Asthma Triggers

 What Are Asthma Triggers?

One way to help manage your child's asthma is to avoid asthma triggers. Triggers are things that can make asthma flare-ups more likely to happen.

Common asthma triggers include:

    respiratory infections, like colds, the flu, or COVID-19
    allergies to things like pollen, mold, and pet dander
    irritants and pollutants in the air, like cigarette smoke or smog
    weather conditions, like cold and dry air, or hot and humid air
    strong emotions, like laughing, crying, or feeling stressed
    exercise

Kids can't avoid all triggers all the time. But watching carefully to learn what those triggers are and then helping your child avoid them can keep asthma symptoms under control.

What Are My Child's Asthma Triggers?

Triggers are different for each child. Some might cause asthma symptoms only at particular times of the year. Others might stop being a trigger as a child gets older and "outgrows" asthma.

You'll work with your doctor to find your child's triggers. The doctor may suggest keeping an asthma diary to record your child's symptoms and the medicines they use. You can also write down when and where symptoms happened to help you identify possible triggers.

If your doctor thinks allergies might be triggering asthma flare-ups, your child might need an allergy skin test.
 

How Can We Avoid Asthma Triggers?
If Infections Are a Trigger

Respiratory infections are the most common trigger of asthma flare-ups in kids. For kids with asthma, breathing problems triggered by colds can last days or even weeks after the cold has gone away.

They can be hard to avoid, but there are some things that can help. Teach everyone in your family to wash their hands well and often. Everyone age 6 months and older should get the annual flu vaccine and an updated COVID-19 vaccine. All babies should be protected against severe RSV infection, either by mom getting vaccinated during the pregnancy or through an antibody shot that babies get during or just before RSV season.

Vaccinating the whole family against these viruses is an important way to help protect kids with asthma, who are at greater risk for health problems if they get infected.
 

If Allergens Are a Trigger

Allergens (things that cause allergic reactions) are another common cause of asthma flare-ups. These triggers include:

    animal dander (tiny flakes of dead skin), saliva (spit), urine (pee), and feathers
    cockroaches
    dust mites
    mold
    pollen

It's impossible to avoid all allergens, but you can minimize them in your home. Focus on the rooms where your child sleeps and plays:

    Keep these areas as clean and dust-free as possible. Vacuum and dust weekly, get rid of clutter, give away unneeded stuffed animals and wash other stuffed animals in hot water regularly.
    Wash sheets weekly in hot water and get rid of feather pillows and comforters.
    Use hypoallergenic covers for the mattress, box spring, and pillows.
    Remove rugs and carpeting wherever possible.
    Clean curtains (which should be washable) often.
    Make sure damp areas like bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms are cleaned often and properly ventilated to prevent mold and mildew. Run dehumidifiers in damp areas.
    Don't use humidifiers.
    Check your local mold and pollen count readings and plan indoor activities for windy days, which can lead to high counts.
    Use bait traps or professional pest control to rid your home of cockroaches. Keep your kitchen clean and your house free of stacks of paper.

If Irritants Are a Trigger

Irritants can affect anyone — even someone who doesn't have asthma. They're not usually a serious problem, but for kids with asthma, they can lead to flare-ups.

Common irritants include:

    perfumes
    aerosol sprays
    cleaning products
    wood and tobacco smoke
    paint or gas fumes
    air pollution

Here are some ways to reduce household irritants:

    If a product triggers your child's asthma, switch to an unscented or non-aerosol version of it.
    Don't have wood fires in your home.
    Keep your child away from areas where painting or carpentry work is being done.
    If you cook on a gas stove, make sure your kitchen is well ventilated — to the outside, if possible.
    Ban smoking in your home and car, and make sure your child avoids smoky environments (like restaurants or parties).
    Consider buying an air cleaner for your home or running the air conditioning year-round (clean the filter regularly). Also check air quality reports. On days when the quality is especially bad, keep your child indoors with the air conditioning on.

If Extreme Weather Is a Trigger

Some weather conditions can trigger asthma flare-ups, including:

    windy conditions (which may stir up pollens and molds)
    heavy rain (which can make trees and grasses produce more pollen)
    extreme cold or heat
    humidity or very dry air

If weather conditions are a trigger, keep an eye on the forecast and limit your child's time outdoors on problem days. If cold weather is a trigger, cover your child's nose and mouth with a scarf. If hot, humid weather is a problem, keep your child in an air-conditioned environment.

In some cases, your child's medicine dose may need to be increased.

If Exercise Is a Trigger

Exercise might be the only trigger for some kids with asthma. Along with respiratory infections and allergens, this is one of the more common triggers. It can be a particular problem in someone whose asthma isn't well-managed. But this is one trigger that your child should not avoid because exercise is important for overall health.

Don't discourage being active or playing sports. Instead, talk with the doctor about what your child should do before, during, and after exercise. This may include taking medicine before working out or playing a sport.

 

 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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How to Say the Unsayable: Ways to Approach a Sensitive, Daunting Conversation

There’s a conversation you’re avoiding. It feels important, the stakes are high, there are strong feelings involved and you are putting it off: “The time isn’t right”; “I can’t find the words”; “I don’t want to get emotional”.

