Asthma is a serious condition affecting almost 5% of the global population. While many people know that asthma is a common condition, not many people are fully aware of the triggers responsible for causing asthma attacks.

To help with the treatment, prevention and management of asthma, it is essential to be aware of daily risks of causing asthma attacks. To help, Pharmica - the UK’s trusted online pharmacy - outlines 7 of the most common asthma triggers, with advice on how to treat and prevent asthma attacks.

What are some of the most common asthma triggers?

1. Airborne dust particles

The majority of dust particles inside the home are actually formed from particulate matter originating from outside; with dead skin cells being another component. These fine dust particles can cause irritation of the airways which can in turn lead to an asthma attack. While it may be tempting to open a window or door to get increased airflow, this can actually lead to increased dust in the home. Therefore, it is recommended to close all doors and windows, especially when the pollen count is high and if you suffer from allergies.

2. Indoor smoking

If you house share or live with someone who smokes, it’s important to be aware that smoke is one of the most significant triggers for causing asthma attacks. Tobacco smoke can cling to materials and sit in the air for upwards of three hours, so it’s important to avoid exposure to smoke inside the home.

If you do live with someone that smokes, it is important to make them aware of your condition so that they can smoke away from the home. Furthermore, it’s also important to make sure smoke carried into the home on clothes does not cause an asthma attack.

3. Mould exposure

This may be a surprise, but exposure to mould spores can also trigger asthma. Damp, moist surfaces often lend to the growth of mould; you may have noticed mould growing in your bathroom or kitchen. While exposure to household mould is generally harmless, prolonged exposure may cause slight breathing irritation and can pose a risk for triggering asthma.

To mitigate this risk, it’s important to make sure areas of the home are clean and mould-free. As a priority, it’s important to clean rooms of the home where you are likely to spend significant amounts of time such as your bedroom, living space and kitchen.

4. Household pets

Perhaps one of the more commonly known triggers, pet dander is notorious for triggering asthma. It’s often when you leave home and encounter pet hair or dander in other places such as a friend's home, work or in confined spaces such as public transport. Pet dander or skin flakes are a protein that is a common allergen; cats, dogs and rabbits are known to release dander frequently.

It’s important to make sure you limit your exposure to pets where possible. Furthermore, pet dander is easily transmitted from room to room - so if you do come into contact with a pet or someone you know who is in your home has it on their clothes, use a lint roller or get them to brush their clothes outside.

5. Infections

Infections such as a cold or flu are a prominent risk factor for causing asthma attacks. It’s important to maintain excellent hygiene when the transmission of these infections’ peaks. With virus outbreaks, shielding may be necessary to further reduce the risk of transmission.

If you do experience a cold or flu, it’s important to monitor symptoms and if needed get emergency help. Usually mild infections are manageable, however, use of a preventer and reliever inhaler along with an up-to-date asthma action plan is essential.

6. Air pollution

Air pollution is slightly rarer when it comes to triggering asthma. However, in certain pollution crises where the concentration of particulate matter is exceptionally high, air pollution can cause asthma related issues. It may be useful to wear a facemask in instances where areas of air pollution are vast and unavoidable.

7. Exercise

Exercise-induced asthma describes those that experience asthma when they perform intense exercise that requires prolonged aerobic (breathing) activity. For some asthma sufferers, they may only experience asthma as a result of vigorous exercise however, for others, it poses an additional risk.

The solution to limit the impact of this trigger is to avoid prolonged, intense anaerobic exercise if you know it causes issues. Like all the above triggers, the use of an inhaler can help to manage the impact of these triggers - especially if it is unavoidable.

Treatment options

Treatment in the form of asthma inhalers such as Ventolin, should be sourced and used to help manage the intensity of symptoms caused by these triggers. In some scenarios, avoidance may not be a viable solution and having an up-to-date asthma action plan is highly recommended.

Reliever inhalers contain medicine to help to relieve asthma attacks rapidly - they are to be used in the middle of an attack. Preventer inhalers contain medicine taken on a daily basis to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. It’s important to get guidance on which treatment to use along with further advice on how to effectively and safely manage asthma as the condition can vary significantly from person to person.