Triggers
Common triggers
When speaking to your GP or Practice Nurse, you may be asked questions about possible asthma "triggers".
Asthma triggers are things that can cause your asthma symptoms to get worse, or even cause an asthma attack, they often differ from person to person. Understanding which triggers make your asthma worse, can be a useful addition to your drug treatment for controlling your asthma.
If you notice any possible asthma triggers, make a note of them in your asthma diary and make an appointment with your GP or practice nurse if you have any concerns.
A list of common triggers - those foods you may eat to pollutants in the air and pets you may keep - are listed below.
Triggers can be unique to the individual, but common asthma triggers include:
- Inflammatory (allergic) triggers: can cause inflammation of the lungs' airways or tightening of the airways' muscles
- Dust mites
- Animals
- Cockroaches
- Moulds
- Pollens
- Viral infections
- Certain air pollutants
- Symptom (non-allergic) triggers: generally do not cause inflammation, but can provoke "twitchy" airways, especially if they are already inflamed.
- Smoke
- Smoking
- Exercise
- Cold air
- Chemical fumes and other strong-smelling substances (e.g. perfumes)
- Certain food additives
- Certain air pollutants
- Intense emotions
Food triggers
Certain foods or food additives may bring about an asthma attack in some people. The UK Food Standards Agency has identified a number of food additives that may affect the airways or worsen asthma. These include:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Wheat
- Fish
- Shell fish.
In some people with asthma, an asthma attack can be triggered by one or more of the following:
- Foods containing the additives benzoates (E210-19), Sulphites (E220-8) or gallates (E310-12)
- Cider, wine and beer
- Foods containing yeast or mould, such as bread and blue cheeses
- Foods, drinks and snacks containing colourings E102, E104 and E110
- Cow's milk, cereals (wheat), eggs, fish, soy, and nuts (especially peanuts)