Asthma - Triggers & Prevention
ASTHMA TRIGGERS
Triggers are basically the things and conditions that cause
inflammation in the airways and leads to Asthma attacks. The
triggers are classified into two broad main categories.
Inflammatory Triggers: These are also known as Allergic
triggers. The inflammatory triggers include, animals such as
cats, dogs, rabbits and other furry animals, viral infections
such as common cold viruses and flu viruses, cockroaches, moulds
( a type of fungus and often found in damp and wet places), dust
mites, grass and flower pollen, and air pollutants. The
inflammatory triggers causes inflammation and tightening of
airways.
Symptom Triggers: These are also known as Non-allergic
triggers. They include cold air that may lead to uneasy
breathing, strong smelling chemicals, perfumes, smelly spices,
food additives such as saccharin, caffeine, sodium nitride etc.,
smoke, and intense emotions that leads to anxiety and often
uncontrollable asthma. These triggers do not cause inflammation,
rather they worsen the jittery airways when they are already
highly inflamed.
These triggers differ from a person to person that leads to
Asthma attacks. As these triggers prevails in environment, so it
is nearly impossible to demolish them. You should take
precautionary measures to avoid these triggers and hence avoid
Asthma attacks.
ASTHMA PREVENTION
There is no medication or treatment available throughout the
world that can cure Asthma completely. The precautionary
measures, time to time doctor's consultation, and recognizing
the triggers that leads to Asthma attack in a person are very
important to avoid Asthma attacks, control them, and lead a
normal and healthy lifestyle. You can take some basic steps
and control your Asthma which are as follows:
* If you suffering from a constant breathing problem, its the
time you visit your doctor and find out if it's Asthma. Your
doctor will do certain tests and observations to confirm
whether you are suffering from Asthma or not.
* You should try to find that what kinds of allergic and
non-allergic triggers lead to Asthma attacks. You should also
get some allergic test done in order to confirm them.
* You should stay away from these triggers as much as
possible.
* There are two kinds of medications available. First one is
Controller, which is also known as Preventers. Preventers
minimize inflammation in airways. Second type of medication are
Relievers, they help to alleviate symptoms instantly such as it
will reduce instant coughing.
* You should learn about the desease as much as you can as it
will not only enhance your knowledge, you will also learn
different precautionary measures to handle asthma attacks at
the time of emergency.
* You should avoid intense emotions.
* You should learn to take you medication properly. As
improper medication will worsen the Asthma attack.
* You should visit your doctor regularly and have regular
checkups done.
* You should never avoid childhood allergies as it may lead to
serious asthma problems later on.
As triggers are the main reason of Asthma attacks, you should
take steps to keep these triggers at bay. Here are some
preventive measures to help make your environment trigger-free.
Dust mites are present in pillows, bed sheets, carpets,
mattresses, soft toys, and soft furniture. You can avoid them
by removing carpets from the room, encasing mattresses,
pillows, and bed sheets in allergen-impermeable covers.
Regular use of vacuum cleaners and keeping your house
completely dry can keep dust and moulds away.
* If animals are the triggers leading to asthma attacks.
Remove them from your place and if you can't, keep them
separate.
* Try to be indoors, when the level of pollutants is quite
high in the air or if its that mandatory to move outside, use
masks to cover your face and nose.
* Quit smoking and keep the environment near you smoke free,
if smoke is the trigger for you.
* Use scarf to cover your mouth and nose in winters, in case
cold air is the trigger for you.
* Use your Asthma medication before exercising in cold air, if
cold air is the trigger for you.
* Wash your beddings and carpets with very hot water, nearly
130 degrees Fahrenheit to kill dust mites.
* Avoid close contact with people who are suffering from cold
or have flu, in case your trigger is cold or flu.
* Stay away from strong chemicals, perfumes, and smelly spices.
* Cockroaches body parts causes asthma attacks. So use
disinfectant cleaners to keep them away.