Gallant Asthmatics Know and Know How To Avoid Their Asthma Triggers

Being a gallant asthmatic means more than simply taking all your medicines compliantly and having an Asthma Action Plan.  It also involves knowing what your asthma triggers are and how to deal with them.

We asthmatics often have chronically inflamed air passages that are sensitive to certain asthma triggers.  A trigger is anything that causes you to have asthma symptoms.  The challenging thing is that every person has different asthma triggers.

According to NationalJewishHealth.org, here are some common asthma triggers:

1.  Airway irritants:  Strong odors, tobacco smoke, smoke from woodburning stoves or kerosene stoves and fireplaces, dust, air pollution, perfume, aerosol spray, paint fumes, gasoline fumes, solvents, chemicals, etc.

2.  Animals:  Animal dander, saliva and urine from feathered or furry animals.  These include allergies to dogs, cats, birts, etc. 

3.  Changes in breathing:  Sneezing, coughing, laughing, crying, hyperventilating, stress, holding your breath, sleep disorders, etc.

4.  Excercize:  Running, jumping, general exercize, etc.

5.  Food and drugs:  Allergies to nuts, chocolate, milk, sulfites, tartazine, betablockers (Inderal, Lopressor, Corgard, Timoptic, etc), asprin, ibuprophen products, etc. 

6.  Health and physical condition:  Fatigue, colds, respiratory infections, influenza, sinusitis, gastroesophogeal reflux (GERD), etc.

7.  Other allergies:  Molds, dust mites, medications, cockroaches, etc.

8.  Plants:  Allergies to trees, grasses, weeds, pollen, etc.

9.  Weather and elements:  Wind, weather changes, rain, snow, hot or cold temperatures, high humidity, low humidity, changes in barometric pressure, etc.

10.  Emotions:  Any feeling that could precipitate an attack.

11.  Time:  Just get it at night or during the day

So, which of the above are your asthma triggers? 

A gallant asthmatic will be aware of and avoid possible asthma triggers to the best of his ability -- within reason of course.  

You may even need to make changes in your life that are difficult, such as finding someone else to cut your grass, getting rid of a cat or dog,  avoiding foods that you are allergic to, or staying inside or slowing down when the weather is too hot or cold, or weather changes pose a problem.

Smoke and other irritants can often be avoided with some effort.  If you have asthma you should never smoke, nor allow someone to smoke near you, and you should avoid places where smoking is allowed.

Excercise triggers can often be avoided by premedicating yourself as prescribed by your doctor, and not running outdoors if the weather is too cold or hot-- a treadmill works great for these occasions.