You are probably aware of many things that can trigger your asthma. Mold, dust mites, cockroaches, and pet dander are common examples of year-round allergens. What you may not know is how something as simple as visiting a friend who has a pet can lead to an asthma attack. The reason, in part, is a substance produced by the body called IgE.

Allergic asthma is how doctors describe a particular type of asthma. In people with this common condition, certain types of allergens can trigger asthma attacks and symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

You can take the quiz Is Your Asthma Allergic? to find out whether you are experiencing allergic asthma, but only a doctor can confirm a diagnosis. This is typically done using a skin or blood test to see if your asthma is triggered by year-round allergens in the air.

For advice on avoiding the allergens that can trigger your symptoms, see Living With Allergic Asthma.

There are several things or "triggers" that may cause an asthma attack. These may include viral infections, allergen exposure, irritating gases, and particles in the air. Other factors that may trigger an allergy attack are vigorous exercise, sleep, cold air, emotional stress or excitement, and medications. Identifying and controlling triggers can help lessen the frequency and severity of attacks. Your health care provider can provide helpful advice.

Vacuum the carpet thoroughly before the installers take up the old carpet, rolling up the old carpet when at all possible. After the carpet and pad has been taken up, vacuum the floor again before the new pad is put down. You may want to be out of the house for the first 24 hours, ventilating the first 48 to 72 hours.

Your child's lungs are especially sensitive and are easily irritated by things in the air. Some common triggers,1 which include both irritants and allergens, are There are also times of year when your child may be more susceptible to viral triggers like cold and flu germs. During those times of the year, it may take a little more effort on your part to help keep your child's asthma under control.

If laughter or crying cause symptoms, there is a good chance that child's asthma is not being well managed. Once your child's asthma is controlled properly, laughter or crying generally should not trigger asthma symptoms.

Ask your doctor whether you need to take or increase anti-inflammatory medicine before your allergy season starts. Sulfites in foods: Do not drink beer or wine or eat shrimp, dried fruit, or processed potatoes if they cause asthma symptoms. Other medicines: Tell your doctor about all the medicines you may take. Include cold medicines, aspirin, and even eye drops.

Common asthma triggers include allergens (dust, pollens, molds, animal dander), medications, air pollution, industrial chemical compounds, early childhood infections, perfumes and strong smells, cold air, exercise, and emotional stress.

Allergic Reaction is not the same as an Asthma episode. People with food allergies do not necessarily have asthma. People with asthma may not have food allergies. A severe allergic reaction involving the immune system can result in difficulty with breathing because of obstruction of the upper airway. This should not be confused with an asthma episode. An asthma episode occurs because changes such as inflammation and bronchoconstriction cause breathing difficulties.

Allergies are triggered by substances called allergens. Each year, millions of people suffer from seasonal allergy symptoms such as nose and sinus congestion, itchy, watery eyes and runny nose. However, many also suffer from perennial allergies, which result in symptoms throughout the year. Perennial allergies are triggered by indoor allergens, including house dust mite droppings, animal dander, cockroach droppings and indoor molds. Back to Top

MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY: A LITERARY CRITIQUE By Patrick Casanova (casanovapatrick@hotmail.com) The Environmental Illness Resource This workshop was conducted at the request of the Environmental Protection Agency. This volume contains the papers prepared and presented by individual workshop participants; the papers have not undergone peer review. http://static.highbeam.com/t/townsendletterfordoctorsandpatients/january012001/multiplechemicalsensitivityunderstandingcausativef/

For more information on asthma triggers visit the Asthma Foundation of WA's website at http://www.asthmawa.org.au

Triggers are irritating factors that make asthma worse, and they are usually different for different people. Because the airways of people with asthma are chronically inflamed, the airways are sensitive or reactive to triggers. Know what your triggers are and how best to avoid them. Not necessarily. Not all people with asthma have allergies, and not all people with allergies develop asthma. It depends.

The cause of asthma is unknown. Health experts believe that inherited, environmental, and immune system factors combine to cause inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to the lungs. This can lead to asthma and asthma attacks. Asthma may run in families (inherited). If this is the case in your family, your child may be more likely than other children to develop long-lasting (chronic) inflammation in the bronchial tubes.

Most common causes of asthma reactions are viruses, bacteria, smoke, dust and dust-mites, mold, pollen pet dander, cold air, fumes and perfumes. Tests prove that most episodes are caused by dust mite allergens. Taking appropriate measure to filter the air in the home using HEPA filtration can go a long way at limiting asthma attacks.

Millions of Americans who use scented candles have positive responses to them. The small handful of consumers who may have a negative response should avoid burning candles with that particular scent and be sure to use candles in a well-ventilated area.

Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Its symptoms are made worse by exposure to an allergen (e.g., dust, mold, pollen, animal dander) to which the patient has been sensitized. For the rest of the article, read on. Is Your Child's Beloved Pet The Cause Of An Asthma Attack? Measures You Can Take To Prevent Or Minimize Asthma Attacks Caused By Pets. That cute little kitten or lovable dog that your child (or partner) can't live without could be making them very sick.

Sad to said that you may be born with allergies because your mother unknowingly ingested food and perhaps milk to which she was allergic during her pregancy. Read on.

MP: Yes. Anaphylaxis can trigger asthma attacks that are notoriously difficult to treat. Wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath commonly occur during an asthma attack but are also life threatening symptoms seen during anaphylaxis (Wang. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 37, 651-660). In some cases, respiratory symptoms can be the only manifestation (Moneret-Vautrin et al. Allergy. 2005: 60: 443-451). Anaphylaxis presenting in this way must be quickly treated with epinephrine.

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system. Asthma is a chronic state of hyper-responsiveness (when muscles in the airways constrict and narrow excessively in response to inhaled allergens or other irritants). Asthma is characterized by coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing. Asthma may be triggered by allergens or other, non-allergic stimuli, such as cold air or tobacco smoke.

If pollen and mold cause your symptoms, use your air conditioner, and try to keep the windows of your home and car closed. Change the filter on your heating and cooling system frequently. To keep mold down, clean and air out bathrooms, kitchens and basements often. Keep the level of humidity under 50%. You can do this with an air conditioner or dehumidifier. People who are allergic to dust are actually allergic to the droppings of dust mites.