But delaying doesn’t solve anything and anticipation is often far more uncomfortable than the conversation itself. Getting started might involve some awkward moments, but, after that, the situation is open for discussion and exploration.

Tried and tested approaches can help to smooth the way. Here are 10 useful tips from my experience as a psychotherapist and , developed while working in some of the highest-stakes discussions – the tender conversations taking place as people face the end of life. These principles apply whether you are chatting in person, over the phone or during a video call. You can even use them in text message conversations.

Instead of “difficult” conversations, I call them “tender” – and that attitude can make all the difference.

Invite, Don’t Insist

Make sure the conversation is a shared endeavour by starting with an invitation, rather than launching straight in. Try something like: “I’ve got something on my mind I’d like to chat about. When would be a good time for you?” or “You seem worried about something and I wondered whether you’d like to talk about it some time?” They may agree to talk there and then. If there’s a delay, check you are not leaving them anxious about the discussion. Inviting the other person allows them to consider and to prepare.

Being prepared also applies if someone catches you off-guard: it’s fine to say, “This is really important and I need some time to think before we have this conversation.”

Pace Yourself

Important conversations can go wrong if participants talk themselves to exhaustion. Plan to chat for 10 minutes, or agree to press pause at a particular point, ready to return to the conversation later. Remember, too, that sick or recently bereaved people have limited energy.

When you reach a good stopping point, say something like: “There’s lots to talk about. Shall we leave it there and chat again tomorrow/next week?”

Listen to Understand

The most effective discussions are when we listen carefully to the other person and try to understand. Instead of working out what to say next while the other person is speaking, just listen. Have you listened well enough to say it back to them? Check your understanding by repeating what you heard with empathy, starting with something like: “Have I got this right? You feel …”

Repeating their viewpoint back also helps the other person to feel heard and respected. In conversations about disagreement, try to present the most positive aspects of the other person’s view: it helps both of you to find common ground.

Be Curious, Not Opinionated

What is the person you are speaking to telling you that you didn’t know before? How do they see the situation? How are they feeling? Use your curiosity to ask questions about their ideas, hopes and fears. Teenagers, in particular, often feel misunderstood and “talked at” rather than listened-to, but demonstrating genuine curiosity can help them to explore their own experiences.

Don’t be afraid to ask whether a distressed person feels safe: this question can unlock conversations about escalating tensions at home, school or work, fear of (or actual) abuse, thoughts of self-harm, worries about a terminal illness etc. Talking about these fears won’t make them a reality, and it may also encourage someone to access more specialist support.

Give Unwelcome News Gradually

Rather than causing shock by blurting out news that is unexpected, begin by giving the background or (often better) by asking the other person to tell “the story so far”. For example, you could say: “I want to talk about Mum’s health. Tell me how you think she’s been recently … ”. That initial recap creates a space where the new, unwelcome information is less unexpected. Now you can add the bad news, beginning with: “I’m sorry to tell you … ”

Even if you are to blame in some way for the unwelcome news – such as in a breakup, for example – a stepwise approach to confessing bad behaviour or even ending a relationship gives the other person an opportunity to anticipate the information and manage their response to it.

Sit With Distress Without Trying to ‘Make It Better’

It’s not a bad thing if strong emotions are expressed during a difficult discussion: don’t try to close them down by offering reassurance or advice. Be a quiet companion to those in distress; if they cry or rage, or fall helplessly silent, stay present and validate what they feel. Useful phrases include: “It’s OK to feel like this”, “I’m sorry this is so upsetting” or “I’m glad you can talk about this with me”.

A condolence visit may involve listening to sorrows and “what-ifs”. A sick relative may want to discuss end-of-life wishes or regrets. Your attention is far more helpful than platitudes. Respect the fact that some things cannot be made better.

Don’t Interrupt the Silence

Silence is often where we do our thinking. We can support someone without interrupting their flow of thoughts by saying simple phrases that show we are maintaining attention: “Take your time”; “I’m not in a hurry”; “This needs some thought”. This is especially helpful when you can’t see each other – for example, during a phone call.

Respecting silence can be a challenge if there are several people in the conversation. You may need to be explicit, saying: “Let’s give each other time to think” or “I think we need a moment of quiet now”.

Support, Don’t ‘Fix’

We can disempower people by taking over – but if the solution was easy, they would have solved their difficulty by now. Instead of proposing ways to fix a problem, ask instead what solutions they have considered or what they would advise someone else in their situation to do. It’s surprising how often a person feeling completely stuck can tell you the great advice they would give a friend in the same position.

End on a Positive Note

Giving a time warning is helpful if you know one or other of you needs to finish the discussion soon. “Thank you” is a good note to finish on: even in a disagreement, giving thanks for their honesty and time shows appreciation and respect. Your disagreement need not become a ruptured relationship.

Look After Yourself

If you are left feeling unsettled by a conversation, remember to treat yourself kindly. Some people take five minutes to walk outdoors or to focus on their breathing. These “mindful moments” help us to recentre ourselves. Confidential debriefing with someone else can also be a helpful practice.

Don’t pick up the other person’s burden: the solution is for them to find, but compassionate conversation can help others to process their experiences. That is often help enough.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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