How To Reduce Asthma Triggers

Make Your Home Safer For You

Lastly, you can find more ways to make your home safer for your own needs. Wash your hands frequently or use a hand sanitiser, especially when you come from outside. Keep an asthma action plan ready in consultation with your physician and identify your specific asthma triggers and make others in your home aware of them.;

Taking these steps wont completely rule out the possibility of asthma attacks and these are not asthma remedies, but it will make your home more comfortable for you.; If you find your asthma symptoms getting worse despite reducing these triggers and taking your asthma medication regularly, consult your doctor.;

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Tips To Reduce Exposure To Outdoor Pollution And Weather

Avoiding outdoor pollution or weather conditions can be difficult, but tips for reducing your exposure include:

• Check media for daily outdoor air quality reports.
• Stay indoors with windows closed on high-pollution days use an air conditioner on recirculate to filter the air.
• Stay indoors with windows closed and vents blocked if hazard-reduction burns or bushfire smoke is in your area.
• Avoid physical activity on high-pollution days or if smoke is in the air.
• Avoid cold air in winter wear a scarf over your nose and mouth, and exercise indoors.

About Wood Smoke And Asthma

Smoke from wood-burning stoves and fireplaces contains a mixture of harmful gases and small particles. Breathing these small particles can cause asthma attacks and severe bronchitis, aggravate heart and lung disease and may increase the likelihood of respiratory illnesses. If you’re using a wood stove or fireplace and smell smoke in your home, it probably isn’t working as it should.

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How To Prevent An Asthma Attack

Preventing an asthma attack is easier to do if you know what triggers your asthma.

Avoidance of the triggers can help prevent an asthma attack in many cases, says David Stempel, MD, Senior VP of Clinical and Medical Affairs at Propeller Health. Asthma attacks can be further mitigated by taking preventative medications such as inhaled corticosteroids and in some cases using a short-acting bronchodilator, like albuterol, 15 minutes prior to exposure to a trigger like exercise.

What Are My Asthma Triggers

Your doctor will help you figure out your asthma triggers. Common triggers are:

• allergens , which are things that cause allergic reactions
• irritants , including dirty stuff in the air, like smoke or pollution
• weather conditions
• exercise

To find out your triggers, the doctor may suggest that you keep an asthma diary for a couple of weeks. This means you or an adult will write down when and where you have symptoms and flare-ups. You also may see a special doctor called an allergist , who can figure out if you have any allergies that might be causing your symptoms.

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Asthma Medicines For Long

These everyday medicines can lessen the quantity and intensity of your asthma symptoms, but they dont treat the symptoms that occur during an attack.

Medications for long-term asthma management include the following:

Anti-inflammatories. Corticosteroids and other anti-inflammatory medicines are inhaled and help decrease swelling and mucus formation in the airways, making breathing easier.

Anticholinergics. These prevent your muscles from constricting around your airways. Theyre generally combined with anti-inflammatories and used on a regular basis.

Bronchodilators with a long half-life. These should only be taken in conjunction with asthma medicines that are anti-inflammatory.

Drugs used in biological treatment. People with severe asthma may benefit from these new injectable medicines.

What Are Asthma Triggers

Asthma triggers are things in your environment that cause worsening of asthma symptomsor asthma attacks. Triggers can be anywhere, and avoiding triggers that are under your control will help you be better prepared to deal with triggers that are more difficult to avoid like pollen, smog and viruses.

Triggers often bring on asthma attacks. It is important to avoid your triggers in order to keep airway inflammation to a minimum and reduce your asthma symptoms. Your personal triggers can be very different from those of another person with asthma. Knowing what your triggers are is an important part of managing your asthma.

Taking steps to ensure your asthma is properly managed is the key to living a symptom-free life. Speak with your healthcare provider about taking a controller medication, creating an Asthma Action Planand proper inhaler technique. Since some asthma triggers are impossible to avoid, its important to always carry your reliever medication with you just in case of a trigger causing an asthma attack.

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About Cockroaches Other Pests And Asthma

Droppings or body parts of cockroaches and other pests can trigger asthma. Certain proteins are found in cockroach feces and saliva and can cause allergic reactions or trigger asthma symptoms in some individuals.

Cockroaches are commonly found in crowded cities and the southern regions of the United States. Cockroach allergens likely play a significant role in asthma in many urban areas.

How Do You Know If You Are Having An Asthma Attack

An asthma attack happens when the body is exposed to a triggerlike pollen or smokethat causes the airways to become inflamed and swollen.

