Slievemore Clinic, Old Dublin Road
Stillorgan, Co. Dublin
Contact details
Contact details
Asthma is a complex condition. There are provocatives (known as trigger factors, listed below) that can induce asthma or make the condition worse. Identify the triggers and you can better control your (or your child’s) asthma.
Many people with asthma are allergic and this is especially true in children. While very occasionally this can be something they eat or drink, more usually it is substances that they breathe in, such as dust mites, animal hair or pollen. Allergic asthma always causes changes in the lining of the nose (and possibly sinuses) and indeed this where the challenge occurs first. Know what you or your child is allergic to and work on reducing the ‘allergy load’.
Smoke and similar fumes from whatever source (chimneys, cigarettes etc) are very important triggers in asthma. Many children living in areas where there is heavy pollution wheeze simply because they breathe irritating fumes. However an equally important cause, and one you should not ignore, is the indirect inhaling of cigarette smoke. If your child has asthma then you should not smoke, nor should you let anyone smoke in his/her presence (and this includes grannies, granddads, relatives, friends, babysitters etc). There is little value in your child using medicines to stay well and at the same time subjecting him/her to passive smoking.
Most people with asthma also have problems with the lining of their nose and sinuses. In children this is due to allergy, especially to dust mites, grass pollen etc. Sometimes the wheeze is from infected sinuses but this should clear when the infection is effectively treated.
Nose and sinus allergy may show as snoring with a snuffly irritable nose. There may be mouth-only breathing and day-time tiredness. Behavioural disturbances in children can occur because of undue and unexplained fatigue. In adults it usually shows as a blocked, stuffy nose, possibly with reduced senses of smell and taste. There is a direct link between the nose/sinus area and lungs. Any ongoing problem in the nose/sinus can bring on or make worse asthma. If your nose/sinus problem is correctly treated, you will find a considerable improvement in your asthma as well as relief from sinus symptoms.
Occasionally people with asthma have benign growths in the nose called polyps. These obstruct normal nose breathing and can cause loss in taste and smell. Their management is an integral part of co-existing asthma. Patients with asthma and nose polyps should avoid aspirin/dispirin and a group of pain relieving drugs called NSAIDs.
Children with large adenoids and/or tonsils have obstructed breathing. Quite often mucus secreted by the adenoids can drip into the chest, especially at night. This causes symptoms similar to asthma. However once the obstruction is dealt with surgically the ‘asthma’ usually abates completely.
Bronchitis, head colds and influenza etc. can all trigger off asthma. However if you pay close attention to all other factors you will minimise your risk for infection.
Strong physical effort can produce wheezing. However, exercise asthma may reflect poor asthma control. Exercise asthma on its own may be a feature of an untreated nose and sinus allergy. People with nose/sinus allergies who wheeze with exercise find a marked improvement when their nasal/sinus allergy is correctly managed.
Stress and emotional events can exacerbate wheezing. Some children and adults feel more discomfort from their asthma during emotional events (e.g.: exam time). It is difficult to go into all the details of how this is managed but if you feel that you or your child is unduly stressed and that this worsens asthma, please discuss this as there are treatment plans to help.
Many asthmatics would have a perfectly healthy life if their medication was taken correctly. This is particularly important for those who use inhalers. Poor inhaler technique is one of the most important reasons adults/children with asthma struggle. If you or your child has been prescribed an inhaler always check that it is being taken correctly.
These drugs prevent asthma symptoms breaking through. It is wiser to use these than only rely on medicines that relieve wheezy episodes.