Asthma is a long term condition of the airways of the lung. It causes inflammation, resulting in suffocation, chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, choking, and difficulty in breathing. It is characterized by reversible airflow obstruction and bronchospasms. It occurs due to genetic and environmental factors.

Allergies are a set of diseases caused by the immune system’s hypersensitivity to different substances in the environment that most other people aren’t sensitive to.

There are many factors that can trigger asthma and allergies. Some of them are as follows:

Asthma triggers

Food triggers: Certain foods can trigger asthma and put one’s life in danger. The most common food items that can trigger asthma are:

• Eggs
• Milk and its products
• Peanuts
• Soy
• Wheat
• Shellfish
• Fish
• Food preservatives like sulfite additives can also trigger asthma.

Exercise triggers: Most people who are affected by asthma can find heavy workouts difficult. If the workout is too intense, it can cause the airways to narrow, which results in chest tightness and difficulty in breathing. The attack subsides within thirty minutes but can show up again after a few hours.

Heartburn: Severe heartburn can trigger asthma. Most patients with asthma also have heartburn. When stomach acids back up into the esophagus, it causes heartburn. If it reaches one’s airways or throat, it can become an asthma trigger.

Smoking: Among many other health concerns that are related to cigarettes, asthma is a major one. If one already has asthma and continues to smoke, the attacks can be triggered very easily and severely.

Weather: Sometimes, the weather can act as asthma triggers when it gets too cold, dry, and windy.

Emotions: Strong emotions can sometimes trigger an attack in people with asthma. Anxiety, excitement, stress, anger, laughing too much, and excessive crying can bring about an asthma attack.

Allergy triggers

Medication: Certain medicines like aspirin or penicillin can be an allergy trigger. The severity of the allergy can range from mild reactions like itchy skin and nausea to severe reactions like passing out and anaphylaxis.

Latex: Many people have an allergic reaction to items made of latex including but not limited to gloves, condoms, etc. Symptoms of latex allergy include flu-like symptoms, teary eyes, wheezing, etc.

Insect sting: One may have had bad reactions to insect stings like swelling, itchiness, and heat around the site. For some people, insect stings can be allergic and cause symptoms such as trouble breathing, wheezing, swelling in other parts of the body, belly cramps, diarrhea, fainting, etc.

Animal dander: One of the most common allergy triggers is animal dander. They are shed by cats, dogs, birds, etc. It can cause flu-like symptoms. If you do not have a pet, your allergic reaction could be triggered by cockroaches.

Mold: Molds are fungi particles that float around in the air. They grow in damp areas with a lot of moisture. The symptoms of an allergy to mold include sneezing, watery eyes, congestion, coughing, etc.