Asthma is a severe disease of respiratory difficulty with regards to bronchial tubes or airways. This is a condition that obstructs the airway of the lungs. In those who suffer from this disease, symptoms are not always present. Exposure to a triggering factor may immediately cause changes and symptoms.
Children are often more affected than adults and several classifications of this disease exist. Several factors have been found as attributing factors. Individuals with Asthma will have triggering factors but it is not absolute that all triggering factors will be involved in each person.
12 Triggering Factors:
1.) Animals
Several types of animals may attribute. Often cat and dog hair
Other animals include:
- Horses
- Mice
- Birds
- Rabbits
- other fury animals
Pet Dander is proteins found in:
- Skin flakes
- Saliva
- Urine
- Feces
*** – these proteins are small and become carried through the air to be breathed in by individuals
2.) Pollen
Seasonal pollen often largely affects allergies and asthma
3 main pollen seasons that overlap
- Mid-April to June
- June to late August
- August to October
Pollen are microscopic aspects reproduction for plants, weeds, grass, trees and other plants. Pollen is ofter transferred from one plant to another. Pollen allergy does not mean plant allergy
1,000 of plant species exist but only a few are factors in asthma and allergies
Tree Pollen: Grass pollens Weed pollens
- Elm - Bluegrass - Ragweed
- Ash - Bermuda grass - Cockleweeds
- Birch - others - Sagebrush
- Cypress - Russian thistle
- Hickory
- Walnut
- others
3.) Smoke
Second hand smoke can be quite difficult for asthma.
Those with Asthma have sensitive airways.
Irritation and inflammation can result
A primary smoker may have difficulty controlling their Asthma
4.) Exercise
Those with asthma may be more sensitive than triggers of weather and temperature
While at rest - typical breathing is through the nose - This air is warmed while in nose
When exercising – you breath through mouth - This air is cooler, more dry and goes directly into lungs
5.) Infections including flu, respiratory infections, sinus infections and others
With a current infection several changes occur in your body
Symptoms of concern are: nasal congestion, runny nose, and inflammation of the lungs can be seen
When Asthma is compounded by such a cold – this can make asthma symptoms worse
Pneumonia and Bronchitis can be large factors
6.) Cold Weather
A change in weather and temperature can cause a narrowing of the airways
Because of the coldness on the airways, bronchospasms can be the result
This also increases the risks for infections.
7.) Chemicals (other than pollution)
Often certain household chemicals can affect those with Asthma
The number of related cases has increased dramatically
Chemicals involved:
- Bleach
- Air Freshener
- Carpet Cleaners
- Paint Stripper
- Paint
- Aerosols
- Pesticides
- many others
8.) Pollution
Increasing affects of pollution on asthma can be seen in urban dwellers
Pollutions involved:
- Diesel fumes
- Ozone
- Smog
- Soot
- Nitrogen oxides
- Smoke
- Formaldehyde
- Pesticides
9.) Food allergy
Occasionally and with serious allergies, an allergy to food may cause a difficulty in breathing
This trigger points is less common occurrence and may be seen in 5-8% of asthmatics.
However, this can be a serious cause agent for hospitalizations
Examples:
- Soy
- Peanuts and other nuts
- Shellfish
- Milk
- Eggs
- Wheat
- and many others
10.) Dust
Typically dust can be classified as particles from several variety of objects from pollen to food to pillows and skin.
In this case dust is the following:
- Dirt
- Gravel
- Soil
- House dust (a combination of several things)
*** – though outside dust may include many of the other mentioned asthma factors
11.) Mold
The affects of mold and asthma has greatly been researched in Britain and other countries
When Mold was removed from homes – improvement was greatly noted
Mold are microscopic fungi that grow on several types of surfaces. Spores are released during reproduction
Often mold is found in/on the following areas:
- Decaying plants
- Water damaged areas
- Dark and damp areas
- Wet laundry
- Old food
- others
12.) Stress
More research is being placed into stress and anxiety as a factor for Asthma
Sometimes the result of stress and anxiety is a shortness of breath
A cycle often begins of increased anxiety due to a difficulty breathing and soon Asthma is full blown.
Several exercise and stress techniques are essential for management of stress
3 Responses to “12 Trigger Factors Involved in Asthma”
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September 21st, 2009 at 11:46 am
I have both asthma and allergies. My triggers seem to be exercise and sickness. I was worried about pollen but recently moved to Arizona which seems to have helped. Good thing stress doesn’t trigger my Asthma or I would be in big trouble!!! Great blog!!!
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:07 am
I never really had an issue with asthma until in my early 20′s. We moved to a larger town and the pollution really seemed to set me off. As long as I stay away from pollution, I seem to be fine.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:35 am
Asthma sucks – I have ben hospitalized twice – nebulizer treatment almost daily – [when things are worse]. I hope no one else has this typoe of treatment. I wonder how many triggers I have.