Triggers For Asthma Attacks

Asthma is on the rise in the United States, and it is important for parents and people who are affected by asthma to understand the disease a little bit better. In an asthma attack, the bands of muscle that surround the bronchial tubes constrict, making it difficult to breathe. What triggers an attack varies from person to person, and anyone living with asthma should attempt to discover their triggers. There are some common triggers that can affect a majority or asthmatics:

- infections, such as a cold, the flu or a sinus infection
- irritants, such as air pollution, cleaning solutions, or strong perfumes
or certain fabrics in clothes or household items (i.e. down pillows)
- tobacco smoke
- exercise or physical exertion
- weather: cold air or changes in temperatures or humidity
- strong emotions (stress, anxiety or grief), laughing or crying
- foods or food additives to which a person may be allergic
- allergens, such as pollen, mold spores, pet dander or dust mites

Reactions to a medications could also act as just such a trigger. Certain cells in your body produce chemicals called leukotrienes as part of their natural inflammatory response to irritants. If you have asthma, the production of leukotrienes can cause the muscles in your lungs' airways to contract and also cause your lungs to produce more mucus, which can block smaller airways causing coughing, wheezing and other breathing difficulties. In a percentage of asthmatics NSAID (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) pain relievers may increase the body's production of leukotrienes triggering an asthma attack. Check with your asthma specialist for the best over-the counter pain medication to use.