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.