If you have asthma, your airways are more sensitive than usual. This
means your airways are more likely to react to certain things in the
environment (called triggers).
Common asthma symptoms include:- Coughing
- Tightness in the chest
- Wheezing; whistling noise when breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Struggling to breathe
Common asthma triggers include:- Respiratory infections, such as colds and flu
- Cigarette smoke
- Allergy-related triggers, e.g. house dust mites, pollens, pets or molds
- weather, e.g. cold air, change in temperature, thunderstorms
- work-related triggers, e.g. wood dust, chemicals, metal salts
- irritating substances breathed in the air, such as bushfire smoke
- certain medicines, e.g. aspirin, some blood pressure drugs
- stress and high emotions, such as crying
- exercise
Triggers can cause the airways to become narrow and inflamed, leading to
asthma symptoms. Avoiding triggers, if possible, can help to control
asthma. Anything that causes a reaction can set off your asthma
symptoms.
These triggers differ between individuals. Over time,
you will get to know which circumstances can make your asthma get worse.
Some can be avoided altogether while others you will need to plan for.
Common triggers include: - Allergy triggers, e.g. house dust mites, pollens, pets and molds
- Cigarette smoke
- Viral infections, e.g. colds and flu
- Weather, e.g. cold air, change in temperature, thunderstorms
- Work-related triggers, e.g. wood dust, chemicals, metal salts
- Some medications, e.g. some blood pressure drugs, aspirin
- Stress and high emotions, such as crying
- Exercise
Useful tips on how to manage the most common asthma triggers:
