Emma is confused. Her mom just told her that they have to buy a
special cover for the mattress in Emma's room and get rid of
the soft, fuzzy rug on her floor. These changes will cut down on
dust. And dust is one of Emma's asthma triggers, her doctor
says. A trigger? Isn't that something on a gun?
What's a Trigger?
A trigger on a gun makes the bullet fire out. A trigger in
asthma
is something that causes asthma symptoms. People with asthma have
what is called a chronic (say:
krah
-nik), or continuing, problem with their airways (the breathing
tubes in a person's lungs). The airways become swollen and full
of mucus. This problem is made worse by asthma triggers.
Triggers are things that don't bother most people, but they
can make people with asthma cough, wheeze, and have trouble
breathing. Triggers don't cause asthma (no one knows exactly
what does) but they can lead to asthma
flare-ups
.
Every person with asthma has different triggers. Some people
have one or two. Others have a dozen. Triggers may change from
winter to summer. Some kids even outgrow triggers as they get
older.
Common asthma triggers include:
-
allergens
(say:
ah
-lur-jenz) - things that cause allergic reactions
- stuff in the air, like smoke and pollution
-
colds
or the
flu
- weather conditions
-
exercise
Managing Asthma
Asthma can't be cured but it can be managed. Managing asthma
means doing everything you can to keep the symptoms (say:
sim
-tums) of asthma, like wheezing and coughing, from happening. One
way to manage asthma is to stay away from triggers.
Your doctor will help you figure out your specific triggers. He
or she 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
(say:
ah
-lur-jist), who can figure out if you have any allergies that might
be causing your symptoms.
Learning about your triggers is one part of your
asthma action plan
that your doctor will help you write down. This plan will look at
all the things you need to do to manage your asthma, from staying
away from triggers to taking medicines.
Dealing With Triggers
Allergens are a very common trigger. They include:
- mold
- dust mites (tiny insects that live in dust)
- cockroaches
- pollen (a kind of dust that comes from plants)
-
animal dander
(skin flakes that are kind of like dandruff)
- animal saliva and urine
- feathers
You won't be able to stay away from all allergens, but there
are some things you can do.
- Keep your room as clean and free of dust as possible. This
means vacuuming and dusting weekly and getting rid of clutter.
Your old stuffed animals may need to go into a box in the
attic.
- Wash your sheets weekly in hot water. You can get covers for
your mattress, box spring, and pillows that will help too.
- Get rid of carpets. Any kind of rug or carpeting can collect
allergens that cause asthma symptoms.
- Keep any pets out of your room. Before you spend the night at
a friend's house, find out what kinds of pets he or she
has.
If your asthma symptoms are triggered by allergies, you might
also need to take allergy medication or have allergy shots. Your
doctor will let you know.
Irritants Can Irritate
Stuff in the air, also called irritants (say:
ir
-uh-tunts), are different from allergens because they bother people
who don't have allergies or asthma, too. For most people,
irritants aren't a serious problem, but for people with asthma,
they can lead to flare-ups. Common irritants include perfumes and
aerosol (say:
ar
-uh-sol) sprays, such as hair spray and cleaners. Other irritants
include wood and tobacco smoke, the smell given off by paint or
gas, and air pollution.
If you notice that an irritant triggers your asthma, let an
adult know, so he or she can keep it away from you. This might mean
switching to different hair sprays or cleaning products. If smoke
bothers you, it's probably a good idea to avoid fires in the
fireplace or woodstove. And of course, no one should smoke
cigarettes or other tobacco products around you.
If outdoor air pollution is a problem, running the air
conditioner or an air cleaner can help. Having an adult check air
quality reports on the news might also be a good idea. On days when
the quality is especially bad, you might want to stay indoors.
Colds and the flu are harder to avoid, but you can cut down on
the number of sicknesses you catch by washing your hands regularly
and staying away from people who are sick. Getting a flu shot each
year is a good idea, too.
Weather Woes
Weather can also be a trigger. Windy conditions may stir up
pollens and molds. Rain can wash pollen from trees and grasses so
it starts moving around in the air. Very cold or very hot weather
may trigger asthma and so can humidity (when the air has a lot of
moisture in it).
If you know that certain weather conditions make your asthma
worse, an adult can help you avoid your triggers. An adult should
keep an eye on the forecast - on some days, you may need to spend
less time outdoors. If cold weather is the problem, you'll want
to have a scarf that will cover your nose and mouth when you go
outside.
Exercise like running or playing a sport is another common
trigger. But this is one trigger that you shouldn't avoid
because it's important for your health. Your doctor will want
you to be active, so talk with him or her about what to do before
playing sports. For instance, you might need to take medicine 10 or
15 minutes before you exercise or play sports. And, of course,
you'll want to have your
rescue medication
with you all the time.
You won't be able to keep away from all triggers all the
time. But by staying away from triggers as much as possible, you
can help prevent flare-ups. In other words, you can keep those
triggers from getting pulled!
Reviewed by:
Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: June 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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