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THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF TRIGGERS Triggers are things that irritate your airways. By knowing your triggers, it will be easier to avoid them. |
| Some you breathe in | What you should know | What you should do |
| Pollens (tree, grass and weed) |
On hot and windy days, pollens are carried by the wind. Usually, you will find tree allergens in the spring, grass allergens during summer, and ragweed allergens in the fall. |
Keep windows and doors closed. Use air conditioning at home and in the car. If possible, stay indoors when pollen counts are high. Do not mow your lawn – and avoid areas where the grass is freshly cut. Do not use bed sheets or wear clothes that have been hung outside to dry. You can find out the pollen counts in your region on the television Weather Network or at www.weather.ca. |
| Dust mites |
Dust mites are very tiny insects. They live in carpet fibers, plush furniture, curtains, mattresses, pillows and bedding. |
Wash bed sheets and blankets weekly in hot water. Wrap mattresses and pillows in zippered allergy-proof covers. Remove carpets, especially from bedrooms and control the degree of household humidity, ideally between 30% and 50%. |
| Pet dander (dogs, cats & horses) |
Pet allergies are common. What you should know is that it is not the fur or feathers that cause the allergies; it is the saliva, the urine, and the dander. Moreover, even when the animal is not present in the room, the pet allergens are in the air as they are very small particles. The allergen can remain on furniture and in carpets for several months even after the pet is gone. |
If you have a pet allergy and you have a pet, you should try to find a new home for your pet. Unfortunately, the severity of your asthma is likely to increase over time if you decide to keep your animal. The sad truth is that the best way to reduce your asthma symptoms is to avoid being exposed to pet allergens. |
| Mold |
Mold is a type of fungus that lives off decaying plant life and expands in humid environments. It produces spores which float in the air. |
You can prevent the growth of mold by keeping your house clean, especially showers and baths. Wash them with bleach. Also, you should not keep plants or aquariums because they increase molds. The humidity level in the house should be held between 30% and 50% all year round. |
| Smoke |
For many people, tobacco smoke (first- or second-hand) is one of the most powerful causes of asthma symptoms. The harmful effects of just one cigarette smoked in your home can last for up to seven days! |
Do not smoke or allow smoking in your home or car. You should not let people smoke in other rooms either since toxic particles circulate through the ventilation system to other areas in the house. Avoid using a fireplace and wood stoves and keep rooms well ventilated. |
| Some triggers are difficult to avoid | What you should know | What you should do |
| Colds or viral respiratory infections | It is hard to avoid catching a cold or a flu virus, but they can cause your asthma to deteriorate. You should know that antibiotics might help if you have a bacterial respiratory infection but will not help asthma attacks caused by colds. | The best way to avoid catching a cold is to wash your hands frequently. In some situations, the influenza vaccine may be a good protection against the flu. Ask your doctor if an annual flu shot may be right for you. |
| Occupational irritants | When something in the working environment causes asthma symptoms, we call this occupational asthma. Typically, we recognize this when the symptoms diminish on the weekend and increase during the workweek. Some professions are particularly at risk. For example, mill workers and carpenters (wood dust, especially red cedar dust), industrial workers (metal fumes), pharmaceutical workers (drug particles), bakers and farmers (flour and grain), textile workers (cotton dust) and even electricians and sheet metal workers. | Known causes of occupational asthma should be avoided. |
| Air pollution | Outdoor air pollution, or smog, can worsen asthma symptoms because it causes inflammation in the nose and airways. | On high smog days, try not to be outside, and do not exercise outdoors. If you cannot avoid it, breathe through your nose. |
| Weather changes & humidity | Your asthma can be triggered by weather changes. There are more allergens in the air after thunderstorms. Also, when the air is cold or dry in the winter, this can cause breathing difficulty. | On cold days, you should wear a scarf that covers the nose and the mouth and you should breathe through your nose. It helps to warm and humidify the air before it reaches your lungs. |
| Other types of triggers | What you should know | What you should do |
| Exercise or physical activity | Exercise can cause asthma exacerbations because we tend to breathe through the mouth instead of the nose. This allows unhumidified and unfiltered air into the lungs which can trigger asthma symptoms. | Do not avoid exercise. Work with your doctor to develop an exercise treatment plan. Training and warming-up can reduce symptoms. Ask your doctor about how to manage exercise-induced asthma. |
| Strong emotions | Everyday aspects of life that are difficult to control can also trigger attacks. This includes laughing, crying, being stressed, etc. | Although it may be difficult, try to learn how to manage strong emotions and emotional upsets as much as possible. Learning basic relaxation techniques may help. Talking about your worries and concerns can have a calming effect. |
| Medications such as beta-blockers and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) | Certain medications can cause severe and sudden asthma attacks. | You should tell your doctor and pharmacist that you have asthma especially when you start a new treatment. As well, if you have asthma symptoms with a new medication, you should tell your doctor and pharmacist right away. |
