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Asthma: Identifying Your Triggers

Introduction

Asthma is a long-lasting (chronic) disease of the respiratory system. It causes inflammation in tubes that carry air to the lungs (bronchial tubes). The inflammation makes your bronchial tubes likely to overreact to certain triggers. An overreaction can lead to decreased lung function, sudden difficulty breathing, and other symptoms of an asthma attack.

If you avoid triggers, you can:

  • Prevent some asthma attacks.
  • Reduce the frequency and severity of some attacks.

You may not be able to avoid or even want to avoid all your asthma triggers. However, you can identify many things that trigger your symptoms by:

  • Monitoring your lung function (peak expiratory flow). Your lungs will not work as well when you are around a trigger.
  • Being tested for allergies. If you have allergies, the substances to which you are allergic can trigger symptoms.
What?
What are asthma triggers?
 

An asthma trigger is a factor that can decrease lung function and lead to sudden difficulty breathing and other symptoms of an asthma attack. When you are around a trigger, you are at increased risk for an asthma attack. A severe attack may mean you have to go to the hospital.

Some triggers are substances you may be allergic to (allergens). These triggers may include:

Other triggers are not allergens—they can cause asthma symptoms, but you are not allergic to them. These include:

  • Cigarette smoke and air pollution.
  • Upper respiratory infections such as colds, influenza (flu), and sinusitis.
  • Exercise. Many people with asthma have symptoms when they exercise.
  • Dry, cold air.
  • Medicines, such as beta-blockers, aspirin, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
  • In adults, hormones, including those involved in pregnancy and menstrual periods. Your symptoms may change just before or during periods.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Some experts debate whether GERD makes asthma worse. Studies have shown conflicting results as to whether GERD triggers asthma.1

Test Your Knowledge

A trigger is anything that can lead to an asthma attack.

  • True
    This answer is correct.

    A trigger is anything that can lead to an asthma attack. A trigger can be irritants in the air, substances to which you are allergic, or other factors, such as respiratory viruses, exercise, or dry, cold air.

  • False
    This answer is incorrect.

    A trigger is anything that can lead to an asthma attack. A trigger can be irritants in the air, substances to which you are allergic, or other factors, such as respiratory viruses, exercise, or dry, cold air.

Continue to Why?

Why?
Why identify asthma triggers?
 

Identifying asthma triggers helps you know what increases your asthma symptoms. If you avoid triggers, you may be able to:

  • Avoid an asthma attack altogether.
  • Reduce the length and severity of an asthma attack.

Test Your Knowledge

Avoiding asthma triggers can help you avoid an asthma attack or reduce its length and severity.

  • True
    This answer is correct.

    Avoiding asthma triggers can help you avoid an asthma attack or reduce its length and severity.

  • False
    This answer is incorrect.

    Avoiding asthma triggers can help you avoid an asthma attack or reduce its length and severity.

Continue to How?

How?
How to identify asthma triggers
 
  1. Identify possible asthma triggers. A trigger is anything that can lead to an asthma attack. When you are around something that triggers your symptoms, keep track of it. This can help you find a pattern in what triggers your symptoms. Record triggers on a piece of paper or in your asthma diary(What is a PDF document?).
  2. Monitor your lung function. A trigger may not always cause symptoms. But it can still narrow your bronchial tubes, making your lungs work harder. To identify triggers that do not always cause immediate symptoms, measure your peak expiratory flow (PEF) throughout the day. PEF will drop when your bronchial tubes narrow, so your PEF will drop when you are near things that trigger symptoms. Measure your PEF when you are around common irritants such as pollens and smoke to see if they are triggers.
  3. Be tested for allergies. Skin or blood testing may be used to diagnose allergies to certain substances. Skin testing involves pricking the skin on your back or arms with one or more small doses of specific allergens. The amount of swelling and redness at the sites where your skin was pricked are measured to identify allergens to which you react. If your PEF drops when you are near an allergen, consider being tested for this allergen.
  4. Share your trigger record with your doctor. After you have found some things that may trigger your asthma, you and your doctor can devise a plan for how to deal with them.

Test Your Knowledge

Monitoring your lung function and being tested for allergies are two ways you can identify asthma triggers.

  • True
    This answer is correct.

    Monitoring your lung function and being tested for allergies are two ways you can identify some asthma triggers.

  • False
    This answer is incorrect.

    Monitoring your lung function and being tested for allergies are two ways you can identify some asthma triggers.

Continue to Where?

Where?
Where to go from here
 

Now that you have read this information, you are ready to start identifying your asthma triggers. Let your doctor know of any triggers you identify.

If you have questions about this information, take it with you when you visit your doctor.

If you would like more information on asthma, the following resource is available:

Organization

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
1233 20th Street NW
Suite 402
Washington, DC  20036
Phone: 1-800-7-ASTHMA (1-800-727-8462)
Email: info@aafa.org
Web Address: www.aafa.org
 

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) provides information and support for people who have allergies or asthma. The AAFA has local chapters and support groups. And its Web site has online resources, such as fact sheets, brochures, and newsletters, both free and for purchase.

Return to topic:

References

Citations

  1. Gibson PG, et al. (2003). Gastro-esophageal reflux treatment for asthma in adults and children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1). Oxford: Update Software.

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Lora J. Stewart, MD, MPH - Allergy and Immunology, Pediatrics
Last Revised March 17, 2011

Last Revised: March 17, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Lora J. Stewart, MD, MPH - Allergy and Immunology, Pediatrics

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