What is Asthma?
Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine and avoiding the triggers that can cause an attack. You must also remove the triggers in your environment that can make your asthma worse. What Causes An Asthma Attack?
An asthma attack can occur when you are exposed to things in the environment such as house dust mites and tobacco smoke. These are called asthma triggers.
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What are Examples of Typical Asthma Triggers?
- Environmental Tobacco Smoke (Secondhand Smoke)Dust Mites
- Outdoor Air Pollution
- Cockroach Allergen
- Pets
- Mold
- Strenuous Physical Exercise
- Some medicines
- Bad weather such as thunderstorms, high humidity, or freezing temperatures
- Some foods and food additives
- Strong emotional states can also lead to hyperventilation and an asthma attack.
Learn what triggers your attacks so that you can avoid the triggers whenever possible and be alert for a possible attack when the triggers cannot be avoided.
Other Resources:
Below are information resources to help you learn to control asthma.
Basic Asthma Facts: You Can Control Your Asthma
Basic Fact Sheet about Asthma — what it is, its effects, how it is diagnosed and treated.
Help Your Child Gain Control Over Asthma
An easy to read guide for parents of children with asthma. This brochure provides parents and caregivers with asthma the information they need to improve their children's quality of life.
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