How many asthma triggers exist?

There are hundreds of asthma triggers.But some triggers are more common than others. Over the years,asthmatic people and their doctors have discovered that certain substances provoke asthma attack.The substances range from allergens,chemical irritants, air pollutants and tobacco smoke to food intolerances and drug sensitivities. Certain situations are also linked with asthma flare-ups:exercise,infections,stress and weather patterns.

The most common triggers are allergens,many allergens are found in household dust,including pollen,mold, animal dander, dust -mite debris and cockroach debris.Small in size,these allergens are easily stirred up,carried in the air and then inhaled; for that reason they are also known as aeroallergens.

Chemical irritants:common household chemical and personalcare products can trigger asthma symptoms by producing aerosols and gases that irritate the lungs.These are known as airborne chemical irritants.For example:spray disinfectants ,ammonia,chlorine,floor wax and paint;perfumes,powders,deodorants,shampoos and hair sprays; pesticides and insecticides.Even cooking odors can trigger asthma symptoms.

Air pollutants:Asthma is aggravated by irritants that are byproducts of the industrialized world in which we live.They are many and varied .Sulfur dioxide,diesel-fuel exhaust,gas from cooking stoves,emission plumes from factories and incinerators are among the enders.brushfires,burning
leaves and burning garbage also release irritating particles into the air.

Tobacco smoke:Including cigarette,pipe and cigar smoke-is a major indoor pollutant and an irritant that creates breathing difficulties in the lung of any asthmatic person who smokes.There is also increasing evidence that passive smoking -exposure to secondhand smoke-leads to more frequent respiratory problems among asthmatic children and older people.