CAUSES AND TRIGGERS

We do not know why people develop asthma. Often there is a family history of asthma, hay fever or eczema. In addition recent research suggests that early exposure to cigarette smoke and allergens may increase your chances of developing asthma in children. Asthma can begin at any stage in a person’s life and is a disease which may change over time and in some cases disappearing only to reappear at a later time point.

A trigger is anything that irritates the airways and causes the symptoms of asthma. Everyone’s asthma is different and you may have several triggers. An important aspect of controlling your asthma is avoiding your triggers.

It may be impossible to avoid all of your triggers but once you have identified them, there are things you can do to help you reduce unnecessary symptoms and better control your asthma.

It can be difficult to identify exactly what triggers your asthma. Sometimes the link is obvious, for example when your symptoms start within minutes of coming into contact with a cat or dog. But some people can have a delayed reaction to an asthma trigger, so some extra detective work may be needed.

There are a number of different triggers for asthma and for this reason each person’s asthma can be different. Your doctor can help identify which triggers affect your asthma the most and explain how best to avoid them. Some common examples of triggers that can bring on asthma symptoms include:

Viral infections - colds and flu
Climate and temperature changes (cold air in particular)
Acute Stress and emotional factors
Exercise and strenuous activity
Allergens [dust mites, cats and other animal dander, grass and tree pollens, moulds, cockroach]
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (heartburn)
Certain medications such as aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications and beta-blockers
Certain foods and food preservatives, although this is uncommon
Various chemicals in the workplace
Wood smoke and bush fires
Air pollution

Asthma symptoms can also be brought on by common irritants particularly if your asthma is unstable and these include:

Exposure to cigarette smoke
Powerful chemicals and odours such as perfumes, bleaches and petrol fumes

If you suffer from asthma visit your Doctor to discover what triggers your asthma. Doctors are able to prescribe medications to assist you in managing your asthma. In addition working closely with your Doctor will assist you with how to avoid attacks occurring and how to monitor your asthma and how to respond to asthma attacks. Seeking advice from your Doctor should assist you to continue to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.