Asthma Triggers:
What You Need to Know

What do we mean by "asthma triggers"? We know when someone pulls the "trigger" on a gun, that a loud explosion occurs with any number of bad side effects.

In like manner, when a substance or problem "triggers" an asthma attack, there is an explosion of symptoms, and side effects which can be serious.

We can't ignore an asthma attack

any more than we can ignore a gunshot wound.

The positive part to the equation is this: If we can figure out what the triggers are, we can do our best to avoid them. This alone will cut down on the number of attacks, and allow more time to address the underlying immune system problems.

Asthma Trigger Checklist

Listed here are numerous triggers that may lead to an asthma attack. There may be more, and your detective work may uncover them. However, this list covers most, if not all, of the most commonly recognized triggers (or hypersensitivities):

• foods (dairy is common)
• pets
• dust
• pollen (hayfever)
• mold
• medicines
• VOC pollution (Volatile Organic Compounds)
• smog (traffic fumes)
• smoke (cigarette, pipe,wood fires, burning leaves, etc.)
• chemicals
• viral infections
• exercise (exercise-induced asthma)
• cold air
• moist air
• emotional stress
• newsprint (newspapers and fliers with colored ink)

Asthma Prevention Plan:
What Do I Do Now?

It's a good idea to keep a journal every day. Write down what you or your child eat, where you go, what you did, the product you used to (wash, clean, bathe, spray), and what, if any, medicines you take.

Become a detective - a careful observer - of your surroundings.

If an asthma attack occurs, write down the symptoms and their severity, and what you did to handle it (this is important information for your health provider as well).

Look back in your journal to see if you can detect possible triggers.

Read as much information as possible about asthma and how to strengthen the body's immune system. Use non-toxic cleaners and products if at all possible. You'll need to cut down the toxic load that the asthmatic's body is carrying.

Get the support you need to deal with the symptoms.

Learn why building and living green is crucial for your health.

Go from Asthma Triggers to Asthma Symptoms

Allergic Reaction

Allergic Reactions: Immune System

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