Avoiding Asthma Triggers

Asthma triggers can prompt the process of increased inflammation in your airways, causing worsening asthma symptoms. So it’s very essential to know what these asthma triggers are and how you can work to towards preventing them.Below explanations are the main and common indoor triggers besides various triggers.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke Or – ETS

If you are a smoker and got a asthma patient in the house you should not smoke in your home or allow anyone else to,but if you yourself are an asthmatic then it’s advisable to stop smoking to have a better asthma control. 

For some people, the smell of tobacco smoke alone may trigger the immune response that begins the process of inflammation that results in runny nose, watery eyes, sinus congestion, lower peak flows, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Unfortunately, many asthmatics are current smokers and many children have their asthma worsened by environmental tobacco smoke statistically.

Animal Dander

Whatever your favorite pet is – dog, cat, bird, hamster or guinea pig ,they all shed dander (skin flakes in an animal’s fur or hair) that can worsen allergies and asthma. Despite what you may have heard, there really is no true hypoallergenic (having a low capacity for inducing allergic responses) pet, but some are low allergy. 

Additionally, it is a myth(false belief or idea) that short-haired animals cause less allergy and asthma problems compared to more long-haired animals. This is because it is not the hair, but the dander or skin scales that stimulate the allergic or immune system reaction.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are tiny insects, related to ticks and spiders, that are invisible to the human eye and found in nearly every home. Dust mites feed on skin flakes and dust in your home. They can be found commonly on mattresses, pillows, carpets, and upholstered furniture. 

Both dust mite pieces and dust mite droppings are allergens that travel through air and can trigger the allergic cascade (a succession of stages in a process, each of which triggers or initiates the next) and worsen asthma.

Cockroaches

Commonly found in every home, cockroaches can be very difficult to avoid. Cockroach droppings and saliva are common triggers of asthma symptoms in many people. Because these pests are difficult to avoid, it is important to learn how to control.

Molds

Molds are fungi that survive on plant and animal matter and will grow mostly anywhere moisture is present. Molds produce tiny spores (is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions) that can travel through the air. 

If the spores land on a moist surface they will begin to grow. Inhaling the mold spores can lead to an asthma attack. Molds will cause the most problems in homes with high humidity, stagnant water, or wet areas.

Although, this article might seem a very simplified version to many,but trust that these are the main culprits for asthma symptoms and asthma attacks within their known vicinity.