9 Things That Triggers Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of bronchial tubes.

Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, heaviness, and pain in the chest are common symptoms of Asthma.

What is an Asthma attack?

If you are asthmatic your airways become narrow. Inflammation and swelling create large amounts of mucus inside the airway and leads to difficulty in breathing.

Due to persistent inflammation airways are sensitive, and easily affected by a bit of a trigger.

What Triggers Asthma?

1. Allergy – 80% of asthmatic people have allergic asthma. 

Dust mites allergy is most common. People are also allergic to pollen.

You can treat your allergies with medication and avoid attacks.

2. Food – Food allergy can cause mild to severe asthma. It’s life-threatening as it doesn’t show any symptoms and directly gives an anaphylactic reaction. 

People are most allergic to Milk, peanuts, soy, eggs, and shrimp.

Food preservatives like Sodium bisulfite, Potassium bisulfite can trigger your disease.

3. Smoking – People who smoke are at higher risk of getting asthma. If asthmatic people smoke, wheezing and coughing get worse.

A Female who smokes in her pregnancy affects the lung of the baby and worsens the lung function, as well as the baby, can develop wheezing.

QUIT SMOKING is the best step if you have asthma.

4. Irritants – Strong odor like perfumes, cleaning agents, petrol, diesel, smokes from the wood burn, tobacco smokes or a strong smell of chemicals are known as irritants for asthmatic people and can trigger asthma attacks.

5. Respiratory Infection – Cold, flu, sinus, and bronchitis is the most common reason that triggers the disease. 

During sinusitis, your inner mucus lining gets inflammation and produces more mucus, and in asthma airways lining gets infected.

It’s found that people with respiratory infections can get an asthma attack 2 months after the infection.

The best part to avoid triggers is to start your medication after getting the first symptom.

6. Medications – Some of the medications like Beta Blocker and No steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) can trigger it. 

But don’t avoid this medicine till you’re not sure about it. Consult with your physician if you find any symptoms with this medication.

7. Weather – Cold air or humid climate triggers asthma as moisture is less in the air during the humid climate.

While breathing in a humid climate activates your lung nerves that tighten the airways.

Humid air catches the allergens like dust mites and pollen. Which can trigger your disease.

8. Stress – Asthma, and stress always walk together. Strong emotions like crying loud, laughing loudly, anxiety, shouting in high volume may lead to an attack.

9. Heartburn – Almost 85% of people with asthma suffer from heartburn. 

It occurs mostly during the night. Usually, the valve of the stomach prevents acid from reflecting back but for people with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) this valve doesn’t function well and acid reflux can reach the airways. 

This irritation could lead to an attack.

Conclusion – 

• Asthma is inflammation of the airways.
• A chest physician is the best person to treat it.
• Treat your flu with medication if you see any trigger symptoms.
• Avoid emotional stress.
• Avoid smoking.
• Sleep with head high in 25-30% to allow lungs to expand.
• Practice breathing exercises regularly to strengthen the lung muscles.