My Top 3 Worst Asthma Triggers

What are your worst asthma triggers? For me, they have changed over the years. As it stands right now, these are my 3 worst asthma triggers.

How I manage the impact of respiratory viruses

It was a toss-up for the #1 spot between respiratory viruses and dust mites. I am placing viruses here because I am more likely to catch a virus than a dust mite. This is mainly because I have learned to control my exposure to dust mites.

Respiratory viruses are a bit harder to avoid. They are known to cause some of the most severe asthma attacks for me. Sometimes I catch a cold, and it is just as annoying as it is for most folks. Usually, once or twice a year, I catch a cold, and it makes its way into my airways. When this happens, it triggers an asthma flare-up. Usually, this results in me needing a burst of steroids. And usually, I have to take a few days off work until I feel better.

How I learned to control my dust mite allergy

For most of my life, dust mites were in the top spot, and they still play a significant role in my life. When I am exposed to them, they cause sniffles and sneezes. Then my chest tightens, my breathing shortens, and I start to feel panicky. These breathing difficulties usually happen when I am sifting through old boxes of collectibles or baseball cards. It even happens at times when I am looking through antique books.

Several years ago, I made sure to put collectibles in airtight containers. I put all of my favorite baseball cards in plastic sleeves and top-loaders. These are made of plastic and help keep any dust mites on them from getting into the air. I do sometimes sift through boxes of collectibles from my past, and sometimes I do this at yard sales. Although I have learned to limit my time doing this to five or ten minutes.

These actions have greatly reduced the impact dust mites have on my asthma and my life. And that is why I lowered them to the #2 spot. I am currently undergoing allergy shots. So, perhaps in another 5 years, when I redo these rankings, dust mites will slip off this list entirely.

The danger of mold spores and sudden flare-ups

These buggers cause the most severe asthma attacks. When I inhale them, it seems they grip my airways and squeeze the air out of them. It is because of these guys that I do not let any furniture into my house that is not thoroughly inspected.

A few years ago, I brought an old recliner into my house. It was very comfortable, but then my lungs were set off into a fit of rage worse than what happens when I am exposed to a virus. At first, I thought the culprit was a respiratory virus. But then I discovered the mold on that old recliner. So I got rid of the recliner, ending my exposure to the mold. Still, the severe asthma flare-up it caused landed me in the ER for asthma for the first time in 20 years. And that experience alone gets mold spores into this landing spot on my list. If these rankings were based on attack severity, mold would earn the top spot.

Why my top asthma triggers have changed

My asthma has greatly improved. In the past, I could have made this list much longer. I could have added things like laughter, stress, and strong smells. I could have added pollen, which has historically made springtime unbearable for me. I could have added animal dander, which made it hard to visit anyone with pets. Experiencing such constant breathing difficulties was exhausting. Thankfully, modern medicine has helped me to pretty much eliminate all of these asthma triggers. And that is a good thing.

So, what about you? What are your top 3 asthma triggers? Please let us know in the comments below.