Most people can think of several things that make their asthma worse. These are called triggers. Triggers usually show themselves straight away but sometimes develop over 4-6 hours or longer. A peak flow meter or a record of symptoms can help you discover your triggers.

The most common asthma triggers are:
Colds and flu
Cigarette Smoking
Exercise and activity
Allergies
Weather changes
Fumes
Occupations (coming into contact with particular substances at work)
Emotions
Medicines

Often it’s not just one trigger that sets off an episode of asthma but a mixture of several triggers at about the same time. If you know what triggers your asthma, try to avoid these things if possible. Take preventive measures before or at the time of contact.

Colds and Flu
Colds and flu, along with throat and nose infections, can bring on asthma episodes. The first signs are usually a blocked or runny nose or a sore throat. You cannot stop yourself catching these infections so the best approach is to deal with them as soon as they appear.

If you know that a cold usually triggers your asthma:
As soon as the first snuffle or blocked nose appears, increase the dose of your medicine/inhalers prescribed by your doctor.
Use your peak flow meter or record your symptoms to check your progress.
Visit your doctor if your asthma gets worse.

Cigarette Smoking
At least 70% of people with asthma become wheezy in a smoky room. It has been shown that children with asthma whose parents smoke have more asthma episodes then children whose parents don’t smoke. Smoking marijuana is also harmful to the lungs.

If you smoke, give up. It isn’t always easy but there are groups around to help. Check with the Asthma Society or Irish Cancer Society for information. Remember that each cigarette you smoke is damaging your breathing tubes. Smoking may make your asthma more difficult to control and there is a very real risk of developing chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

If friends or family smoke, explain how it affects your asthma and encourage them to either give up or smoke elsewhere.

If you are out and people are smoking, try to sit in a smoke free area or near an open window. The no smoking regulations in public places in Ireland should be improving life for people with asthma and other breathing problems.

Exercise and activity
Wheezing, tightness of the chest or coughing during or after exercise or activity shows that this is an asthma trigger for you. However, it’s better to control your asthma than to avoid exercise:

Take your reliever medicine a few minutes before exercise or strenuous activity
Make sure you do warm-up exercises, for example some stretching exercises followed by running or skipping on the spot or build up fitness.
If you get wheezy when you exercise stop, rest, and take extra reliever medicine. Make sure you have recovered before you start exercising again.

Allergies
Some people are particularly sensitive to certain things they come into contact with every day. These allergies play a role as triggers in asthma,
hay fever and eczema.

The most common causes of allergies are:
House dust mites
Pets and other animals
Pollens
Moulds
Fungal Spores
Certain food and drinks

Weather
Changes of weather (rather than a particular temperature) can trigger asthma. The arrival of spring and autumn seem to be trigger times. Asthma can be troublesome in winter but more usually because of colds and flu rather than the season itself.

Fumes
Triggers in the air include not only factory smoke and car exhaust fumes but also cigarette smoke, fly sprays, strong perfumes and aerosol cleaning sprays. Some building materials and home furnishings may give off fumes that might make asthma worse. Formaldehyde in particleboard is one of these.

Medicines
There are two common groups of medicines, which can trigger asthma. These include:

Beta-blockers
These are prescribed tablets used to treat a number of illnesses, including high blood pressure, heart conditions and migraine. If you are discussing any of these conditions with a doctor, who is not your own GP or asthma specialist, it is important to talk about the fact that you also have asthma.

Aspirin and pain relief
One in 20 people with asthma are sensitive to aspirin and other medicines for pain relief. If aspirin upsets you, make sure when you buy any pain relief tablets that you read the packet carefully. Remember that aspirin is not suitable for children under the age of 12.

For more information, contact the Asthma Society of Ireland on freephone, 1850 44 54 64.

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