Where do asthma triggers hide?
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that can be fatal. Although the symptoms of asthma are quite individual, common symptoms include: wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and shortness of breath. If you think you might have asthma, your first step should be to see a doctor to get a confirmed diagnosis.
“The way to get a definitive diagnosis for asthma is for individuals over the age of six to have a spirometry test,” says Jan Haffner, a certified educator with the Lung Association of Saskatchewan. “It measures how fast and how much air you can blow out. If there is narrowing of the airways, the value will be lower. If the patient takes a medication that opens up the airways and then we repeat the test and find a 12 to 15 percent improvement, it confirms the diagnosis, along with the patient history.”
Once you've been diagnosed with asthma, it's important to identify what triggers your asthma and then to avoid -- or limit exposure to -- those triggers.
Who is at risk for getting asthma?
You might be at risk for asthma if you have a family history of it, or a family history of hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or eczema. Living in a polluted area, or near a major highway might increase your risk for asthma, as will growing up in a home with a lot of mould or dust. Second-hand smoke is also a risk factor in asthma.
There are some occupations that increase your risk of getting asthma: spray painting (isocyanates), grain handlers (grain dust), and lab workers (from lab animals).
Common indoor allergens that can trigger your asthma
The most common indoor inhaled allergens for asthma are: dust mites, animal dander from dogs, cats and birds, and mould. Inside the home, you might find mould in basements, bathrooms, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers.
There are other (non-allergic) triggers for asthma, including: smoke, exercise, intense emotions, and strong-smelling perfumes.
Click to continue for tips on how to manage asthma triggers at home...
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“The way to get a definitive diagnosis for asthma is for individuals over the age of six to have a spirometry test,” says Jan Haffner, a certified educator with the Lung Association of Saskatchewan. “It measures how fast and how much air you can blow out. If there is narrowing of the airways, the value will be lower. If the patient takes a medication that opens up the airways and then we repeat the test and find a 12 to 15 percent improvement, it confirms the diagnosis, along with the patient history.”
Once you've been diagnosed with asthma, it's important to identify what triggers your asthma and then to avoid -- or limit exposure to -- those triggers.
Who is at risk for getting asthma?
You might be at risk for asthma if you have a family history of it, or a family history of hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or eczema. Living in a polluted area, or near a major highway might increase your risk for asthma, as will growing up in a home with a lot of mould or dust. Second-hand smoke is also a risk factor in asthma.
There are some occupations that increase your risk of getting asthma: spray painting (isocyanates), grain handlers (grain dust), and lab workers (from lab animals).
Common indoor allergens that can trigger your asthma
The most common indoor inhaled allergens for asthma are: dust mites, animal dander from dogs, cats and birds, and mould. Inside the home, you might find mould in basements, bathrooms, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers.
There are other (non-allergic) triggers for asthma, including: smoke, exercise, intense emotions, and strong-smelling perfumes.
Click to continue for tips on how to manage asthma triggers at home...
Page 1 of 2
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