Dealing With Asthma Triggers

A person with asthma has chronic inflammation of the airways in the lungs, which is aggravated by asthma triggers, so named because they bring on asthma symptoms. flare-ups.

Triggers vary from person to person. They're sometimes seasonal and may even stop affecting

Common asthma triggers include:

• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Triggers and Asthma Management

Asthma can't be cured, but it can be managed. The goal of asthma management is to reduce symptoms on a day-to-day basis and to maintain normal activity levels, including the ability to exercise and do sports. One way to do this is by minimizing exposure to triggers. If this exposure isn't controlled, triggers can cause severe

Because triggers are different for each person, you'll need to work with your child's doctor to determine your child's specific triggers. The doctor may suggest that you keep an asthma symptoms/trigger peak flow meter readings, and a record of circumstances during which symptoms occurred to help you identify possible triggers. Once triggers are identified, they can be included in the overall dust mites

It isn't possible to avoid all allergens, but there are some measures you can take. In your home, focus on the rooms where your child sleeps and plays:

• Keep these areas as clean and dust free as possible. This means vacuuming and dusting weekly, eliminating clutter, getting rid of unnecessary stuffed animals, and routinely washing other stuffed animals in hot water.
• Wash sheets weekly in hot water, and get rid of feather pillows and comforters.
• Purchase hypoallergenic covers for the mattress, box spring, and pillows.
• Eliminate rugs and carpeting whenever possible.
• Clean curtains (which should be washable) often.
• Make sure damp areas like bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms are cleaned often and properly ventilated so that mold and mildew don't form.
• Avoid using humidifiers, and use dehumidifiers in damp parts of your house.
• Check your local mold and pollen count readings and plan indoor activities for windy days, which can lead to high mold and pollen counts.
• Use bait traps or professional extermination to rid your home of cockroaches, and keep your kitchen clean and your house free of stacks of paper.

Irritants are different from allergens, in that they can also affect people who don't have allergies or asthma. For most people, irritants don't create a serious problem, but for people with asthma, they can lead to airway inflammation and flare-ups.

Common irritants include:

• perfumes
• aerosol sprays
• cleaning products
• wood and tobacco smoke
• paint or gas fumes
• air pollution

Even things that may seem harmless, like scented candles or fresh newsprint, are triggers for some people. Here are some ways you can reduce household irritants in your home:

• If you notice that a household product triggers your child's asthma, switch to an unscented or nonaerosol version of it.
• Don't have wood fires in your home.
• Keep your child away from any areas where painting or carpentry work is being done.
• If you cook on a gas stove, make sure your kitchen is well ventilated - to the outside if possible.
• Forbid smoking in your home and car, and make sure your child avoids smoky environments like restaurants and parties.

If outdoor air pollution is a problem, you might want to purchase an air cleaner for your home or run the air conditioning year-round (checking the filter regularly to make sure it's clean). It's also a good idea to check air quality reports. On days when the quality is especially bad, keep your child indoors with the air conditioning on.

Respiratory infections, such as flu, are harder to avoid. In fact, viral respiratory infections are among the most common childhood illnesses and may cause breathing problems even in children who don't have asthma. They usually last several days and cause airway swelling and mucus production. In kids with asthma, breathing problems triggered by colds can last days or even weeks after the cold has gone away.

Teach your child to flu shot is also a good idea. Because these illnesses are an inevitable part of childhood, be sure that your doctor specifies which steps to take if your child gets a cold or the flu (this information can be included in the asthma action plan).

Weather conditions can also play a role in your child's asthma symptoms, depending on where you live. Windy conditions may stir up pollens and molds. And rain can wash pollen from trees and grasses, so it's easily picked up and circulated by wind gusts.

Extremes of cold or heat may also trigger asthma and so can humidity. If you know that certain weather conditions aggravate your child's asthma, keep an eye on the forecast and limit his or her time outdoors on problem days. If cold weather is the trigger, cover your child's nose and mouth with a scarf.

If hot, humid weather triggers symptoms, keep your child in an air-conditioned environment. Guidance for handling weather-related triggers should also be included in your child's asthma action plan. This may include increasing the dosage of your child's medications.

Exercise may be the only trigger for some children with asthma. Along with allergens, this is one of the more common triggers. In fact, 80% to 90% of people with asthma develop symptoms when they rescue medication, and taking allergy medicines before visiting friends with pets can help your child do everything he or she enjoys.

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