What provokes asthma? Nonallergy causes to know

If you’re one of the 28 million people in the U.S. with asthma, you know firsthand that allergy season isn’t the only time symptoms can flare up.

“Asthma is a chronic lung condition in which troublesome external factors cause airway inflammation,” explains Dr. Kumar Lal, a pulmonologist at Advocate Health Care. “You may experience symptoms that come and go like chest tightness, coughing or shortness of breath. During a flare-up, you may even notice a wheezing or rattling sound when you breathe.”

Common causes of asthma flare-ups

Allergies

Allergies are among the most common causes of asthma. Allergic asthma is linked to a number of allergens, including mold, pet dander and pollen. When you have this type of asthma, you will have traditional allergy symptoms, like sneezing and itchy eyes, in addition to asthma symptoms.

“Treatment involves addressing both the asthma and allergy symptoms,” Dr. Lal says. “This may include a multimodal approach with inhalers, allergy medications, topical sinus therapies and allergen avoidance.”

Air pollution

Polluted air can stem from many sources and isn’t limited to the outdoors. Outdoor air pollution is caused by sources such as motor vehicles, factories and even traveling wildfire smoke. Indoor air pollution can be caused by cleaning supplies, cigarette smoke and toxic home materials.

Regardless of the source, breathing polluted air can be troublesome for anyone since it can cause lung inflammation. However, people with asthma are more likely to feel its effects as polluted air can worsen existing asthma symptoms.

Exercise

It’s natural to breathe harder during physical activity. People with asthma can have particularly worse symptoms when they exercise because of airway narrowing.

“It’s still vital to engage in physical activity even if you have asthma because of the numerous health benefits,” Dr. Lal says. “You’ll need to work with your health care provider on a plan so you can exercise safely. For some of my patients, this involves using their inhaler before any planned physical activity.”

Laughing or crying

Certain strong emotional reactions, such as laughing and crying, can affect your breathing and lead to an asthma flare-up. The good news is that you can still enjoy a good laugh or cry, but you will need to follow your health care provider’s instructions when you feel asthma symptoms starting.

Weather

Extreme high and low temperatures are taxing on your airways, especially when you have asthma. It’s harder to breathe on hot, humid days where the air is dense. This can lead to airway constriction and chest tightness in people with asthma. Breathing in extremely cold air can cause airway dryness, which in turn can cause lung irritation that potentially sparks an asthma flare-up.

Thunderstorms are also troublesome for people with asthma as they blow allergens around and affect humidity levels.

Addressing asthma flareups

When you are diagnosed with asthma, your health care provider will recommend an asthma action plan. The plan helps you decide what level of treatment is needed based on your symptoms and often involves monitoring your peak expiratory flow, a measurement of the air flow out of your lungs.

“When you are experiencing trouble breathing or other asthma symptoms, it is important to have a plan to regain control of the situation,” Dr. Lal says. “An asthma action plan is a personalized step-by-step guide for you during these moments so that you can feel confident managing your symptoms whenever and wherever they arise.”

The plan will let you know when you can stay on track with your typical preventive asthma medication, whether you need a quick-relief inhaler or if your symptoms warrant a trip to the emergency room.

How to find out if you have asthma

If you suspect you might have asthma, consult with your health care provider so you can undergo proper testing, which includes a review of your medical history and breathing tests.

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