There are a number of factors that may make your allergies worse. We call these “triggers” because they may trigger an allergy attack. When you are exposed to a trigger, you may experience asthma or allergy symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, runny nose, and/or watery eyes. It’s important to identify your triggers so you can avoid them or take measures to control them.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you have symptoms during the entire year?
- You could be sensitive to animal allergens, dust mites, or indoor molds.
- Do your symptoms get worse after vacuuming, making the bed, or being in a dusty place?
- You could be sensitive to dust mites. Find out how to control dust mites in your home.
- Do your symptoms get worse at certain times of the year?
- If your symptoms occur in early spring, you could be allergic to pollen from trees; late spring suggests pollen from grasses; late summer might be weed pollen. Spring, summer, and fall could mean outdoor molds. Learn how to control your environment.
- Are you around smoke and/or smog?
- Find out how tobacco and pollution affect your asthma and allergies.
- Do you cough or wheeze during the week, but not on weekends when away from work? Do your eyes and nasal passages get irritated soon after arriving at work?
- You could be exposed to allergens at work.
There are other factors that can cause your asthma and/or allergy symptoms to worsen. Variable factors like exercise and pregnancy can trigger an attack, as well as sicknesses like viral infections and sinusitis.
