Showing 11 of 11 triggers
Pollen from trees, grass and weeds gets breathed in and can make airways swell and tighten fast.
How to reduce it
- Check the daily pollen forecast before outdoor plans
- Keep windows closed on high-pollen mornings
- Shower and change clothes after time outdoors
- Discuss antihistamines or a nasal steroid with your clinician
Tiny bugs live in beds, soft toys and sofas. Their waste floats in the air and can trigger asthma all year round.
How to reduce it
- Use allergen-proof covers on mattresses and pillows
- Wash bedding weekly at 60°C / 140°F
- Keep indoor humidity below 50%
- Limit soft toys in the bed and freeze them monthly
Cigarette smoke, vape mist and wood smoke have tiny particles that hurt the lungs, even without allergies.
How to reduce it
- Keep the home and car completely smoke-free
- Use an air purifier during wildfire season
- Avoid wood stoves, bonfires and incense
- Ask about stop-smoking support for household members
It's not the fur — tiny bits of skin, spit and pee from pets can set off asthma. Cat allergens float in the air for hours.
How to reduce it
- Keep pets out of bedrooms and off soft furniture
- Wash hands after handling animals
- Vacuum with a HEPA filter twice a week
- Bathe or groom pets outside the home when possible
Breathing hard through the mouth dries out the airways, which can make them squeeze tight during or after activity.
How to reduce it
- Warm up gently for 10–15 minutes
- Use a reliever inhaler 15 minutes before sport if advised
- Breathe through the nose or wear a scarf in cold weather
- Keep good day-to-day control with your preventer
❄️Cold air
Moderate impact
Cold, dry air can make airways clamp shut and mucus get thicker, so breathing feels tight right away.
How to reduce it
- Cover the nose and mouth with a scarf
- Breathe through the nose to warm incoming air
- Warm up indoors before outdoor exercise
- Carry the reliever inhaler in an inside pocket
🤒Respiratory infections
High impact
Colds and flu swell the airways for days or weeks. They're the top reason kids have asthma attacks.
How to reduce it
- Keep flu and COVID vaccinations up to date
- Wash hands often, especially in winter
- Follow your yellow-zone plan at the first sniffle
- Never stop the preventer inhaler while unwell
Damp walls and bathrooms grow mold. Breathing in its spores can irritate the airways or trigger allergies.
How to reduce it
- Fix leaks and ventilate bathrooms and kitchens
- Use a dehumidifier in damp rooms
- Clean visible mold with appropriate products while the person with asthma is away
- Avoid piles of damp leaves and compost
🧴Strong scents
Lower impact
Perfume, candles and cleaning sprays can irritate sensitive airways, even without any allergy.
How to reduce it
- Choose fragrance-free cleaning and laundry products
- Skip aerosol sprays and plug-in fresheners
- Open windows while cleaning
- Ask schools and workplaces for scent-aware policies
🏭Air pollution
High impact
Traffic fumes and smoggy air irritate the lungs and make them react more easily to everything else.
How to reduce it
- Check the local air quality index daily
- Exercise away from busy roads and at quieter times
- Keep windows shut when pollution is high
- Consider a HEPA purifier for the bedroom
⛈️Weather changes
Moderate impact
Thunderstorms can break pollen into tiny pieces that are easy to breathe in, and sudden weather shifts can tighten airways.
How to reduce it
- Stay indoors during and just after spring thunderstorms
- Watch for warnings in high-pollen seasons
- Keep the reliever inhaler close during unsettled weather
- Track symptoms against weather to spot patterns
