Overview Of Identifying Asthma Triggers
Many of the same substances that trigger allergies can also trigger asthma. Common allergens include pollen, dust mites, mold, and pet dander. Other asthma triggers include irritants like smoke, pollution, fumes, cleaning chemicals, and sprays. Symptoms can be substantially reduced by identifying asthma triggers and avoiding exposure to known allergens and respiratory irritants.
If you have asthma, an asthma attack can happen when you are exposed to your triggers. Your triggers can be very different from those of someone else with asthma. Know your triggers and learn how to avoid them. Watch out for an attack when you can’t avoid the triggers.
Some of the most common triggers are:
Tobacco Smoke
Tobacco smoke is unhealthy for everyone, especially people with asthma. If you have asthma and you smoke, quit smoking.
“Secondhand smoke” is smoke created by a smoker and breathed in by a second person. Secondhand smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Make your home a smoke-free zone. Encourage household members who smoke to quit. If you have asthma, people should never smoke near you, in your home, in your car, or wherever you may spend a lot of time.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are microscopic bugs that are in many homes. If you have asthma and are allergic to dust mites, you may be able to identify this as a trigger for an asthma attack.
To prevent attacks:
- Use allergen-proof mattress and pillowcase covers to make a barrier between dust mites and yourself.
- Don’t use down-filled pillows, quilts, or comforters.
- Wash your bedding weekly and dry it completely.
- Vacuum carpets, area rugs, and floors regularly using a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter.
- Keep relative humidity levels in the home low, around 30- 50%.
Outdoor Air Pollution
Outdoor air pollution can trigger an asthma attack. This pollution can come from many sources, including factories, cars, or wildfire smoke. Wildfire smoke from burning wood or other plants is made up of a mix of harmful gases and small particles. Breathing in too much of this smoke can cause an asthma attack.
Pay attention to air quality forecasts on radio, television, and the internet and check your newspaper to plan your activities for when air pollution levels will be low.
Pests (e.g., cockroaches, mice)
Cockroaches and other pests are often found where food is eaten and crumbs are left behind.
To control pests in your home:
- Remove as many water and food sources as you can.
- Clean dishes, crumbs, and spills right away.
- Store food in airtight containers.
- Keep trash in a closed container.
- At least every 2 to 3 days, vacuum or sweep areas that might attract cockroaches or mice.
- Keep counters, sinks, tables, and floors clean and free of clutter.
- Seal cracks or openings in cabinets, walls, baseboards, and plumbing.
- Use pesticide baits and traps in areas away from children and pets, following manufacturers’ instructions.
- Avoid using sprays and foggers as these can cause asthma attacks.
Pets
Furry pets can trigger an asthma attack if you are allergic to them. If you have identified a furry pet as a trigger for asthma attacks, you may want to find the pet another home.
If you can’t or don’t want to find a new home for the pet, decrease your exposure by:
- Keeping pets out of bedrooms,
- Washing furry pets,
- Using an air cleaner with HEPA filter, and
- Using allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers.
People with asthma are not allergic to their pet’s fur, so trimming a pet’s fur will not help your asthma.
Mold
Breathing in mold can trigger an asthma attack whether or not you are allergic to mold. Indoor mold growth is often found in damp areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, or in areas where the water damage has occurred. There are many types of mold that can be found in any climate. Get rid of mold in your home to help control your attacks.
To reduce mold exposure in your home:
- Dry damp or wet items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
- Fix water leaks, such as leaky plumbing, which let mold grow behind walls and under floors as soon as you can.
- Replace absorbent materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, if mold is present.
- Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to maintain low indoor humidity.
- Get a small tool called a hygrometer to check humidity levels and keep them as low as you can—no higher than 50%. Humidity levels change over the course of a day, so check the humidity levels more than once a day.
- Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water. Dry completely.
- Empty and clean refrigerator and air conditioner drip pan regularly.
- Run the bathroom exhaust fan or open the window when showering.
Cleaning and Disinfection
Disinfectants can trigger an asthma attack. People with asthma should try to stay away when cleaners or disinfectants are being used and right after their use.
Follow these precautions when cleaning or disinfecting places where people with asthma may spend time, such as homes, schools, or workplaces:
- Avoid overuse of products. To help limit your exposure to asthma triggers, follow a schedule for cleaning and disinfecting to prevent overuse of products.
- Use safer products. Any disinfectant can trigger an asthma attack, but you can take steps to reduce the chances of that happening:
- Use soap and water or cleaners certified by the EPA Safer Choice programexternal icon to clean surfaces.
- Clean visibly dirty surfaces before disinfecting.
- Never mix disinfectant products.
- Choose products for disinfecting that are less likely to cause an asthma attack, such as products with hydrogen peroxide (no stronger than 3%) or ethanol (ethyl alcohol). Ensure that products with hydrogen peroxide or ethanol do not contain other chemicals that can cause an asthma attack such as peroxyacetic acid or peracetic acid.
- Avoid using bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or quaternary ammonium compounds in enclosed spaces and limit their use.
- Avoid products with fragrances. The fragrances can trigger asthma attacks.
- Make sure there is enough airflow (ventilation).
- Open doors and windows to bring in the fresh air if it’s safe to do so.
- Improve ventilation by turning on exhaust fans. Exhausting the air (blowing it outside) is the most effective way to remove disinfectant vapors.
- For buildings with heating or cooling systems that have fresh (outdoor) air intakes, turn on the fresh air intake to bring in fresh air.
- Using a high-efficiency filter (MERV 13 or higher) with your heating and cooling system can help keep the air clean by removing particles such as smoke, pollen, and traffic pollution from the air. Most air filters will not remove disinfectant vapors, though.
- Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and to replace the filter as needed. Some systems cannot accept high-efficiency filters. In this case, using the highest MERV rating possible will provide the most effective air cleaning.
- Use products safely and correctly.
- Always follow the instructions on the product label. Do not mix chemical products together.
- Wear protective gear such as gloves and goggles.
- Spray or pour spray products onto a cleaning cloth or paper towel instead of spraying the product directly onto the cleaning surface (if the product label allows) to help limit exposure.external icon
- Avoid disturbing dust because it can be an asthma trigger.
- Move away from the trigger (such as the area that was cleaned) if you experience an asthma attack, and follow your Asthma Action Plan. Call 911 for medical emergencies.
To learn more about cleaning to prevent illness in your home, including which products are effective, see Cleaning and Disinfecting your Home.
Other Triggers
Infections linked to influenza (flu), colds, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can trigger an asthma attack. Sinus infections, allergies, pollen, breathing in some chemicals, and acid reflux can also trigger attacks.
Physical exercise; some medicines; bad weather, such as thunderstorms or high humidity; breathing in cold, dry air; and some foods, food additives, and fragrances can also trigger an asthma attack.
Strong emotions can lead to very fast breathing, called hyperventilation, that can also cause an asthma attack.
