Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects the way air enters to your lungs. It affects the airways which are tubes that are responsible in carrying air in and out of your lungs. With asthmatics or people who have asthma, the inside walls of the airways are sore and swollen. Because of this, they become very sensitive. Once you are exposed to things that you are allergic to, your airways have the tendency to react strongly. They react by swelling some more and the passageways get narrower, causing less distribution of air to the lungs. When this happens, the asthmatic will have difficulty in breathing. There will be wheezing, coughing and a felling that the chest is so tight. This usually happens early morning or at night.

If the symptoms of asthma become worse than normal, it is already considered an asthma attack. In severe cases of asthma attack, one can suffer from oxygen deprivation. This happens because the airways have swollen so much and is almost closed that the lungs and other organs are suffering from oxygen depletion. It is possible to die of asthma attacks if not treated immediately. It is therefore important for an asthmatic to know what triggers his or her asthma attack. That way, this can be avoided and the symptoms can be controlled and prevent them from getting worse.

Things that cause asthma attacks vary from person to person because of our biological make-up. However, it is common for asthmatics to have certain kinds of allergies and this can trigger the attack. Having yourself checked for any allergy will help you determine what you need to avoid. But there are common irritants or allergens that can trigger any asthmatic into having an asthma attack. These are cigarette smoke, dust mites, dust, molds, pollen, pets and animals.

Cigarette smoke is very rich in toxins and irritants. Some people are more sensitive to the chemicals in the cigarette smoke and can trigger their allergies. Even if it is second hand smoking, the risk is still too great. Once inhaled, it can cause nasal congestion, coughing and shortness of breath. Continuous exposure to cigarette smoke can worsen the symptoms of asthma.

Dust mites are everywhere in the house. They cannot be totally eliminated, only reduced in number. Dust mites are very tiny and cannot be seen by the naked eye. They feed on the skins that people and pets shed every day. A regular house cleaning can reduce the number of dust mites.

Pollen is a major allergen whether one has asthma or not. Pollen can cause too much sneezing and can trigger colds and sinusitis. Once a cold develops, it is possible that this will develop into asthma if left untreated. It is common for asthmatics to start the asthma attacks with colds or flu.

It is a misconception that pet hair or fur can cause allergies. This is not the case. Allergens are found in the animal’s dander, saliva and urine. Therefore, even if the pets are not present, you can still develop and allergic reaction because allergens are carried in the air and may circulate in a place for quite some time.

Knowing what triggers your asthma can save your life. Have yourself tested or just be observant on the things around you.

Author Bio: Brent McNutt enjoys writing for Uniformhaven.com which sells urbane scrubs and baby phat lab coat as well as a host of additional products.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: asthma attack,asthma attacks,cigarette smoke,dust mites,cause asthma