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12 Trigger Factors Involved in Asthma

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 immediately. There are several Factors Involved in Asthma.

Exposure to a triggering factor may immediately cause symptoms and worsening medical problems.

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.

In severe cases, Respiratory Failure can occur.

12 Triggering Factors:

1.)  Animals

Several types of animals may attribute.  Often cat and dog hair

Other animals include:

–  Horses
–  Mice
–  Birds
–  Rabbits
–  other furry 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 is 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                                                                                 others
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 your mouth  –  This air is cooler, drier 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 effects of pollution on asthma can be seen in urban dwellers.

Pollution 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 difficulty in breathing
–  These trigger points are 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 varieties 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 effects 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 difficulty breathing and soon Asthma is full-blown.
–  Several exercise and stress techniques are essential for management of stress