Allergy & Asthma Center of SW Washington

Triggers

There are a number of factors that may make your asthma worse. We call these "triggers" because they may trigger an asthma or allergy attack. When you are exposed to a trigger, you may experience asthma or allergy symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, runny nose, and/or watery eyes. It's important to identify your triggers so you can avoid them or take measures to control them.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you have symptoms during the entire year? You could be sensitive to animal allergens, dust mites, or indoor molds.
• Do your symptoms get worse after vacuuming, making the bed, or being in a dusty place? You could be sensitive to dust mites. Find out how to control dust mites in your home.
• Do your symptoms get worse at certain times of the year? If your symptoms occur in early spring, you could be allergic to pollen from trees; late spring suggests pollen from grasses; late summer might be weed pollen. Spring, summer, and fall could mean outdoor molds. Learn how to control your environment.
• Are you around smoke and/or smog? Find out how tobacco and pollution affect your asthma and allergies.
• Do you cough or wheeze during the week, but not on weekends when away from work? Do your eyes and nasal passages get irritated soon after arriving at work? You could be exposed to allergens at work. Read about occupational exposure.

There are other factors that can cause your asthma and/or allergy symptoms to worsen. Variable factors like exercise and pregnancy can trigger an attack as well as sicknesses like viral infections and sinusitis.