Asthma: Identifying Your Triggers
Asthma is a
long-lasting (chronic) disease of the
respiratory system. It causes
Reference inflammation Opens New Window Reference 
Opens New Window in tubes that carry air to the lungs
(bronchial tubes). The inflammation makes your bronchial tubes likely to
overreact to certain triggers. An overreaction can lead to decreased lung
function, sudden difficulty breathing, and other symptoms of an
Reference asthma attack Opens New Window.
If you avoid triggers, you
can:
- Prevent some asthma attacks.
- Reduce
the frequency and severity of some attacks.
You may not be able to avoid or even want to avoid all your
asthma triggers. However, you can identify many things that trigger your
symptoms by:
- Monitoring your lung function (Reference peak expiratory flow Opens New Window). Your lungs will not work as well when you are around a
trigger.
- Being tested for allergies. If you have allergies, the
substances to which you are allergic can trigger symptoms.
An asthma trigger is a
factor that can decrease lung function and lead to sudden difficulty breathing
and other symptoms of an asthma attack. When you are around a trigger, you are
at increased risk for an asthma attack. A severe attack may mean you have to go
to the hospital.
Some triggers are substances you may be allergic
to (allergens). These triggers may include:
Other triggers are not allergens—they can cause asthma
symptoms, but you are not allergic to them. These include:
Test Your Knowledge
-
A trigger is anything that can lead to an asthma
attack.
-
True
This answer is correct.
A trigger is anything that can lead to an
asthma attack. A trigger can be irritants in the air, substances to which you
are allergic, or other factors, such as respiratory viruses, exercise, or dry,
cold air.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
A trigger is anything that can lead to an
asthma attack. A trigger can be irritants in the air, substances to which you
are allergic, or other factors, such as respiratory viruses, exercise, or dry,
cold air.
Identifying asthma
triggers helps you know what increases your asthma symptoms. If you avoid
triggers, you may be able to:
- Avoid an asthma attack
altogether.
- Reduce the length and severity of an asthma
attack.
Test Your Knowledge
-
Avoiding asthma triggers can help you avoid an asthma
attack or reduce its length and severity.
-
True
This answer is correct.
Avoiding asthma triggers can help you avoid an
asthma attack or reduce its length and severity.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
Avoiding asthma triggers can help you avoid an
asthma attack or reduce its length and severity.
-
Identify possible asthma triggers. A trigger is anything that can lead to an asthma attack. When
you are around something that triggers your symptoms, keep track of it. This
can help you find a pattern in what triggers your symptoms. Record triggers on
a piece of paper or in your
asthma diary
(What is a Reference PDF Opens New Window document?).
-
Monitor your lung function. A trigger may not always cause symptoms. But it can still
narrow your bronchial tubes, making your lungs work harder. To identify
triggers that do not always cause immediate symptoms, measure your peak
expiratory flow (PEF) throughout the day. PEF will drop when your bronchial
tubes narrow, so your PEF will drop when you are near things that trigger
symptoms. Measure your PEF when you are around common irritants such as pollens and smoke to see if they are triggers.
-
Be tested for allergies. Skin or blood testing may be used to diagnose allergies to
certain substances. Skin testing involves pricking the skin on your back or
arms with one or more small doses of specific allergens. The amount of swelling
and redness at the sites where your skin was pricked are measured to identify
allergens to which you react. If your PEF drops when you are near an allergen,
consider being tested for this allergen.
-
Share your trigger record with your doctor. After you have found some
things that may trigger your asthma, you and your doctor can
devise a plan for how to deal with them.
Test Your Knowledge
-
Monitoring your lung function and being tested for
allergies are two ways you can identify asthma triggers.
-
True
This answer is correct.
Monitoring your lung function and being tested
for allergies are two ways you can identify some asthma triggers.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
Monitoring your lung function and being tested
for allergies are two ways you can identify some asthma triggers.
Now that you have read this
information, you are ready to start identifying your asthma triggers. Let your
doctor know of any triggers you identify.
If you
have questions about this information, take it with you when you visit your
doctor.
If you would like more information on asthma, the
following resource is available:
Organization
| Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
(AAFA) |
| 1233 20th Street NW |
| Suite 402 |
| Washington, DC 20036 |
| Phone: | 1-800-7-ASTHMA (1-800-727-8462) |
| Email: | info@aafa.org |
| Web Address: | www.aafa.org |
| |
|
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
provides information and support for people who have allergies or asthma. The
AAFA has local chapters and support groups. And its Web site has online
resources, such as fact sheets, brochures, and newsletters, both free and for
purchase.
|
|
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