breathe slowly and deeply to relax your airways. Ask your doctor about taking extra medicine when you are under severe stress. Smoke from cigarettes, cigars, or pipes can be a powerful asthma trigger and start an asthma episode. And it can cause permanent damage to your lungs. If you smoke, the best gift you can give yourself and your lungs is to quit. Secondhand smoke-smoke from other people's cigarettes, cigars and pipes-can also be a significant asthma trigger. CHECK YOURSELF - An asthma triggers checklist.
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