We all know there are lots of triggers out there and every asthmatic is different. I like to describe mine as minor, moderate or major. And I find that some medics really can’t understand that usually issues come from multiple triggers layering up on each other (the others love that I understand that!)
I describe triggers a bit like Jenga. Each trigger means a block removal or 2. Major triggers for me are a bit like knocking out an entire layer at once... it’s technically possible for it to keep standing but it’s unlikely. Moderate triggers will take out 1-2 blocks, whilst mild will take out one which gets ‘replaced’ into the gap once it’s self-resolved/hand vent. Each time a block is moved it becomes more unstable until it all comes crumbling down.
Now (after finally getting stable) for me my major triggers (which will defo affect lungs 100% and usually end up needing neb +/- steroid increase) are;
Moderate triggers (will cause trouble but helped by ventolin); exercise, animal fluff, dust, wind, exam stress (can cope with the other types 😅), smoke (cigarettes/fires), paint, damp
Minor triggers (don’t usually cause me too many problems unless already dodgy, and then solved usually with a small amount of vent or self resolves); air con, laughing/strong emotions, most sprays (deodorant/perfume/aftershave), egg, milk, spicy food
So for example if I exercise on a hot day I’ll usually end up a lot worse than if I come across a nice smelling person telling jokes in a air conned room... however if I have a cold and a laughing fit I may end up in hospital (had a stay almost prolonged once cause bay mate sprayed perfume... told doc I was safe at home at this point cause lungs just stable and not going to be triggered by others 😅). Hopefully this explains the layering of triggers to anyone who didn’t understand it.
What are your triggers? Have you got something very niche that always triggers you? Do you have triggers that don’t always give you issues or ones which mean hosp if you hit them?
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EmmaF91
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A very descriptive way of describing asthma triggers and how they affect you.
My asthma is not as severe as yours but I can relate to all the triggers you have listed apart from hayfever, dairy and spicey foods and animal fluff. Everything else affects me to some degree. That said I am fortunate that when at my worst prompt treatment with prednisolone settles things down and I have not yet needed to go to A & E.
I am also fortunate to have a GP practice which operates a triage system whereby I can be seen within an hour of ringing to report problems which I tend to do if concerned especially before a weekend, although I do have an emergency pack at home.
I also have severe emphysema which is usually uppermost in my PHCT's thoughts when I do seek help although I'm fairly sure that when I am 'suddenly' struggling it's the asthma playing me up and over the years I have learnt to gauge a difference between the two lung diseases and the problems they present.
I read posts on this forum regularly and my heart goes out to those with severe asthma affecting their daily lives.
Sorry for the rambling reply that doesn't answer what you asked; sometimes one just feels the need to ramble! I hope that you are staying as well as can be. xx
Hey hope you’re ok. I’m glad you have a system that works for you and that you have avoided a&e (as exciting as trips sound they can be rather boring 😉😂). Always helpful to know what’s triggering you (asthma v emphysema).
I’m trying to do a weekly post now to get some engagement and get people talking (esp for newbies who aren’t sure about stuff/think that it may be just them) or just something fun for the longer serving members. There’s usually a lot of questions regarding triggers so thought this may be of some use to people. I love a good ramble/rant and rarely seem to be able to stop from writing an essay on here 😅😂. Hope you are well xxx
You are ever inventive in what you choose to post. Those that are informative have certainly helped me and I hope that others will feel the same. The just for fun ones are appreciated too. It's always good to have a laugh so long as the ventolin is handy!
Chest wise, I've had a decent week but a trip to the doctors this am for a non related problem has lead to a diagnosis of a prolapsed urethra due to age related lack of hormones. Blummin painful but seemingly easily treated with hormone replacement pessaries. My list of meds continues to grow! I sometimes think the Gods like to keep themselves entertained at our expense by giving us a variety of stuff to contend with.
My main triggers are cold/infection (pretty much always viral which I always find hard in itself - it always feels like it's me saying I suspect that's what it is because of how I feel which is a bit of a pain as not easy to prove so don't always feel believed), weather changes, heat, humidity, pollen, grape/sultanas, codeine.
But pretty much anything adds to it, like being tired (constant!), exercise (just walking about, not even actual "proper person" exercise), doing too much (which trying to make sure you're constantly trying to do more, or just wanting to keep up with/do normal things), the fact there's a "y" in the day 🙄, dust, animal fur sometimes, smoke, perfume (seriously why do people have to wear so much?!) Lots of little things can add up and then my body can't cope with it.
My parents couldn’t work out why I was always so much more unwell at each of my grandparents. The common denominator was squash and feather bedding. My maternal grandparents were heavy smokers which didn’t help either.
I love the image of Jenga for this! It really makes the cumulative effect clear!
