Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of airways causing breathlessness, wheezing, coughing etc. Basically the causes of asthma are not known completely but the main factor contributing the asthma attacks are the inhaled asthma triggers.

Asthma triggers include indoor allergens like house dust mites in bedding, carpets, stuffed furniture, pollution, pet dander and outdoor allergens like pollens and molds. One of the most important factors triggering asthma is inhaling tobacco smoke. Some other asthma triggers are chemical irritants in the workplace, cold air, extreme emotional arousal like anger or fear, and physical exercises.

In some cases certain medications act as the asthma triggers, such as aspirin, few other anti-inflammatory drugs, beta-blockers, ACE Inhibitors. Many people with asthma develop asthma symptoms due to allergies when they get exposed to certain trees, grass, weed pollens, cockroach particles. Some asthma triggering allergens include dust mites, foods like fish, egg, peanuts, nuts, cow’s milk, soy, additives like sulfites, work related agents like latex or in some cases asthma can be triggered due to hereditary allergies.

Non allergens irritants include respiratory infections like sinusitis, virals, cold, bronchitis. Other non allergen irritants are diesel fumes, weather changes, smog, paints, detergents, deodorants, chemicals, perfumes, nighttime, GERD i.e. Gastroesophageal reflux disorder, exercise in cold weather, dusts, gases, emotions like laughing, crying, distress or the hormonal factors like premenstrual syndrome.