Physical exercise; some medicines; bad weather, such as thunderstorms or high humidity; breathing in cold, dry air; and some foods, food additives, and fragrances can also trigger an asthma attack. Strong emotions can lead to very fast breathing, called hyperventilation, that can also cause an asthma attack.
The most common factors for developing asthma are having a parent with asthma, having a severe respiratory infection as a child, having an allergic condition, or being exposed to certain chemical irritants or industrial dusts in the workplace.
Strong emotions and stress are well known triggers of asthma. There is evidence of a link between asthma, anxiety, and depression, though the outcomes are sometimes not consistent. Anxiety and depression may be associated with poor asthma control.
Caffeinated drinks
Caffeine, found in drinks like black and green tea or coffee, may improve lung function and help dilate your airways. Coffee has compounds like methylxanthines and caffeine that studies show could reduce the risk of recurring symptoms.
Though fresh fruit, especially oranges and apples, can help control your asthma, the sulfites that help preserve dried fruit could make the condition worse for some people. Alcohol (especially red wine), shrimp, pickled vegetables, maraschino cherries, and bottled lemon juice also often have sulfites.
Sinus infections, allergies, pollen, breathing in some chemicals, and acid reflux can also trigger attacks. Physical exercise; some medicines; bad weather, such as thunderstorms or high humidity; breathing in cold, dry air; and some foods, food additives, and fragrances can also trigger an asthma attack.
Changes in aging lungs can also make asthma worse. Other age-related health issues that can be confused with asthma, such as: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Other lung diseases.
Albuterol is intended to treat noticeable asthma symptoms, but it is not intended for frequent use. If you are taking frequent doses, your doctor will want to assess your overall treatment plan. Talk to your doctor if you take albuterol three or more days a week or you use an entire inhaler canister within a month.
Many people with asthma report fatigue as a symptom of asthma, particularly those with frequent or severe symptoms. Nighttime asthma, a chronic cough, and lower blood oxygen levels can all lead to people feeling tired.
They can reduce humidity and airborne triggers. The combination of these effects can improve asthma control. They can make breathing easier. But, they may also trigger asthma if not properly maintained.
This is because cold air is dry – loss of moisture and heat in the airways can trigger an asthma attack. Exposure to allergens at night. House dust mites in your bedding or mattress, and pet dander, dust particles or mould in your bedroom can all irritate your airways and make you more prone to nocturnal asthma.
Certain drinks may be beneficial in managing asthma symptoms. For example, caffeinated drinks, fortified milk, and water may reduce airway constriction. However, sugary drinks and alcohol may make asthma symptoms worse.
Apples and Oranges
If you're looking to alleviate asthma symptoms, start by adding more fruit to your diet, Prehn says. Fruit is a good source of beta carotene and vitamins C and E, which can reduce inflammation and swelling in the lungs, according to Mayo Clinic.
Moderate amounts of coffee are safe for people living with asthma. And, coffee may actually even be a little good for your asthma. Remember, coffee or caffeine should never replace your asthma medications. But most people can sip on a delicious cup of coffee without worrying that it will make their asthma worse.
Short-acting beta-agonists are the first choice for quick relief of asthma symptoms. They include albuterol (ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA), epinephrine (Asthmanefrin, Primatene Mist), and levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA).
Drinking water should not cause asthma, though gulping water during an asthma attack is not recommended. Maintaining adequate hydration can help prevent asthma symptoms.
It is considered safe for kids age 2 years and older, provided you follow the package directions carefully. However, Vicks will not relieve an asthma cough in a child with asthma. It is important NOT to rely on over the counter formulas such as Vicks to treat asthma.
Cough in asthma is typically dry or minimally productive, but it may also be associated with hyper-secretion of mucus. Mucus hyper-secretion in asthma may be potentially related with steeper decline of pulmonary function [27] and fatal disease [28].
April 4, 2023 – People with poor sleep habits are more likely to develop asthma, a large new study shows. For people who already have a genetic predisposition toward the breathing disorder, the combination of family history and poor sleep habits increased the risk of developing asthma more than two-fold.