What Is Asthma And What Can Trigger An Attack?

Despite about 300 million people being diagnosed with asthma world-wide we are still no closer to discovering the exact cause of the disease.

Although the disease affects all age groups, it mostly begins in childhood and research suggests a person’s genetics and environmental factors contribute to the condition.

A history of asthma in the family, lung disease in early childhood, respiratory infections during childhood and active or passive smoking can make a person more likely to suffer from the disease.

There are two types of asthma that you can suffer from. Atopic or extrinsic asthma, where your attacks start as soon as you come into contact with allergens and non-atopic or intrinsic, where asthma is not aggravated by allergens.

While there is no known reason why a person has asthma, it is known that certain things can trigger an asthma episode.

Air pollution is one of the main triggers causing inflammation of the airways to the lungs. People who suffer from asthma could notice improved symptoms if they live away from industrial areas or towns and cities with high pollution levels.

While most asthmatics are aware that quitting smoking is vital in controlling their asthma, many do not take enough care to avoid smoky areas.

Having cats and dogs may not seem too dangerous, but pets are a known trigger of asthma. If you have pets they should be kept clean and spend most of the time outside. They should never be allowed to sleep on your bed and you should take care to remove pet hair from the home.

Cleaning regularly will rid your home of the dust mites, moulds and even cockroach droppings that can set off an asthma attack.

Be aware that changes in the climate can make asthma symptoms worse. A drop in temperature, thunderstorms and breathing in cold or dry air can be dangerous to an asthmatic.

Other things that can start an asthma attack include strong smells, exercising, respiratory infections, strong emotional reactions and even eating food directly from the fridge.

There are many things you come across in your daily life that can set off a frightening asthma attack, which is why it is important you carry your inhaler with you and keep up to date with all your medications. Making changes to your life and avoiding things that you know trigger your symptoms will help you live a healthier life with fewer attacks.