asthma triggers
Asthma causes a chronic inflammation of the pulmonary airways, which is aggravated by the triggers of asthma, those elements that "trigger" asthmatic symptoms.
Triggers are substances, weather conditions or activities that are harmless to most people, but that can cause coughing, wheezing, wheezing and shortness of breath in people with asthma. They are not the cause of asthma, but they can lead to the appearance of asthma symptoms and asthma attacks.
Triggers vary from one person to another. Sometimes, they are seasonal and may even stop affecting some children who have asthma when they get older.
Among the most common asthma triggers, the following are included:
allergens (substances that cause allergic reactions)
Irritants and air pollutants
Respiratory infections, such as colds and flu
weather conditions
physical exercise
Gastroesophageal reflux
Triggers and control of asthma
Asthma can not be cured, but it can be controlled. The goal of asthma control is to reduce the symptoms that occur every day and maintain a normal level of activity, including the ability to exercise and sports.
One way to achieve this is to minimize exposure to triggers. If this exposure is not controlled, the triggers can cause seizures or severe asthmatic episodes, chronic symptoms between consecutive seizures and even reduce lung function.
Since the triggers are different for each person, you will have to work together with your child's doctor to determine what your specific triggers are. The doctor may suggest that you keep a diary of asthma symptoms / triggers, where you will record the symptoms, the readings made with the peak expiratory flow meter, and the circumstances in which your child's symptoms occur to help them identify potential triggers . Once identified, these should be included in the asthma action plan that you will develop together with your child's doctor.
Your child may also need skin allergy tests if the doctor suspects that his triggers might be allergens. Some children may need to take medicine or receive allergy shots. The doctor will determine if your child needs this type of medication.
Allergens and irritants
Among the allergens, one of the most frequent triggers of asthma, include the following:
mold
dust mites
cockroaches
the pollen
animal dander (tiny scales of dead skin), animal saliva or animal urine.
feathers.
It is impossible to avoid all allergens, but you can take some measures to minimize them at home. Focus attention on the rooms where your child sleeps and plays:
Keep those areas as clean and dust-free as possible. This means vacuuming and dusting once a week, avoiding the accumulation of objects and clutter, getting rid of unnecessary stuffed animals and washing the other stuffed animals periodically with hot water.
Wash the sheets with hot water once a week and get rid of pillows and feather duvets.
Buy hypoallergenic covers for the mattress, mattress and pillows.
Remove carpets, rugs and carpets whenever possible.
Wash the curtains (which should be washable) often.
Be sure to clean often and thoroughly ventilate wet areas, such as bathrooms, basement and laundry so that mold does not form.
Avoid the use of humidifiers and use dehumidifiers in the wet parts of the house.
Check the pollen and mold records of your locality and schedule indoor activities on windy days, which are usually associated with high pollen and mold registers.
Use traps with bait or contact a professional pest control company to remove cockroaches from your home; Keep the kitchen clean and do not have papers stacked in your house.
Irritants are different from allergens. They can also affect people who do not suffer from allergies or asthma, although they are not usually associated with serious problems. But, in children with asthma, irritants can promote inflammation of the airways and cause asthma attacks.
Among the most frequent irritants, the following are included:
perfumes
Spray spray
Cleaning products
smoke from tobacco and wood burning
paint vapors or gasoline fumes
atmospheric pollution
Even things that may seem harmless, like scented candles or freshly printed newspaper, are triggers of asthma for some children. Here are some ways to reduce irritants in your home:
If you find that a household cleaning product triggers your child's asthma, use a non-scented or non-aerosol mode.
Do not light a fire using wood at home.
Keep your child away from areas where you are painting or doing carpentry work.
If you cook in a gas stove, make sure that the kitchen is well ventilated, if possible, with an air outlet to the outside.
Prohibit smoking at home and in your car, and make sure your child avoids environments where there is tobacco smoke (such as some restaurants or parties)
Weather and external factors
If outdoor air pollution is a problem, you may want to buy an air purifier for your home or turn on the air conditioning throughout the year (checking the filter regularly to keep it clean). It is also convenient to consult the records on air quality. On days when the air quality is especially bad, keep your child indoors and with the air conditioning on.
Respiratory infections, such as colds or flu, are more difficult to avoid. In fact, respiratory infections of viral origin are among the most frequent diseases in childhood and can cause respiratory problems even in children who do not suffer from asthma. They usually last several days and cause inflammation of the respiratory tract and production of mucus. In children with asthma, the respiratory problems caused by colds can last for days or even weeks after the disappearance of the cold.
Teach your child the importance of washing their hands and ask your child's doctor about the annual flu shot. Now, the health authorities recommend administering the influenza vaccine to all people 6 months and older. This is especially important in people with asthma, who have a higher risk of developing serious complications as a result of the flu. Since respiratory diseases are an inevitable part of childhood, make sure your child's doctor specifies what to do if your child develops a cold or flu (this information should be included in your child's asthma action plan) .
Weather conditions may also play a role in your child's asthma, although it depends on where they live. The wind can disperse pollen and mold. The rain can drag the pollen that contains the air, causing a drop in the pollen records immediately after it rains. Anyway, an excess of rain can cause trees and grass to have a greater amount of pollen later on.
Extreme cold and heat, as well as humidity or very dry air can also trigger asthmatic symptoms. If you know that certain weather conditions aggravate your child's asthma, be on the lookout for weather forecasts and limit the amount of time your child spends outdoors on problem days. If cold is the trigger for your child's asthma, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf.
If the heat and humidity are the triggers, keep your child indoors and with the air conditioning on. Your child's asthma action plan should also contain a guide to how to manage triggers related to weather conditions. This guide may include an increase in the doses of medications your child takes.
Physical exercise
In some children with asthma, physical exercise may be the sole trigger of asthmatic symptoms. Along with allergens, it is one of the most common triggers. In fact, between 80% and 90% of people with asthma have asthmatic symptoms while exercising. It can be a major problem in people whose asthma is not well controlled. But this is a trigger that your child should not avoid because physical exercise is important for overall health.
Instead of discouraging your child from practicing sports or strenuous activities, talk with your doctor about what you should do before, during and after exercising. This may include taking medication before exercising or practicing sports.
Gastroesophageal reflux means that the contents of the stomach recede into the esophagus. Some children inhale this content, which ends up in the lungs, where already inflamed airways can become inflamed even more. The treatment of reflux can lead to an improvement of asthmatic symptoms in these children.
Your child can not constantly avoid all of his triggers, and it is very unrealistic to have that expectation. But, if you minimize your exposure to the triggers, it will help keep your asthma symptoms under control.
Just because your child has asthma does not mean you should not travel, play sports, go to parties or do anything else other children your age do. Adopt sensible precautions, such as following the asthma action plan, always carry immediate relief medicine (also known as rescue or fast-acting medicine) and take allergy medication before visiting friends who have pets , can help children with asthma do everything they enjoy.
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