7 Surprising Asthma Triggers to Know About
Getty Images; Gabe Conte
During an asthma attack, the airways responsible for bringing fresh oxygen into the body become inflamed. The muscles in the lungs and bronchial tree (or the windpipe and channels connecting it to the lungs) swell and tighten, restricting your airflow. At the same time, the airways increase mucus production; this is an immune response meant to trap pathogens—but in reality, it further clogs your pipes.
Inflammation happens when the body fights off something it determines to be foreign or harmful. The attack leaves you wheezing, coughing, and gasping for breath. If you’re one of the 27 million Americans who lives with asthma, it goes without saying that you try to avoid it, and learning your specific asthma triggers is necessary for breathing easily.
“Viral infections, allergen exposure, and exposure to irritants and poor air quality are the most common triggers of asthma exacerbation,” says Jeffrey Demain, MD, founder of the Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Center of Alaska and spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). Beyond these common triggers, however, there are some asthma-attack-inducing stimuli that don’t get as much attention.
1. Wildfires and pollution
You might already know that irritating particles in the air—such as cigarette smoke, fumes, and odors caused by chemicals (think cleaning supplies)—could bring on an asthma attack. However, other causes of poor air quality are equally harmful. “Living in proximity to state or federal highways has been associated with a higher incidence of asthma and more severe asthma,” says Dr. Demain.
Wildfires, which are tragically becoming increasingly common in the U.S., are another asthma trigger. It’s important for everyone to be aware of the air quality index in their environment before venturing outdoors, particularly for exercise (something you can check online), but this could be life-saving for asthmatics.
2. Cold air
Many people's asthma gets worse in the winter. This is because cold air, particularly dry cold air, can cause the bronchial pathways to spasm, says Dr. Demain. According to the Allergy and Asthma Network, winter can also be an especially hard time for asthmatics because colds, flu, and other viruses are more common this time of year (all of which exacerbate asthma symptoms).
3. Thunderstorms
Yes, thunderstorms. “Weather events, such as thunderstorms, have been well reported to be associated with severe asthma exacerbations in some, especially those with grass pollen allergy,” says Dr. Demain. “Grass pollens can be swept up into the storm and result in pollen grain rupture, releasing small fragments that can penetrate deeply into the lung.”
4. NSAID medications
“Certain medications, most commonly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, can trigger severe asthma exacerbations in a subset of asthmatics,” says Dr. Demain.
An estimated 20 percent of asthmatics are sensitive to aspirin or NSAIDs; “this subset of patients also commonly have chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps,” says Dr. Demain. However, research hasn’t proven the precise mechanism for this.
5. Acid reflux
According to Dr. Demain, acid reflux is often seen in asthmatics. “The reason why is not completely understood, but worsening asthma can be associated with acid reflux, and asthma can worsen acid reflux,” he says. "One potential explanation is that when stomach acid enters the esophagus, a small amount can be inhaled into the lung, referred to as microaspiration.”
Dr. Demain says that stomach acid in the esophagus can also stimulate the vagus nerve, leading to constricting the airways.
6. Sleep apnea
“There are data suggesting that obstructive sleep apnea [OSA] is associated with poor asthma control, more nocturnal symptoms, and frequent exacerbations in asthma patients,” says Dr. Demain.
The good news is that treating OSA with continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP) has also been shown to improve asthma symptoms, adds Dr. Demain.
7. Emotions
Remember in The Goonies how Mikey takes a puff on his inhaler whenever anything particularly scary happens? Turns out, there’s some truth to this stereotype. “Interestingly, emotions can provoke asthma symptoms,” says Dr. Demain. “This can occur with stress and anger as well as laughter and excitement.”
Originally Appeared on GQ
