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Asthma Health Center

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Asthma: Identifying Your Triggers

Asthma is a long-lasting (chronic) disease of the respiratory system camera. It causes inflammation camera in tubes that carry air to the lungs (bronchial tubes). The inflammation makes your bronchial tubes likely to overreact to certain triggers. An overreaction can lead to decreased lung function, sudden difficulty breathing, and other symptoms of an asthma attack.

If you avoid triggers, you can:

  • Prevent some asthma attacks.
  • Reduce the frequency and severity of some attacks.

You may not be able to avoid or even want to avoid all your asthma triggers. However, you can identify many things that trigger your symptoms by:

  • Monitoring your lung function (peak expiratory flow). Your lungs will not work as well when you are around a trigger.
  • Being tested for allergies. If you have allergies, the substances to which you are allergic can trigger symptoms.
Up Next in This Action Set:

Citations

  1. Gibson PG, et al. (2003). Gastro-esophageal reflux treatment for asthma in adults and children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1). Oxford: Update Software.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Lora J. Stewart
Last Revised March 17, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: March 17, 2011
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

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