Many common substances can stimulate or aggravate an asthmatic attack. Included with common substances are environmental factors. The following are a list of environmental triggers and the conditions associated with them.
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Smoke: Exposure to any type of smoke such as cigarette and second-hand smoke, wood, coal, leaf burning, industrial waste, kitchen fires, and chemistry labs.
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Animals: Classroom pets, family pets, (especially cats and pets with long hair) and birds.
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Dust Mites: These are microscopic organisms which are found in bed linen, pillows, drapes, stuffed animals, carpeting, and upholstery.
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Molds: They can be found in several places like showers, restrooms, indoor swimming pools, basements, leaky roofs, classroom aquariums, plants, biology and microbiology labs, and damp areas which materials are stored. These molds and spores are also found in newspapers, old books, exercise and athletic mats.
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Weather: Exposure to cold air or high humidity.
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Pollens: When the children are outside having recess, transportation to and from school, open windows, cut flowers, grass, weeds, flowering trees and plants, gardens, nature walks, seasonal and holiday decorations.
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Odors/Fumes: Cleaning solutions, perfumes/colognes, bio-chemical labs, paints, fumigation chemicals, traffic fumes, room deodorizers, art supplies, roofing tar, sealants, and automotive shops.
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Foods: Specific foods and additives such as peanuts/peanut oil, soy, eggs, dairy products, fish, wheat, sulfites (these are found in dried fruits, shrimp, and wine), MSG and food dyes.
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Insects: Such as cockroaches are found in infested buildings, kitchens, garbage, leaky faucets and pipes.
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Aerosol Spray: Hairsprays, deodorants, disinfectants, janitorial supplies, cooking sprays, art supplies, overhead transparencies and cleaning solutions.
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Miscellaneous: Acid reflux, sensitivity to aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and (NSAIDS) beta blockers.
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Infection: Colds, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infections, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
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Emotions: Crying, laughing, and stressful situations.
Exercise can also cause an asthmatic episode/attack. When breathing becomes intense water loss occurs. Water loss cools the lung's moist lining in which the temperature drops in the body. It begins a process of constricting the muscles around the airways and inflammation within the airways occurs.
Exercise induced asthma can happen during an exercise routine or minutes of vigorous activity. It reaches its peak 5 to 10 minutes after activity has stopped. It may resolve in 20-30 minutes. Among Olympic athletes 10% have asthma. Despite their condition many have won medals. Proper asthma management is the key to success.
Asthma and allergies are closely related. There is an estimate of 40-50 million people who suffer from allergies. This figure comes from the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases. Allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever is the most common of all allergies. Some allergy symptoms are, sneezing (which can last for long periods of time), clear watery nasal discharge, nasal congestion, itchy nose, eyes, ears, and throat. These symptoms are similar to an upper respiratory infection. Aches and fever that come with a cold rarely occur with allergies.
For many people allergies are seasonal, for others it occurs year round. If people have both asthma and allergic rhinitis this can trigger asthma symptoms. Approximately 50% of asthmatic adults and 80% asthmatic children have allergies that trigger their asthma. An estimated 20% of all children with allergic rhinitis will develop asthma in 8-10 year period. Six times as many people with rhinitis allergies will likely have asthma. However, not all allergy sufferers have or will develop asthma.
Allergy treatments are usually the following types of medication: antihistamines, decongestants, steroids, nasal sprays, and non-steroidal nasal sprays. Popular medications are Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra, and Tavist which are anti-histamines. Decongestants used are Claritin-D, Allegra-D, Contac, Dristan, Sudafed-Plus, and Actifed. Immunotherapy or allergy shots could be beneficial for people with allergies.