Environmental Triggers of Asthma

Environmental Triggers of Asthma

People with asthma can experience an attack anytime they are around triggers, which stimulate asthma in them. Your triggers could be different from what’s causing asthma in other people. Hence, you should be aware of the triggers and look for ways to overcome them. Certain common environmental triggers of asthma are unavoidable. It would help if you were prepared to deal better with the attack. Such triggers include the following:

  • Dust mites
    These are found in almost all homes. So, people with asthma should keep away from dust mites, as they might stimulate an attack in them. To prevent an attack by dust mites, you should use pillowcase and mattress covers. This will always maintain a wall between you and the dust mite. Make it a point to clean your bedding frequently.
  • Tobacco smoke
    Firstly, anyone who has asthma should quit smoking right away. In addition to that, you should keep away from passive smoking as much as possible. Both of these can induce an attack. People who have asthma, shouldn’t ever have anyone smoke around them, as it may trigger an attack.
  • The smoke released from burning of grass or wood
    Smoke emitted from plants or wood is composed of a bunch of dust particles and harmful gases. So, when you breathe in a lot of smoke, it can induce an attack of asthma.
  • Cockroach allergens
    Another trigger of the asthma attack is cockroach allergens. Hence, you should try and get rid of all the cockroaches found in your house. Further, it would be best if you vacuumed your home, particularly those areas that attract cockroaches, every two to three days.
  • Pets
    Pets, especially the furry ones, can also induce an attack in asthma patients. In case the furry pet is the cause of an attack, you should consider finding them another house. If you do not wish to do that, try to keep the pets away from the asthma patient’s bedroom. As a safety precaution, you should bathe the pet every week and try and keep it away from the person with asthma.
  • Air pollution
    Pollution, too, is a common environmental trigger of asthma. Air pollution is primarily caused by cars, factories, and various other sources. Download an application on your phone, which constantly updates you about the Air Quality Index (AQI) of your area. When the AQI says unhealthy for sensitive groups, you should avoid stepping out.
  • Mold
    Breathing mold can also induce an attack in you. Hence, it is important to remove all the mold from your house to control asthma attacks. Molds usually grow as a result of humidity. It is good to have a dehumidifier or an air conditioner in your home to keep the moisture or humidity levels in check. You can invest in a handy hygrometer, which checks the humidity levels in the environment. It is important to track the humidity more than once in a day, as humidity keeps changing every few hours.