How to Avoid Asthma Triggers

If your lungs are sensitive to temperature change, air pollutants or physical exercise, you may show asthma symptoms. This long-term disease can arise in childhood or adulthood and usually persists through life. If the cause of your asthma is environmental, limiting your exposure to asthma "triggers," such as allergens, is one way to alleviate problems. Exercise-related asthma can usually be managed as well. Read on to learn more about how to avoid asthma triggers.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Asthma diary
• Air filter
• Physician's diagnosis of your asthma condition

Determine Your Asthma Triggers

1. Start taking notes about your asthma experiences in order to distinguish habitual triggers from one-time reactions. This can be part of an asthma diary that notes the dates and lengths of asthma attacks and your responses to them.

2. Consult a health care provider to discuss your symptoms and your theories on what triggered your asthma attacks. Your doctor may suggest additional possible triggers.

3. Consider exercise-related triggers and their potential treatments. These may include preventive puffs on an inhaler, rest breaks or limits on exercise duration, or complete avoidance of the trigger activity.

4. Consider environmental triggers and how to address them. Note which allergens or irritations have affected you, such as dust, dander, pollen, smoke, perfume or chemical solutions.

Avoid Your Asthma Triggers

5. Quit smoking immediately when you show symptoms of asthma.

6. Prohibit smoking in your home. Make it easy and democratic by posting a sign at your front door.

7. Avoid triggers such as dust, dander and pollen by using a HEPA-filter vacuum cleaner or air conditioner regularly.

8. Avoid triggers from heavy scents. Use mild household cleaners with no fumes. Buy unscented candles and laundry soap.

9. Avoid inhaling aerosols or powders. Use liquid cleaning agents and sponges instead of spray bottles.

10. Control your allergies to suppress triggers. Ask your doctor for a prescription for a daily allergy medicine.

Tips & Warnings

• Asthma triggers may include pollen, smoke and stress. You can determine your triggers by becoming aware of the conditions immediately preceding your asthma attacks.
• You can prevent or lessen the severity of asthma attacks if you learn which triggers to avoid or eliminate.
• If pet dander is a trigger issue, consider owning fish or reptiles instead of cats or dogs. Otherwise, an electronic air cleaner may minimize the problem.
• Don't get lost in denial. Take any asthma condition seriously. It can be life threatening if left untreated.
• If you know you will be subjected to one of your allergy triggers, follow you doctor's orders for preemptive treatment. This may be a couple puffs from your fast-acting inhaler beforehand.

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