What triggers an asthma attack

[Ajay101]

Hello everyone, hope you're all well in these difficult times with Covid-19.

Over many years, I have not been able to work it out nor have I been able to get a positive answer from doctors. For so many years, I have been in certain unforeseen circumstances where if a person is attacking me in verbal manner; I start to feel anxious, nervous, upset and I start to feel a tightness in my chest and start to feel wheezy. All that happens when being provoked by the other person on a level that they raise their voice. So unfortunate that I end up having an asthma attack. I then have to take my inhalers to bring me back to normal breathing.

I wonder ifsomeone can help and if they have experienced similar situations.

Thank you and may God bless us all.

Ajay

[Incomplete]

Unfortunately it’s difficult to answer what triggers an asthma attack. It’s different for everyone with asthma.

Common things however are aerosol, strong perfumes, smoke, smoking, strenuous exercise, strong smells. Etc.

[Wheezycat]

Anxiety and stress can trigger asthma in some people. Perhaps you would benefit from getting some help managing such situations?

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi Ajay

There are lots and lots and lots of triggers for asthma. AUK have covered the main/most common triggers here if you want to read in to them; asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/

Anxiety and stress can trigger/affect asthma as well as mimic asthma, so the key thing is to get some support/coping methods with it. That may be things like mindfulness or meditation etc. Here’s what AUK say about stress/anxiety; asthma.org.uk/advice/trigge... and here is also how to differentiate asthma from anxiety just so you can confirm which one is the issue in these situations!; healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

Hope this helps

[Montily]

Hello Ajay, Yes, this sounds like my son. He is only 9, but being upset, or very emotional/ angry is definitely a trigger for him. So crying can turn into a coughing fit. I haven't got any advice at the moment, just hoping he learns to calm himself as he gets older, at the moment we can still help him with that.

[Travelling]

Hello there, you are correct. I get asthma flares from mental or emotional stress and they are quite marked now.

I’m under the care of Dr Rob Niven in Wythenshawe who is a top asthma doc.

He has discussed with me that a new study ( I think it’s from Canada) has identified a neurotransmitter which is released when we are stressed and it triggers wheeze in people with asthma.

So there’s a direct and measurable link between the mind and the lungs.

I get wheezy now just thinking about or talking over things which are very stressful to me.

I know it happens and I stop what I’m doing to control my breathing before it escalates.

I have used ventolin on these occasions if needed.

Please take this trigger seriously as it has the same effect as other physical triggers like dust or fumes.

Treat it as you would all other triggers.

You are probably a highly sensitive person who is physically affected by such small changes in people’s manner and voice.

Also have a look at Elaine Aron who has a website and some books about The Highly Sensitive Person.

Some of us are wired with a more refined trigger system, both physically and mentally, for stressors. There is good evidence for physical differences in the brain seen through neuroscientific studies which confirm this.

It’s a noisy, stressy world out there and being aware of this helps us HSPs to mitigate and organise our lives to stay well and function at our best.

Take care of yourself, and I’m happy to chat via pm if that’s helpful to you.

Xx

[Travelling]

Link to Elaine Aron

hsperson.com/

[ChrissieMons]

This kind of anxiety is highly likely to make you wheeze - even though others may be ok. They used to call it psychosomatic. It is, sadly, impossible to avoid everyone who might get cross with you, so you have to do some research and find a person who can help you. Counselling may be one way, assertiveness training may be another. Talk to good friends, and go around with friends, who may help to protect you from such stress.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to ChrissieMons]

I may be misreading what you said, but just wanted to reinforce what Travelling and Emma have said above about anxiety as a trigger. Although anxiety can mimic asthma it can also trigger it (though like other asthma triggers it can be individual and not everyone's asthma is affected by stress/anxiety) - and the symptoms of asthma in this case are real not just a mimic.

If this is the case (as it seems to be for Ajay) it needs to be treated like any other asthma trigger and dealt with as asthma if and when it happens. Obviously as you say it's also helpful, as with other triggers, to try and address/minimise the trigger itself by addressing the anxiety and situations when it occurs.

[twinkly29 in reply to Lysistrata]

I completely agree - of course trying to reduce or avoid situations which might affect one's anxiety (if that's an asthma trigger for them) is important, as is learning ways to deal with one's anxiety when it flares, but when asthma itself is triggered, that needs addressing in the usual way for asthma.