Asthma attacks are uncomfortable to experience and can be frightening, especially for children. If you or someone you know is having any of the following symptoms, they may be having an asthma attack:

• Difficulty breathing;
• Chest tightness or pain;
• Coughing or wheezing

An asthma attack may go away after a few minutes with proper treatment, but symptoms can last longer and become life-threatening if untreated. Seek medical attention immediately if you or someone you know is having a severe asthma attack with one or more of the following symptoms:

• A feeling of panic about the asthma attack
• Pale and sweaty face
• Lips or fingernails that are turning blue
• No improvement in symptoms after using an inhaler

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Tips To Reduce Exposure To Mould Spores

The best strategy for any allergy is to avoid the allergy trigger. For mould spores, this can be difficult, but you can certainly take action to reduce mould in your home.

To reduce mould in your home:

• Treat existing mould on surfaces such as bathroom ceilings and walls with fermented white vinegar solution.
• Prevent water damage on carpets and remove if wet.
• Eliminate sources of dampness leaking pipes or seeping groundwater.
• Change filters regularly in heating and air-conditioning units, and have heating ducts cleaned often.
• Ventilate bathrooms and seal leaks.
• Avoid indoor pot plants, organic mulch and compost.
• Treat rising damp immediately.

How To Reduce Household Allergy And Asthma Triggers This Spring

Starts at 60 Writers

While spring has officially sprung in parts of Australia, it also marks the beginning of National Asthma Week.

The National Asthma Council Australia aims to help the 2.5 million Australians living with asthma all year round, but its a particularly important time of year to remind people to stay healthy as the temperature begin to rise and the weather starts to trigger those with living with both allergies and asthma.

In Australia, one in three people are impacted by allergies and unfortunately, many triggers are lurking throughout homes. Managing these health conditions is important and creating the best home environment possible by being aware of asthma and allergy triggers is important.

Limiting your exposure to pollen particularly in your home can be a big help, Adele Taylor, program manager of Sensitive Choice at the National Asthma Council Australia said in a statement. Most people affected by spring hay fever are allergic to pollen, so reducing exposure to that trigger particularly in your home can be a big help.

It is mostly older and unrenovated homes that are more likely to contain both asthma and allergy triggers, although making simple changes such as cleaning or using Sensitive Choice approved products can reduce allergens or irritants people encounter every day.

Sensitive Choice approved products have been assessed by an independent and voluntary panel.

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Weather And Air Pollution

Weather that is very hot or very cold can trigger asthma in some asthma sufferers. Smoggy air can trigger asthma. Smog contains ozone which is formed when pollutants from cars, trucks, industrial facilities, power plants, etc., react in the presence of heat and sunlight. Particulate matter including dust, dirt, soot, and smoke, can trigger an asthma attack.

What to do:;

• Limit outdoor activities for a person with asthma when the weather is very hot or very cold.
• On very hot days, or on days with poor air quality, try to use air conditioning instead of opening the windows.
• In very cold weather, make sure that a person with asthma covers their mouth and nose with a scarf.;

Dust Mites;

Dust mites are microscopic bugs that primarily live on dead skin cells regularly shed from humans and their companion animals. Dust mites are generally harmless to most people. They don’t carry diseases, but they can cause allergic reactions in asthmatics and others who are allergic to their feces. Dust mites live where there is dust in carpets, bedding, pillows, upholstered furniture, stuffed toys, on surfaces, and more.;

What to do:;

Pests;

The body parts and droppings of cockroaches and rodents contain allergens. Even small particles of dead cockroaches settle in dust and end up in the air we breathe; this can trigger an asthma attack. Pests are attracted to food, water, and shelter .

What to do:;

Pollen

What Are My Child’s Asthma Triggers

Triggers are different for each child. Some might cause asthma symptoms only at particular times of the year. Others might stop being a trigger as a child gets older and “outgrows” asthma.

You’ll work with your doctor to find your child’s triggers. The doctor may suggest keeping an asthma diary to record your child’s symptoms, medicines, and peak flow readings. You can also write down when and where symptoms happened to help you identify possible triggers.

If your doctor thinks allergens are triggers, your child might need an allergy skin test.

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Bronchoconstriction Caused By Exercise

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction occurs within a few minutes after beginning exercise and can last up to 1015 minutes afterward.

Exercise-induced asthma was the prior name for this illness .

EIB affects up to 90% of persons with asthma, however, not everyone with EIB also has other forms of asthma.

Asthma Triggers: Gain Control

This video features medical professionals, families and children living with asthma.

Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors, and indoor allergens and irritants play a significant role in triggering asthma attacks. Triggers are things that can cause asthma symptoms, an episode or attack or make asthma worse. If you have asthma, you may react to just one trigger or you may find that several things act as triggers. Be sure to work with a doctor to identify triggers and develop a treatment plan that includes ways to reduce exposures to your asthma triggers.

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Tips To Reduce Exposure To Animal Dander

The best strategy to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction is to avoid contact with the type of animal that causes your allergy. This can be difficult if you have a pet or if you visit another household where there is a pet.

Tips that can help to reduce the risk of exposure to animal allergy triggers include:

• Make sure that furred animals do not enter your home.
• Have a low-allergy pet.

