What Are Asthma Triggers?
Asthma triggers are things that can cause or worsen asthma symptoms. Understanding and managing these triggers is crucial to improve asthma control and outcomes.
Common allergy triggers in the air can include:
- Pet dander (such as cats, dogs, rabbits)
- House dust mites
- Molds
- Pollen (such as trees, grasses, weeds)
Non-allergic triggers include a wide range of airway irritants, such as:
- Passive tobacco smoke
- Air pollution (such as particulate matter, volatile organic compounds)
- Certain conditions, including respiratory viral infections
- Extreme temperature changes
Also, certain medicines (such as aspirin) can act as triggers in certain people with asthma. Stress, strong emotions, and physical activity can worsen asthma.
It is important to work with your doctor to identify potential asthma triggers. They can make specific recommendations to minimize and remove these exposures. This should be a part of your asthma management plan. Develop this with your doctor.
John M. James, MD, is a board-certified allergist. He is also President of Food Allergy Consulting and Education Services, LLC. He has worked as a medical specialist in the field of allergy, asthma, and immunology for over 30 years. Dr. James received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas and his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee. He is board certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.
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