Many people around the world suffer from Asthma.  Asthma is a long-term disease of the airways.  Airways are small tubes which carry air in and out of our lungs.  When an asthma attack is triggered, the sensitive lining swell and the muscle of the airways contracts making it very difficult for sufferers to breath out.  We will be looking at some triggers of asthma throughout this edition.

The causes of asthma are not fully understood, however family history of asthma plays a role.  Asthma can begin at any age and can also change over time; meaning a child with asthma can out grow it as they get older.  Children with a higher risk of developing asthma, are those who have had mothers who smoked during pregnancy, or who have been exposed to second-hand smoke early in their childhood.  Some symptoms of asthma, include; Wheezing (a high pitched raspy sound or whistle when breathing  Tightness in the chest  Shortness of breath  Coughing.  Symptoms will vary between individuals, some people may have all of these symptoms whilst others will only have a couple. 

What can trigger asthma?
 Colds & Flu   Exercise (this can be managed)  Pollens, moulds and grasses  Animal hair and dander (skin flakes
 Dust mites  Cigarette smoke  Changes in air temperature
 Certain drugs (e.g. aspirin & some blood pressure medications)  Some chemicals, strong smells and aerosol sprays  Some emotions (e.g. stress).  For some people, it can be difficult to know what triggers asthma.  Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Lets look at Dust and Dust Mites

For some asthma sufferers, exposure to house dust & dust mites, can trigger an asthma attack or worsen asthma.  Dust is a part of the air we breath daily, so this is hard to stay away from, however there are different types of dust that can trigger asthma.  Some people may be allergic to particles within the dust including animal dander, insect debris, food dust, pollens, moulds and dust mites.

A common trigger for allergic reactions for people with asthma is house mites and their droppings.  The common house dust mite is very small and feeds on dead scales from the skins’ surface.  Places where dust mites like hiding are; mattresses  pillows  blankets  carpet  soft toys. You can always take measures to reduce the exposure to mites i.e. encase mattress and pillows in dust mite covers, wash bedclothes weekly in hot water, remove sheepskin or woolen underlay’s, air pillows and quilts in the sun weekly.

Lets look at Mould

I’m sure we all know what mould is, how bad it can smell and ruin clothes and where it likes to grow, but did we all know that it can be a trigger for asthma sufferers?  Well it can, especially if you are cleaning mould away, not only the mould but the chemicals we use to clean the mould may cause some asthma to worsen.  So take care when cleaning mould, make sure the area is well ventilated, seal any leaks in bathrooms or kitchens and roofs, remove or regularly sun indoor pot plants.

Lets look at Pets and how they may trigger asthma

Exposure to Cats, Dogs, Guinea Pigs, Horses, Rabbits and/or mice can trigger asthma and allergic reactions in some people.  Cats are a major source of allergens in the home environment, more so than dogs, as they are more likely to sit on furniture, benches and get into bedrooms.  Allergens are emitted from both the sweat and salivary glands of animals and unfortunately there is no type of low allergy animal.

It is not possible to completely avoid exposure to asthma triggers.  To retain control of asthma, make sure your asthma action plan is current.

For FREE Asthma Management Workshops visit the Asthma Qld website for more information.  There are also newsletters you can subscribe to, which will keep you updated on the latest triggers, and how to manage asthma.
The Asthma Foundation Queensland www.asthmaqld.org.au