Avoiding Asthma Triggers

Avoiding Asthma Triggers

2013 From the American Lung Association:

Asthma triggers are different for everyone.  It’s important to learn what you or your child’s asthma triggers are in the home, work or classroom and learn to avoid them.

Asthma triggers include:

Infections – colds, bronchitis, and sore throats

Avoid infections by:

• getting flu shot
• washing hands often

Allergies- pollens, dust mites, pets, molds, and pests

Avoid allergies by:

• taking allergy medication
• washing bedding in hot water once a week to kill dust mites or using mattress  and pillow covers to avoid exposure to dust mites
• keeping pets out of house, especially out of the bedroom
• preventing mold from growing by fixing water leaks and keeping humidity low
• use traps to reduce mice and cockroaches – call an exterminator

Irritants- Cigarette smoke, wood smoke, candles, air pollution, cleaning products, sprays, perfumes and paints

Avoid irritants by:

• not smoking or being around smoke
• avoiding products with strong odors
• reducing amount of products that you use

Behaviors – exercise and strong emotions (crying, laughing hard, shouting)

• Taking inhaler before exercising
• Calming child down and using good breathing techniques

The Sleep Institute of New England offers allergy services for ages 10 and up. In addition to sleep medicine The Sleep Institute of New England services include allergy skin testing, immunotherapy and pulmonary testing. Dr. Lynch is triple board certified in Internal,  Pulmonary and Sleep medicine. For an appointment call 603-347-8810 or 877-550-7463. We look forward to hearing from you.  Also look at our website at www.sleepne.com

Reference

American Lung Association (2013). Avoiding asthma triggers in the home & classroom.

     Retrieved from www.lung.org