What Triggers Asthma Attacks? by Jane Thurnell-Read

Asthma is a very distressing disease and learning what triggers your asthma symptoms and taking steps to avoid or minimise them can make a big difference to your health and well-being.

Below are some of the common asthma triggers:

Environmental tobacco smoke
Parents, friends, and relatives of children with asthma should try to stop smoking and avoid smoking near a person with asthma or in their house or car. Of course, giving up smoking also has lots of other benefits for the smoker – money saving, reduction in cancer risks, and fewer facial wrinkles.

Dust mites
Dust mites are in almost everybody’s home, but they don’t cause everybody to have asthma attacks. Use mattress covers and pillow case covers, avoid down-filled pillows, quilts, or comforters and remove stuffed animals and clutter from your bedroom. Wash bedding at 60 degrees to centigrade to help kill the mites. Clean blinds and curtains on a regular basis.

Air pollution
Pay attention to air quality forecasts on radio and television and plan your activities when air pollution levels are lowest.

Mould
Get rid of mould in all parts of your home. Keep the humidity level in your home between 35 and 50 percent. In hot, humid climates, you may need to use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier or both. Fix water leaks, which allow mould to grow behind walls and under floors.

Other triggers
Strenuous physical exercise, strong emotional states, some medicines, bad weather such as thunderstorms, high humidity, or freezing temperatures; and some foods and food additives can trigger an asthma attack. Allergens such as pet dander, or cockroaches may also trigger attacks.

As well as trying to avoid the triggers, work to build up your general health by eating well. Vitamin supplements can also help control and contain asthma. Many therapies such as kinesiology, the Bowen therapy, breath therapy have been shown to help alleviate asthma symptoms. Some people even find that their symptoms disappear completely and they become asthma-free.

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