My top one is respiratory infections of any kind. My middle one, the one that either leaves me potentially affected for days or I run away from fast: Incence!!! Wood burners, though they vary. Good quality ones with good quality fire wood can be OK (ish), but they always make me very wary. Scented candles, some of them, air fresheners, some of them. Low - things I can manage, but wish weren’t there: many strong smelling cleaning products, things out of a canister, lots of smelly beauty or grooming products , solvents, oil based paints, the remainder of scented candles and air fresheners. Bread being toasted, other things around cooking, sometimes. And stuff, like very occasionally walking into a room that has something about it and just wanting to get out again, quickly.
When my asthma got a lot worse 3-4 years ago, a really developed a ‘nose’. Suddenly I could smell cigarette smoke and perfume etc at 10 paces. It really was quite sudden and marked.
I tried to explain to my consultant on Friday about trigger layering, as he asked what set me off for the latest one a few weeks ago and if it was typical of my admissions (totally spooked me out, as I was immediately paranoid he'd seen something in the record). I forgot I had a cold which probably contributed, but tried to explain it was more sudden than usual and about the layering...no idea if he got what I was saying, I'm not very coherent in appointments.
For me - not sure any one trigger has been enough for hospital alone - unless I've missed med doses and then I'm immediately prone to landing in hospital unexpectedly. Otherwise I'm more of a slow burner, or an 'hmm I seem to be symptomatic...oops ambo from work, I swear I was ok this morning (the latest one, happened before). Major needs neb(s) and or a lot of sorting and can cause what might I guess be called an attack and the tired feeling after, though never sure what qualifies - just not usually one needing hospital on its own.
Major:
Being around a lot of smoking or incense where I can't get away easily (ie not a random smoker I pass in the street).
Theatrical smoke/dry ice (once had problems with a dish being served at a party with this).
Rose, lavender, violet, eucalyptus, mango in any form and in very small quantities. Gin (so many botanicals, I cough if I even sniff it)
Most spray deodorants or air freshener especially if one of those burst ones goes off while I'm there (this used to be a big problem at work but they were good at listening and removed it from the ladies' on my floor).
Cheap perfume being sprayed (not yet discovered the cut-off at which this happens, but very good ones like Dior and Chanel are fine).
Sometimes weather - this happened the other day, needed two nebs and had been fine. The weather would usually be a storm, very hot still weather. Saharan dust.
Most viruses or chest infections - often on the way out.
Solvent-based paint if more than very passing exposure; solvent glue
Cold air prolonged eg sleeping with window open
Moderate:
solvent paint, sprays etc if only very quickly passing (so standing in shop when perfume sprayed is major, spray some way away if I can escape is minor; ditto walking past fresh paint but going into a house with it would be major).
Going up stairs (if already twitchy). Generally major triggers with limited exposure or a cold which stays in the head.
Water-based paint if long exposure
Scented shops (unless there's a strong specific trigger); supermarket cleaning aisles sometimes
Cold air
Minor: most exercise assuming not already twitchy
Lush shops (don't need to be in them...)
Laughing
Someone wearing perfume if they haven't bathed in it
Not a trigger: animals, foods lacking rose, mango etc, expensive perfume, STRESS of any kind (drives me nuts when people just assume stress triggers anyone with asthma - if anything my lungs seem to actually behave better then!)
My niche trigger is liquid fence garden spray. It triggered a severe asthma attack 3 years ago that resulted in my diagnosis. Since then, my scent intolerance has gradually been worsening and has reached a point where I am avoiding many people and activities to avoid triggers. My main problem trigger is strong scents. This includes cleaning products (especially disinfectants!), fragranced personal care products such as perfume/cologne, aftershave, laundry products, deodorant, hairspray, soaps and lotions, and strongly scented shampoos, all air fresheners, diesel exhaust, smoke from cigarettes, vaping, and fires, some cooking odors, and pesticides. New carpeting or car interiors are also very bad for me, as are solvents, adhesives and paint. I’ve found that the plastic-y smell from ironing steam has also started to be a trigger.
Other triggers include cold air, heat and humidity, and strenuous exercise. These latter triggers are relatively easy to manage, as I can wear a scarf on cold days or avoid walking outdoors when it’s very frigid or windy and stay indoors with air conditioning when it’s hot and humid. I’ve never been able to run (the only life-long indicator in hindsight that I ever had any asthma) so I’ve always walked. I’ve practiced hatha yoga for over a decade and the lower intensity works well for me.
The odor triggers, on the other hand, have become a nightmare to try and manage/avoid. There are simply SO many fragranced products that people use today, with scented laundry products, perfume sprays, and air fresheners being among the worst as these scents don’t fade throughout the day.
I am really struggling trying to adjust to my increasing scent intolerance. I find that I notice odors now with a heightened intensity that others around me don’t seem to be aware of. Even when I don’t experience noticeable asthma symptoms, I find these odors extremely irritating and uncomfortable. I’ve begun to feel isolated, anxious and depressed as a result. I saw an allergist who said I am clear of allergies and have normal spirometry results. She suggested I avoid my triggers and use a Ventolin inhaler if I run into a problem. She’s also in the process of referring me to a pulmonologist in hopes they may be able to help me with this condition somehow.
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