4 Common Asthma Triggers You Can Avoid

Asthma triggers vary from person to person, but some are more common than others. Here are four of the most common triggers and what you can do to avoid them.

    1. Dust Mites

This is possibly the most common asthma trigger. And it’s no wonder why—since dust is made largely of dead skin cells wherever there’s people, there’s gonna be dust.

How to Avoid It: Clean your home regularly. Put airtight covers on your mattresses. Try putting cheesecloth over you air ducts to keep dust from recirculating.

    2. Secondhand Smoke

When someone smokes, environmental tobacco smoke is released into the air and affects those nearby—especially if they have asthma.

How to Avoid It: Avoid smoky places, such as certain bars or concert venues. If a loved one smokes, ask them not to smoke around you and to smoke outside so the air doesn’t recirculate throughout your home.

    3. Molds

Fun Fact: Molds reproduce by creating tiny spores and releasing them into the air. If you have asthma, you probably don’t want to breathe those spores in.

How to Avoid It:If you have mold in your house, the first step is to clean it up with soapy water. After that, eliminate any source(s) of moisture that would mold to grow. Common ones include water leaks or bathrooms/kitchens without exhaust fans.

    4. Cockroaches

If you live in an urban area, cockroaches and other pests could be triggering your asthma. Their feces and saliva cause allergic reactions in many individuals.

How to Avoid It: Get some bug spray. Also, make sure to keep your sinks and counters clean, store your food in airtight containers and clean spills quickly. This will help keep the pests out and your asthma symptoms down.