To reduce exposure to house dust mites:

• Wash bed linen each week in water above 60ºC.
• Use blankets and doonas that can be washed.
• Avoid carpet and rugs where possible.
• Vacuum each week using a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air filter.
• Clean hard floors weekly with a damp or anti-static cloth, mop or a steam mop.
• Dust weekly using a damp or anti-static cloth.
• Avoid textured or cloth upholstery on furniture leather, wood and vinyl are best.
• Consider using venetian blinds and flat blinds they are easier to clean than cloth curtains.
• Choose bedding, such as mattress and pillow protectors, that are mite resistant and wash them regularly this may be effective when used in combination with the above.

In general, washing in hot water above 60ºC both kills dust mites and removes the allergic substance the mites produce. Drying items in a hot dryer will kill the mites once the clothes are dry, but will not remove the allergic substance.

Other Sources Of Indoor Air Pollutants:

Usually the most effective way to improve IAQ is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. Common sources of indoor pollution include secondhand smoke, school bus diesel exhaust coming into the school building, the off-gassing of furnishings and flooring, and chemicals from cleaning products. The following pollutant sources are especially important to control:

• School Bus Exhaust. Passing no-idling policies near the school building can reduce the indoor air pollution from school bus exhaust.
• Learn more about the Clean School Bus USA program.

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Reducing Asthma Triggers At Home

An asthma attack can occur when someone with asthma is exposed to things in the environment that trigger their asthma. One persons triggers can be very different from those of another person with asthma. Do what you can to decrease these triggers in the environment. more Triggers may include:

• Secondhand smoke
• Breathing in cold, dry air

Foods To Incorporate Into Your Diet

Include the following:

• Foods high in vitamin D, such as milk and eggs
• Carrots and leafy greens, for example, are high in beta carotene.
• Foods high in magnesium, such as spinach and pumpkin seeds

Although there is no special diet for asthma, there are several foods and nutrients that may aid in lung function.

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Furry & Feathered Animals

Animals with fur or feathers carry allergens in their saliva and on their skin , fur or feathers. While there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic pet, the good news is that you may be able to coexist with your pets without exacerbating asthma symptoms. By taking precautions, you may be able to control the dander sufficiently to avoid asthma symptoms.

What to do:;;

• Limit pets access to bedrooms.;
• Regularly use an Anti-Allergen Pet Shampoo to neutralize allergens .
• Vacuum around the home frequently with a HEPA filter vacuum.;
• Regularly use an Anti-Allergen Solution on bedding, upholstery, carpeting, pet beds, and furniture.;

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Common Allergy Triggers Of Asthma Symptoms

Allergy triggers that can lead to asthma symptoms include:

• animal dander especially from cats and dogs
• mould spores which can be worse at certain times of the year
• pollen from grass, weeds and trees and usually occurring seasonally;
• workplace substances such as latex, wood dust or flour.

Food allergies;do not usually cause asthma themselves, but people with food allergies can be more susceptible to symptoms of asthma. Also, sulphites in food and drink may cause asthma symptoms.

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• Asthma symptoms can be triggered by a range of things.
• Allergic triggers include dust mites, pollen, animal dander and mould.
• Non-allergy triggers include smoke, exercise, cold air and viruses.
• Reducing exposure to substances that trigger allergies and asthma symptoms can help you to control your asthma.
• Ask your doctor about how you can avoid or reduce exposure to triggers of your asthma symptoms.
• Aim for a smoke-free environment, both for yourself and your children.
• Ask your doctor to update your asthma action plan each year.

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Tips To Keep Your Asthma Under Control

May 4th, 2015

Almost three million Canadians and more than 300 million people worldwide have asthma, including many top athletes. Asthma is a common chronic lung disease that can make it difficult to breathe. ;Although there is no cure for asthma, those with the condition can live healthy, active lives if their asthma is under control.;

For World Asthma Day , the Canadian Lung Association has some helpful tips for people with asthma.;

1.;; ;Know your triggers and avoid themTriggers like allergens and irritants can make ;your asthma symptoms worse by irritating your airways. ;The best way to control your asthma is to know what your asthma triggers are and how to avoid them.

2.;; ;Take your asthma medication as prescribed by your doctorMany people think they can skip their asthma preventer medications when they don’t feel any symptoms that’s not true. Asthma is a chronic disease. If you have asthma, you have it all the time, even when you don’t feel symptoms. You have to manage your asthma every day, not just on days when you feel symptoms. Read more about asthma medications and how to use them.

3.;; ;Learn how to use your inhaler properlyYour health-care provider can show you how to use your inhaler properly so that ;your medicine reaches the airways. ;Ask him or her ;to watch you useyour inhaler. ;Your health-care provider may offer suggestions on how to improve your technique so that the medication gets to your airways. Watch our videos on how to properly use your inhalers.