- Understanding Bronchial Asthma Triggers.

 Understanding Bronchial Asthma Triggers.

1. Allergens: 

• Allergen exposures in sensitized individuals can initiate airways inflammation and hypersensitivity to other irritant exposures, and are strongly linked to disease severity and persistence. 
• Consequently, eliminating the offending allergen(s) can lead to resolution of asthma symptoms and can sometimes cure asthma.

 o Outdoors: pollen (tree, grass and flower), moulds (aspergillus fumigatus and others)
o Indoors: Mites , animals (cats ,dogs , birds, rodents ) , cockroaches

2. Viral respiratory infections: Respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, rhinoviruses and human metapneumovirus

3. Air pollution can aggravate airways inflammation and increase asthma severity:

•  Environmental tobacco smoke 
• Ozone 
• Nitrogen dioxide 
• Sulfur dioxide 
• Particulate matter 
• Wood- or coal-burning smoke 
• Mycotoxins 
• Endotoxin 
• Dust

 6. Exposure to Cold dry air, or sudden weather changes

7. Exercise (exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB)) ,

8. Feeling strong emotion (Crying, laughter, anger or fear)

9. Acid reflux, with or without heartburn.

10. Some medications can cause or worsen asthma symptoms. These include aspirin or other (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, and beta-blockers.

11. STRONG OR NOXIOUS ODORS OR FUMES 
o Perfumes, hairsprays
o Cleaning agents

12. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES: 
o Farm and barn exposures
o Formaldehydes, cedar, paint fumes

Dr.Ibrahim Samaha